Don't think today's numbers will have anything to do with the eventual numbers. I expect VBFG to predict those.

They won't have been real numbers. As well as what has been mentioned about number 18 being a fans number, I can't see the likes of Ferguson and Blythe being given numbers later than 22. It seems way too coincidental that all the players fit enough and available to feature yesterday just happened to be numbers 1-22 (plus one later on).
Some may well be accurate, but I'd be amazed if all of them were.

Agree with that.

Not sure why they haven't firmed up the squad list, unless they intend to restart the 'shirt presentation night', but it's usually been done before the pre-season games.

What happened to the rumour about the players picking their own numbers? As a matter of interest, One of the players did the autograph thing of putting no. N on the Bulls Xmas card I received; maybe habit, maybe psychic, maybe a little bird had whispered in his ear? Maybe pretty obvious too, I guess and yes, he played in that number yesterday.

Do they still do shirt printing in the club shop?

Can't say I've noticed the printing facility when I've been in there. If they don't, it might explain why they're not so fussed about getting the numbers out yet.
When they make money off printing shirts, it's in club's interests to get the numbers out quite early, to maximise people willing to get it on their backs. If they either aren't doing it, or make no money out of it, they presumably aren't that bothered.

.....or they're not that organised!

The club responses on Twitter last week said they would be released "in due course, watch this space". Which we all know means "we don't really know".

They still do shirt printing. People who ordered shirts at launch event were supposed to get names put on for free. There's been talk on Facebook that club haven't got the letters/numbers in yet so weren't doing the printing yet. If you were cynical you might think their delaying releasing squad numbers until they get stock in to do the printing to prevent people going down to sports shops in town and giving them money to put names on rather than paying club shop to do it.

Then call me cynical. That sounds like a very good reason to delay releasing the numbers to me.

Hopefully they are delaying it for that reason.

Can't say I'm too fussed when they release the numbers, as long as it's before the Leigh game so I know who I'm watching!

They used to have the machine on that long counter in the old shop and the new shop's counter is quite a bit shorter, so maybe there just isn't room to keep it out. They were advertising printing earlier in the piece IIRC because some people were posting about it not being done when they'd paid for it.

The club had their media day today. I would assume that the squad list is now finalised and will be launched shortly.

Maybe they are waiting just to make sure everyone given a squad number actually stays with the squad...?

They're just checking the squad with Wakey and Shudds to make sure they haven't signed any of em in the last couple of months.