Agree about Sandow as I cant wait to see him next year after this year's cameo and a more settled start. Other hope for me is 'your' back row clicking as there's potentially some years ahead for this group and Westwood being looked after so that he can still add plenty when involved and perhaps be involved a year or two longer at top level.

Gidley
Russell Lineham
Atkins Evans
Sandow Ratchford

Westerman
Currie Hughes
Hill Dodds
Clark

or

Russell
Lineham Penny
Atkins Ratchford
Sandow Gidley

Westerman
Currie Hughes
Hill Dodds
Clark

I think it's all about Gidley next year. If he can get the team playing together following his direction from, probably full back, we will see a different team to last.

Agreed - I want him to replicate some of the 'Hodgson effect' from that position although Brett also had Briers at 6 which made it easier. Not as fussed about debating whole team set up but concentrating on pivot positions I would like to see the following:

1 - Gidley
6 - Ratchford
7 - Sandow
9 - Clark
13 - Westerman

I think the rest of the team, in whichever combination, is less important if that spine gels and plays to full capability.

Johnson/Russell
Lineham Evans/Ratchford Atkins Penny/Russell
Gidley Sandow
Hill Clark Sims
Currie Hughes
Westerman

Dodds
Bailey
Westwood
Dwyer

From the look of things I think Smith will go with Gidley and Sandow as it is crucial he gets a settled pair of halves, leaving the wings where they are all the rest are interchangeable without much disruption, It wouldn't surprise me to see Westwood play fewer games this coming season.

Gidley has to be in the halves for me, I don't feel like Ratch/Sandow is a great fit. I see Gidley as the sort of player who will bring us consistency and take us around the park every game while Sandow is a match winner who will come up with the big plays when we need them. I'm really looking forward to seeing them together and think it will lessen some of our shortcomings in the front row and backs.

So you got Sandow at prop Hill as hooker and starting with 14 players,that may give us a chance at winning something next season

Have you? You now have Lineham at centre and Atkins on the wing... Though to be fair he'd get away with his inability to pass the ball if that were the case

So who are injured and won't be ready for the first game?
Ben H, Ratch and Dodds ?

In which case I think our line up against Leeds will be

Russell
Penny
Atkins
Evans
Lineham
Gidley
Sandow
Hill
Clark
Sims
Currie
Hughes
Westerman

Dwyer
G King
Westwood
Bailey (although this depends on how fit he gets and whether TS thinks he'd need to him to make a statement for his future especially against his old club - but Laithwaite and Ben Evans are in with a shout).

after reading input from people that know their stuff, Gidley has to play FB for me.

1 gidley
2 Russel
3 atkins
4 Evans
5 lineham
6 ratchford
7 Sandow
8 hill
9 Clark
10 simms
11 currie
12 Hughes
13 western

Subs
Dwyer
Evans
Westwood
Baily

1 Russell
2 Evans
3 Ratchford
4 Atkins
5 Lineham
6 Gidley
7 Sandow
8 Hill
9 Clark
10 Sims
11 Currie
12 Hughes
13 Westwood

14 Dwyer
15 Dodds
16 Westerman
17 Evans / Laithwaite / King / Bailey / Harrison (when fit)

Smith is fortunate that Gidley can play full back his favoured position and stand off and I would like to see him at full back, Ratchford will probably miss the start of the season even so I don't see him as a play making stand off, rather better suited to but then again I'm not a coach or Tony Smith.

I'm guessing Smith will go with what he has available and play Gidley at six, I'm also hoping Patton comes through at some point next season, whatever happens selection between 1/3/6 should be interesting.