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

Well, based on last season, back-up to Ratchford & Atkins (yes I know he was injured for most the season). But my point was I don't think he's good enough to be a first choice centre in a team that has aspirations to win the league etc.

I'm happy with 1-17 as the starting 17, perhaps I'd reward Penny over Russell because of appearances and tries scored. In fact I'd go as far to say on a couple of occasions we won games on the back of Penny's inclusion.

I'm a big fan of Penny and hope he gets plenty of game time. I like the way Russell runs the ball back, I just wonder how he will cope with the inevitable last tackle aerial bombardment. Don't want to sound heightist but he isn't the tallest!

I agree to a point, Penny deserves his place. But for me, Russell brings huge 'go-forward' and a decent amount of pace to the backline. For a squad (according to other threads) lacking punch up front, a meter maker like Russell is just what we need. I'd have to find a spot for him.

I know his limitations at fullback, but with 2 half backs and a ball playing loose, I think we could cope with having a running fullback as opposed to a playmaker.

The back three of Russell, Lineham and Penny has meters and points in it, I think that should be first choice. Sandow and Gidley in the halves. Ratchford is more than competent in the centres, and may benefit from playing wider, in a bit of space.

Beyond that, the team picks itself

This sounds pretty good to me. I re-watched our last game against Saints the other day, Ratchford looked very comfortable in the centres (more so than Atkins, costing us two tries by shoving players away for no reason). He attracts tacklers because they know how dangerous he is with the ball in hand. Also that tap back inside to Johnson was beautiful!

I struggle a bit with Russell but I must admit that our go forward and speed of PTB was much better when he was in the starting line up last year, so I think I'd go with...

Russell
Lineham Ratch Atkins (just over Evans) Penny
Gidley Sandow
Hill Clark Sims
Hughes Currie
Westwood

Dwyer
Dodds
Westerman
B Evans

I can't see past Gidley as full back, I do think Ratchford and Sandow have the potential to be a really exciting half back combination, looking forward to the season in a way that I haven't for a while.