I think that 1-13 will be as per the squad numbers, where I see us deviating from the squad numbers is in the bench selection. I'm pretty sure that Mulhern will be there along with Bullock then it's two from Walker, Davis, J Clark and Magoulias (of whom we know very little).

You're quite correct Duckie, his constant looking at the defensive line is world class, give him a contract extension. Imagine if he could break a defensive line??

There HAS to be a place for longstaff in the 17. I don't care how old he is, he's better than all the bench options suggested there.

Cannot disagree with what JC does, but we need players to unlock defences within our pack. We have Davis and Hughes as well as JC, and all three of them don't provide a great deal in the way of go forward, or a well timed pass. Maybe, with the change of coach, this will be addressed across the entire squad, and we will see the type of flowing rugby that we have not seen since TS was in charge. We do need players who do the hard graft, but we appear to have had too many of them under SP.

You've just listed the absolute BASICS of any RL forward, worth a shirt.

However, this is a bloke who's occupying a shirt, overseas spot and (presumably) a big salary. We only had him last year, so he could hold Inglis' hand, yet we extend his contract.

Any others fancy an easy wage, please contact Mr K. Fitzpatrick .

We've already got one plodder, in Hughes.

Well for the first time in many seasons I have no real idea about our starting 13, let alone the 17.

If they're all fit 1-13 could well be 1-13.
Subs could well be any of 14-19, and there's decent experienced back up all the way down to 28.

1-7 are nailed on.
Not sure about Phils starting - I might be in tbe minority but I prefer him coming off the bench, however Mulhern is the obvious option. (Is Margoulis decent at prop, or more of a back rower? I suspect the latter). Bullock looks promising and will do a decent job. Less sure about Harrison and Butler (not seen much of the latter to date, but then again SP was coach).
9-12 nailed on, and I suppose as JH is captain he'll be 13 but.......

Philbin forgotten or deliberately omitted?

i'm intrigued to see what we do with holmes, will he be started, on the left, usual position and displacing currie, on the right, not his usual position, at 13, on the bench or even pushed up to prop/middle.

Had an ankle op. Out for 10 weeks.

You’ve GOT to be kidding me??? The curse of new signings for 2022.

Powell OUT!

I’m an “early adopter”.

Really bad luck for the bloke, but hopefully this means longstaff will be selected on the opening day.

Dammit. Was quite excited to see if he could add an attacking dimension to our loose position. Never mind, probably wasn’t down to start anyway.

If Powell selected Magoulias at 13, it meant that we were moving away from the current trend of playing an extra prop in the pack.

Sincerely hope that this set back does not mean that we will still play with a prop at lock.