I would still want to keep Addy irrespective of the Gaskell situation.
With Langley on his way we don't actually have that many people who can play LF.
Hopefully Donno stays but it could be risky if we rely solely on him for a full season. Addy's preferred position is at loose and he's never really had a prolonged stint there to show his worth.

Who else do we have that could play LF? Maybe Diskin? Bateman? It will be interesting to see how FC manages the situation if Addy does end up leaving.

If Addy goes to Saints then they will have the slowest half-back combination ever in Addy and Walsh. I thought Addy was off to Wakefield anyway.




Won't Chev play at loose?

I had forgotten about Chev. I had hoped he would be used as cover rather than a regular in the 17 though.

So far I would say our strongest line-up for next year is:

1 Kearney
2 Kear
3 Purtell
4 Blythe
5 Foster / George
6 Sammut
7 Gale
8 Scruton
9 L'Estrange
10 Carvell
11 Bateman
12 Olbison
13 Ferguson

14 Diskin
15 Sidlow
16 Manuokafoa
17 Walker

Not included Gaskell for two reasons:
- Not sure where I'd play him
- I don't think the signing has been confirmed yet

Aye, whilst solid enough much of the time, the old Lulia seems to have lost his mojo. He's not been to imperious hander-off of defenders that he once was. Maybe he needs a move to get it back.

I think many of us commented last year about not seeing a hand off like it for years, well his party piece worked a treat and now his opponents have worked it out - inevitable, yeah that's the word, I think.

Defensively I still think Lulia is better than Gaskell, even the 2013 model.

As for losing Addy I remain to be convinced about his defence but he has the makings of a good player if he could improve that. Loose forward is as much about defence nowadays as being a good attacker.

I think Lulia is a good defender full stop, and so is Donno and I hope Franny can find a way to ensure he stays too. I'm sure there will be plenty of rotation around the squad with our normal ration of injuries so I don't feel it's one or the other and Lee will add much needed variety to what we do.

I know I'm a bit boring banging on about defending a lot and it's nowhere near as exciting as flicking out backhanded passes [whilst being tipped upside down, etc] but in most matches our opponents are going to have as much time with the ball in hand as we do, so it is fairly important if we want to do well.

I would have thought:

1 Kearney
2 Kear
3 Purtell
4 Blythe
5 Foster / George
6 Sammut
7 Gale
8 Scruton
9 L'Estrange
10 Carvell
11 Bateman
12 Olbison
13 Donaldson

14 Diskin
15 Sidlow
16 Manuokafoa
17 Ferguson

18. Walker
19. Wood/O'brien

Maybe with Foster inside of Kear if he can add some bulk and improve his defense, we are always going to have to rotate due to our horrid injury recurrence.

There is no contract offer to Addy for him to sign,there was,but there isn't now

Having said earlier in the thread that Lulia has been below his best, he was fantastic against Wakey, storming game, and great to see him back in imperious form.

I am sure we would all like Lulia to return home with a GF winners medal

I don't know if it's Addy's short comings or the fact that he's most likely on his way out of the club, but the lad leaves massive gaps in the defensive line. He just watched the Wakey player run past him for their last try.

I know it's nice to have home grown lads who've come up through the system, but I think sentiment needs to give way to reality and that reality is that he's an alright player, but that's all he is.