Nope. The best defence is good defence. If the opposition don't score you won't lose. Simple as that. You earn the right to play by defending well - the Leeds game demonstrated that, as did Sunday.

For me Ratchford is cover at 6 and no more. With work on his defence and positioning he could be an outstanding full-back. At present he's probably the best centre we have at the club. I don't think anyone would split up the Gidley/Sandow combo unless it was needed to.

As said earlier in the thread, we've probably got the best squad depth since 2011 with a good mix of youth and experience too.

As above. The players mentioned didn't suddenly gain 10kg in the off season to change position.

With a sudden weight gain the gain is hardly likely to be the right kind of weight and would probably involve a fairly hefty increase in body fat.

It then would also involve a reduction in speed and flexibility.

Also worth noting that weight has no real bearing on strength in this environment.

Did any go to the training session with roosters yesterday.
The guardian has a picture of Dodds taking part, so hopefully he must only be a couple of weeks away from being available???

I went to the opposed training session last night, with Roosters.

Dodds was on the pitch, & participating.

I was a little underwhelmed by his physique. He is not the strapping Aussie prop, that I anticipated.

However he held down a 1st team jersey with Brisbane Broncos, & played in the 2015 NRL Grand Final so he obviously has a lot to offer us.

NRL have seen something in our Stef according to TS in interview today. Him and Hill but have chosen to stay in SL.

As you say it is when a player is below his optimum playing weight and he needs to increase his muscle mass to attain the desired weight that has been requested of him. I remember taking to S&C coach of a super league side who the club had given a player 6 months to put an agreed weight on without increasing his fat percentage, and if he didn't his contract would not be renewed, as he was too lightweight to be prop and too heavy for anywhere else.