We need better assistants?

Well... that's certainly one scenario

Article in T&A today by Orford suggests he is expecring to play with Kearney as his stand off as his partner

Which is probably where he is going to play and i hope he does. He's a great off the ball runner and with Orford as his partner it could be very exciting.

I was under the impresion Hall was a prop, but my bad, last thing i want to do is upset the experts on this board!

Halley has to be given the No1 shirt and retain the fullback position, it is by far his best. Sykes best position is Stand Off from what he showed last year, But i think Kearney will thrive alongside Orford using his pace to make breaks down field. I can see Kearney been a Danny McGuire type stand off, using his pace, support play and Orford's guidance, it could end up been a quality pairing.

I'd agree that Halley's best position is FB and should start there this season. The support role you suggest for Kearney could be just as effective from FB though and we may find our strongest line up involves Halley going to the wing on occasions.

McNamara has to pick the best line up for the team, not just around a particular player.

I guess a lots doing to depend on how reardon settles on the wing and also whether sheriffe can improve his defense. If either of those two dont get off to a good start then we may be forced to move halley to the wing.
If we do that then kearney would swap to Fullback and sykes to SO with either platt or crookes taking the spot. I suspect this might be our strongest lineup overall, but I'd like to see kearney SO, halley FB at least initially and see how they go.

Didn't Leeds used to start Harris at FB then move him up to SO during the game once the opposition defence started tiring a bit? Precedent?

Sprogger, Robbie and Mickey also used to move from FB to forward attack positions so depending on the quality of your Team it still a regular option which perhaps we will see again this coming season.

FROM MY POST ON TOTAL RL

Is anyone else looking forward to the incoming season and feels the same what Im feeling inthat Bradford can for the first time since 2005 challenge for the title/challenge cup and be the force that we once were ?

Kearney & Orford at 6 & 7 respectably, have in them the potential to rip Super League apart next year if the pairing works as they will organise our defensive line as well as showing the flair in attack.

But if it doesn't work out then McNamara has to seriously consider his options as putting Kearney at full back will mean a reshuffle with Halley & Sykes (possibly moved to the wing & stand off).

One thing that Im glad of is that for the first in what must be a good couple of seasons we do have plenty options in the backs and with that plenty of options to try different pairings/partnerships.

At hooker I would start with L'estrange and then use Godwin who has the pace, being used as the interchange to attack those lazy and battered opposition defenses.

The forwards speak for themselves with Kopzcak due a massive year and Scruton to improve, with Donaldson and Whitehead due more game time and the Burgess brothers only a season away from action to boot.

My team for next season would be this:

Halley
Reardon
Sykes
Nero
Sheriffe
Kearney
Orford
Lynch
L'Estrange
Scruton
Hall
Menzies
Langley

Godwin
Sculthorpe
Kopzcak
Donaldson

I have seriously more confidence then I did at the start of the 2008 & 2009 seasons as there looks to be better balance throughout the team.

Realistic aim for mine is a top four finish and a home play-off game and a good run in the cup (if we avoid Wigan/St Helens/Leeds in the first round).

Roll on boxing day at the Jungle and the chance to see what we can expect from the 2010 Bradford Bulls.

I totally agree as far as optimism for the new season goes, really looking forward to it now.

Ps. Not sure you would get much backing on other boards though

1 Halley
2 Sheriffe
3 Sykes
4 Nero
5 Reardon
6 Kearney
7 Orford

8 Scruton
9 L'Estrange
10 Lynch
11 Menzies
12 Hall
13 Langley

14 Godwin
15 Worrincy
16 Sculthorpe
17 Kopczak

Think you lot will go well next year. Think you could maybe do with a centre instead of Sykes and a prop instead of Kopczak. Top 8 still though.

I expect a huge improvement next year, partly because we massively underperformed in 09 and also because I feel overall our squad has been significantly strengthened. It goes without saying that Burgess will be a massive loss though and we'll need people like Scruton to step up like he did in the latter part of 09. As I have stated before, the lack of 'enforcer/impact Prop' is my main concern for next season. Perhaps Scruton will provide some of the grunt and aggression we will need.

Orford will do his thing and it will be up to our existing backs to make sure they're in a position to take advantage of the gaps he can put them through. It will also be great to have a 6 and 7 who can trouble defences and actually run at the opposition.

I always look forward to the new season, but probably this one more so than the last few.