He's 17, what are people expecting him to be like? Ben Currie was 17 when he broke through to the first team but he was playing second row so their is nowhere near as much pressure as telling 12 other blokes twice the size of you where to go and what to do.

Not gunna judge him for another couple of years yet because of his position.

That is the point really, the idea of the Academy is to learn how to play at first team level for three years. Unless a player has a genuine chance to play first team why move them into the first team?

With one or two exceptions Warrington have always numbered their squad (1-17) according to where they are seen playing for the forthcoming season if fit and well.
After that it's a little bit more flexible. Clearly Harrison won't play for some time

Westwood at 13 suggests we'll use him as a part time prop, with Westerman coming in at 13 when Bennie moves to prop after 20mins.
Hill and Simms replaced by Dodds and Westerman at the first interchange.

Clearly Dwyer will be in the 17, probably interchanging with Clark

TS seems to have a lot of faith in Laithwaite, and his ability to get to the right level after rehab but I think he'll be undercooked at the start of the season.

I can understand why Rhys is getting some stick here, and at the end of last year he clearly was trying to adjust to the speed of the game after a long lay off. A big year for him. He's no longer 'the new kid on the block', so time to step up in the position that he always wanted. (More injuries and he'll become a 'Wheeler').

Many of the squad numbered 20+ have gained experience from last year and that should help, but clearly even though we've spent big the squad strength doesn't appear to be what we had a few years ago.

A lot depends on TS's ability to develop the guys - particularly Westerman and Lineham (good attack, prone defensively). He's done it with some but not others (Atkins has not developed enough for me).

An experienced prop remains my big concern.
Many are at the start of their careers - King, Evans etc. If Ben plays like he did before his injuries I can see him having a regular 17 slot.

Some months ago Mike Nicholas told me he believes that Morgan Smith will be a great prospect.

I'd be very surprised if Westerman didn't start at 13. I think Westwood has been given the 13 shirt as a mark of his seniority in the squad.

Westerman on the bench would be a waste in my view.

I was thinking just that, after last season I feel we would get more out of Westwood from the bench.

Yes I can see where you're coming from, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen.
Certainly bennie from the bench would have impact.

Matty Russell at 5 is the biggest joke ive seen in a while

How so?

He has pace, and is an excellent kick returner. He will also get quick play the balls from scoots early in the tackle count.

I guess his weakness could be under the high ball when under pressure as he's not so tall, but I think it would be a close run thing between him, Penny and Ormsby for that position.

You don't go from making the most metres in SL to deciding because you've took a few big hits that FB isn't his best postion. If you went to Catalan away last season you will know exactly what i mean, bad under the high ball, gets out jumped, his positional sense is appalling as well.

Ratchford was '6' last season and played more times in centre than he did at stand-off. Should we pay attention to these numbers or are they just random?

I think they're a mix of randomn & positions. I can see Ratch in the centre more than the halves, as you've mentioned, but I just don't see Rhys Evans as a starting centre. He's more of a back-up option.

Back-up to whom? Like last season those 1-13 numbers represent the team Smith sees as first choice without any injuries.

Squad numbers don't really mean Shiite the players will all play in different positions next year. I like the idea of Westwood at 13 but he will move for Westerman at some point and the centres/wingers will change AND the halves AND the props. So I don't read anything in to squad numbers