I think bullock and mulhern will make a good pairing off the bench. Also Cooper will set a standard for Philbin to match. I don't think Philbin has been great last year and I certainly think this 'impact' has been questionable. He has as much to prove as Bullock IMO, I hope he gets back to the form from a couple of seasons ago.

Hughes hasn`t figured in any suggested squads yet and if Magoulias is to play at 13, then there doesn`t seem to be a backrow position for Hughes.
With Powell`s captaincy decision, surely it is his intention to play Hughes. I wonder if he intends to select Hughes to play at prop forward?

Ratchford
Minikin
King
Matautia
Ashton
Widdop
Williams
Cooper
Clark
Mulhearn
Currie
Holmes
Hughes

Walker
Magoulias
Philbin
Clark

I just have a feeling that Charnley isn’t Powell’s cup of tea. He/his team made a point of exposing Charnley last season, game 1 was a car crash in truth. Minikin has been brought in for a reason, I can’t imagine he was peanuts money either

Maybe the masterplan is to start Hughes and then allow him to play himself out of the side, then a new captain must be chosen but nobody needs to be upset about it?

I was close to putting Thewlis ahead of Charnley based on last season, but I thought overall Thewlis still has time on his hands and a fresh approach for Charnley under Powell might get him back to his best.

As J Clark, Davis and the others they’re not actually bad squad cover, and I think when you look at Thewlis, Wrench, Longstaff, Bullock, Butler, Harrison etc we have better depth than a lot of clubs. Especially bearing in mind that Powell seems to develop average players into good ones.

There are always things that are uncertain when new coach comes in, but I feel more upbeat about this season than I have for a while. Not sure if it’s Powell’s record of improving teams, or just the change of playing style we can expect. Or maybe it’s because the pandemic is finishing.

I put Magoulias at 13 simply because he seems like a typical Powell choice. If we’ve brought a young ball-playing 13 over for just one year, I reckon Powell has a plan. It may well be that Hughes is his initial choice and I’ve called it wrong, but I have a sneaky feeling Powell has spotted something about Magoulias he likes and feels he can develop.

1. Ratchford
2. Ashton
3. King
4. Ma'atautia
5. Charnley
6. Williams
7. Widdop
8. Cooper
9 Clark
10. Mulhern
11. Currie
12. Hughes - captain
13. Magoulias

14. Clarke J
15. Bullock
16. Holmes
17. Walker

Good subject to be fair and as always opinions are relative. Fir me it as follows:-

1. Ratchford
2. Charnley
3. Mateuvia
4. Wrench
5. Ashton
6. Widdop (c)
7. Williams
8. Cooper
9. Clarke
10. Mulhern
11. Holmes
12. Currie
13. Billy ??

14. Walker
15. Philbin
16. King
17. Longstaff

It’s an exciting formation but props are a concern starting and on the bench but In Powell we believe.

COTW

Yep let's hope you are right about Billy M. ... otherwise in reality we do seem to be picking him without any real evidence about how good he is. Not the best way to pick a team. Mind you we'll know a bit more with the two trial games.

Not that hard. Jason Clark shouldn't be anywhere need the 1st team and the so-called Axe should be axed, average at best.

Am I right that Minikin is going to be missing a good chunk of the early season. As for Charnley I would just be happy if he cut out trying to milk penalties and get on with the game, it often slows the momentum and besides he hardly gets the calls anymore because the ref’s got onto that years ago.

What to say about Ratchford full of magic one game then went missing a lot in other games. I kinda agree with some of the guys putting Thewlis ahead of him but I still think Ratchford would at least add some spark from the bench, bit like we all crapped ourselves when Rob Burrow came off the bench, not saying he is that good but he will have that fear factor.

I’ll not enter because I’m struggling with getting props.

Interesting update from Powell (on the WW Website) where he talks about Widdop, Williams and Ratchford as the spine of the team, but also name checks Dean, Thewlis and Ashton - hopeful there's some grunt in the pack that's impressing him too !

With Currie, Holmes & Longstaff, IMO we have three players who should be in front of Hughes, Davis & J Clark. Unless, as has been mooted by others, Holmes is going to play prop. I'm getting to believe this option is more of a possibility and highly likely if Cooper gets injured.