what do you think the team should be??
1.henry
2.broughton
3.talau
4.tyrer
5.gibson
6.ratchford
7.smith
8.cashmere
9.alker
10.parker
11.adamson
12.sibbit
13.swain or holdsworth??
14.leulie(sorry about spelling!!)
15.jez smith
16.sidlow
17.spencer
thought id mention holdsworth at 13 because of his potential creativity/kicking.Maybe then putting swain at 17 for spencer?? whats everyones thoughts/views??? sorry but im not a fan of fittzy at fullback but does look like we have a few good options at all positions.Good luck to the reds!!

It's a tad early yet as you dont know what's gonna happen at Widnes, but heyho;

1. Gibson
2. Broughton
3. Talau
4. Tyrer
5. Henry
6. Ratchford
7. M smith
8. Cashmere
9. Alker
10. Parker
11. Adamson
12. Swain
13. Holdsworth
14. J smith
15. Lulu
16. Boyle
17. Sidlow

i would defo have mcgilvery on the wing and henry as his centre. no place in the team for Tyrer as yet for me- not a bad option to have tho along with littler to keep the wingers and centres fighting for a place each week.

I'd like to see Holdsworth play at 13 against Widnes to see how he goes- It would be great to have a proper ball playing 13 in the team- Swain would do a great job in the second row.

Every year since 1978 (when I first started watching the Reds) I have thought here we go - good team. This off season I have felt rather down about our chances and was thinking about not making any game this season - due to my 500 miles round trip. But after looking through the possible team sheet, once again I am thinking "Here we go - we have a good chance"

get to HKR mate

600 mile trip!!
When I travel North I will only go to the Willows.

No room in the squad for Talau at the moment for me as I think Tyrer's doing more than enough to keep him out, he looks so strong upper body (Was Talau Injured again yesterday?) I think Fitzy looks like a new man and for me has done enough to start the season. Young Dean Mcglivary has done nothing wrong and it'll be very harsh to drop him for KR, but I suppose someone's got to go. Ryan Boyle looks good and we don't seem to lose any go forward when we shuffle the pack around, if anything we seem to gain more when Smith goes into 9. Holdsworth has shown some nice touches and brings something different when he comes on. All in all I'm pleased with what I've seen so far, even though we've not really been tested Widnes were worse than Swinton IMO and will struggle this season on that showing. Its nice to have a few selection headaches ahead of the season so for me I'd go with:

1. Karl Fitzpatrick
2. Ashley Gibson
3. Mark Henry
4. Steve Tyrer
5. Jodie Broughton
6. Stefan Ratchford
7. Matty Smith
8. Ray Cashmere
9. Malcolm Alker
10. Rob Parker
11. Ian Sibbit
12. Luke Adamson
13. Luke Swain

14. Ryan Boyle
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Dan Holdsworth
17. Phil Leuluai

Ohh and having a goal kicker would be nice

1. Karl Fitzpatrick
2. Ashley Gibson
3. Mark Henry
4. Willie Talau
5. Jodie Broughton
6. Stefan Ratchford
7. Matty Smith
8. Ray Cashmere
9. Malcolm Alker
10. Rob Parker
11. Luke Swain
12. Luke Adamson
13. Dan Holdsworth

14. Ryan Boyle
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Ste Tyrer
17. Phil Leuluai

Do we think Holdsworth is big enough to play at loose-forward? Not sure we want the scenario of 1998 where we had an abundance of half-backs and shoved Martin Crompton at 13.

That would be my worry. Given the fact that our backs are generally quite small as well, I don't know if we can take the risk playing Holdsworth at loose forward as we probably need to compensate for the lack of size on the outside. It might work with him coming off the bench to offer a change of pace but I don't know if having him start at 13 is the best option.

Daniel Holdsworth ( Salford ) = Height 6' 1" , Weight 95KG (15st ) - Position - Utility
Sean O'Loughlin ( Wigan ) = Height 6' 1" , Weight 93KG ( 14st 10lbs ) -Position - Loose Forward
Kevin Sinfield ( Leeds ) = Height 6' 1" , Weight 96KG ( 15st 2lbs ) - Poisition - Loose Forward / Stand Off
Would think this answers your question Chico

Also won the Telstra Centenary Goal Kicking Competition last year so sould be quite handy if Ratchford continues his 25% success rate with conversions .

I haven't been able to get to the friendlies so can't comment on form but I'd be surprised if Talau is left out if he's fit. I reckon Mcrae will go with his "safest" team if he's got a full squad to pick from, namely

Fitzy
Henry
Talau
Tyrer
Gibson
Ratchford
M Smith
Cashmere
Alker
Parker
Sibbit
Adamson
Swain

J Smith
Leuleuai
Boyle
Sidlow/Holdsworth

Holdsworth at looseforward interchanging with Swain would give us options and add a extra pivot in the line when the opposition defences are tiring

fitzy
gibson
henry
talau
broughton
ratchford
m.smith
cashmere
alker
boyle
parker
adamson
swain

j.smith
lulu
sidlow
holdsworth