Leeds wasn't it

initially

Can't believe we let him go. Up there with allowing Peacock to leave as one of the larger cock ups of recent years.

For a HB partner for Southernwood I'd suggest having a look at Wigan. There's a fresh faced young kid there (can't be much more than 16) not getting many chances due to Tom Kins & Leueueuleulai who I noticed against the French at the weekend. Apparently he's a bit of a kicker but he didn't offer much from what I saw. I did read some rave reviews a couple of years ago though. Might be worth a gamble.

Squad just announced.

Finigan gets picked for first time:

Addy, Halley, L'Estrange, Hall, Lynch, Sheriffe, Crossley, Finigan, Kopczak, Sykes, Menzies, Reardon, Godwin, Nero, Kearney, Whitehead, Worrincy, Langley, Platt.

I've seen Finnigan a couple of times in the reserves/academy and never thought he looked that good to be honest. But he can't do much worse, so maybe worth a try.

What position is he again?

I suppose time and circumstance will tell, but I think he has the raw ingredients to make a decent 6.

He's a winger

Odd to have Finigan in the 19 man squad imo, but probably worth a try. I'd have thought Smith would be in line before Finigan though.

It suggests to me that Kearney will be moved into the halves, with Halley at the back and Reardon/Sheriffe as wingers. Finnigan in incase Halley or Reardon aren't fit.

If you read JP's book he claims that he wasn't so much let go, so much as told by CC, that (due to large amounts of cap being spent on Iestyn Harris at the time) if he didn't want to accept the rather poor terms he ought to (somewhat vulgar colloquial, copulatory verb, often used as an adjective) off. Only CC said it a little more succinctly than that.

From what I'm told, Halley is 50/50 as to whether he'll play or not. Whether he plays or not, I would still expect Kearney to be at fullback though with Sykes/L'Estrange or Sykes/Addy as the halfback combo. I would expect Reardon to be the one to miss out if Halley isn't able to play.

Don't I remember reading that they told Peacock there was no money for him to be given a decent pay (or pay rise) and then they went and signed Iestyn, proving the money was there after all, which miffed JP enough for him to bugger off elsewhere? Or did I read that wrong?