I think Bateman is better outside and Addy up the middle. He is an outstanding runner.

We could do with him now.

Ben Evans into backrow.

Apparently that is the plan.

Now that Bateman has gone my team has changed quite a bit:

1 Kearney
2 Kear
3 Blythe
4 Henry
5 Foster
6 Gaskell
7 Sammut
8 Scruton
9 L'Estrange
10 Carvell
11 Winterstein
12 Ferguson
13 Addy

14 Diskin
15 Sidlow
16 Manuokafoa
17 Evans

I'll probably change my mind again tomorrow.

Ben Evans into backrow.

Donaldson and Ferguson in the second row is pretty solid defensively.

Now looks quite significant that we kept Donno. The official statement says that Batemen has put in several transfer requests over the last 2yrs so the club must have always known this had the potential to happen.

IMO, the loss of Whitehead was a bigger loss than Bateman.

Looking through the stats on the SL website, Bateman consistently failed to make top 10 on pretty much every important stat. Where as Whitehead makes a fair few appearances.

TBH, I think the trouble with Bateman is that he's had people in his ear telling him what a superstar he's going to be and huge glittering future he's going to have. Thing is, no one seems to have told him he needs to have put in a lot more work than he has done to achieve that level that's expected of him.

He may knuckle down at Wigan as I'm sure their head coach won't stand for any of the rumoured shenanigans that Bateman's gotten involved with. But there's question marks over his fitness and commitment.

1. Kearney
2. Kear
3. Purtell
4. Henry
5 Foster
6 Addy
7 Gale
8 Scuton
9 L strange
10 Nas
11 Ferguson
12 Walker/Evans
13 Donaldson

14 Sammat
15 Carvell
16 Sidlow
17 Winterstein

Team barely changes for me with Bateman leaving. Donno just comes in to start instead of him.

Bateman isn't as big a loss as some are making out (yet). If he manages to reach the undoubted potential he has, he will be a big loss. But he hasn't reached it yet, and as yet, isn't good enough that him being missing makes a huge impact. Donaldson offers more in defence, albeit less in attack. No big difference on current ability/form IMO.

I think I'll be waiting till a bit nearer the season before I name my fave starting 17. I've a feeling there are some more announcements in the pipeline.

Kearney
Kear
Henry
Blythe
Foster
Sammut
Gale
Carvell
Diskin
Manuokafoa
Ferguson
Winterstein
Addy

O'Brien
Sidlow
Scruton
Evans

That leaves Purtell, Walker, Olbison, Donaldson, Roberts, Wood, Mellor, Conroy, George and Gaskell as back up, or interchangable depending on the opposition.

Ok, so I know this will not be the first choice but this would be mine if I was given the chance to pick

1. Kearney
2. Kear
3. Henry
4. Blythe
5. Foster
6. Gaskell
7. Gale
8. Scruton
9. O'Brien
10. Manuokafoa
11. Ferguson
12. Winterstein
13. Addy

14. Sammut
15. Sidlow
16. Carvell
17. Olbison

Bit of impact off the bench in Sammut.
Also if Kearney leaves I'd like to see Kear at FB, was great for Wales at FB.

Agree about kear at fullback. Think it's his best position. Games when Kearney was injured last year FC seemed to prefer Foster there though.
What about Sammut at fullback with Gaskell at standoff. Think Sammut and Gale doesn't work particularly well as a halves combo. Gale's slow decision making tends to nullify Sammuts off the cuff style of play. Suspect he could be more effective chiming in from full back, and he's played there plenty in the past. Gaskell could complement Gale better at standoff.