In 2011 we had one of our best defensive records ever, do you think it's just coincidence we also had the best attacking record ever?

Ratchford can be a big threat, but he is not a good fullback and does not have the play-making skills to be a top class half back. Unless he bulks up enough to have a future as a no 13 his best chance for us is in the centre, where a player with lesser ball-playing skills but with a good step and swerve can thrive.

A poor defense generally means camping out on your own line then gifting the opposition possession and repeat sets whether it be conceding penalties, drop outs, handling errors or simply kicking the ball back to the opposition after they have scored. Very draining plus without the ball it's pretty difficult to score.

A great defense means you're stopping the opposition further up the field and getting the ball back in more dangerous positions. You'll generally have more possession of the ball and you're less tired. If you have the players to capitalise on that possession then you'll score more points.

I think if someone commented that it was a bit chilly outside you'd have to argue that it's a lovely evening!

Ratchford is the third, maybe soon to be the fourth, best fullback at the club (behind Russell, Gidley and soon maybe Johnson). He's not in the same league as Sandow and Gidley at halfback. He's not big enough to play in the pack. He is however highly suited to playing at centre especially in a team who's best centre at the minute is a young forward 'filling in'.

Can someone explain what all this 'bulking up' is? A player will have an optimum playing weight, any weight above that will be to their detriment.

as you have pointed out, its a load of rubbish.

For me, the 1 spot will be contested by Russell and Johnson long term.

Johnson looked brilliant and a natural at 1 last season.... Russell gives us that go forward and puts us on the front foot.... Gidley is also a brilliant 1.

All 3 are better FB's than Ratchford

Gidley could be moved to 1, and Ratchford could be brought in at 6... But i really cant see that helping Sandow, who will be our main strike player.

We know gidley and sandow work really well at 6 and 7... Its great to have Gidley at 6, top tackling and taking pressure off the pack.. gidley will knock props down all day... Smith will probably change it against the lesser teams..... Ratchford is a talented player and im sure he will get game time at 6.. Gidley will need to be kept fresh, even though he is probably the fittest player on the books.

I hope he gets some game time at centre and nails down a spot there. I would have him over Atkins every day of the week at centre.

A lot of sense there at times through the season for whatever reason there will be changes including as you say keeping Gidley fresh, Ratchford will be in Smiths plans because he is a talent whether he can step in at six and eventually become playmaker in chief only time will tell.

Hmmm. So Ben Westwood didn't bulk up to make the transition from centre to second row? Nor did Gary Mercer?

I think they did, and not to the detriment of their performance either, quite the opposite.

If a player is going to make such a transistion [ipermanently[/i, rather than be saddled with the dreaded utility tag, then their body shape and style of play has to change to cope with the demands accordingly. I wouldn't want to put Stef on a steriods and lard diet and turn him into Jo Brand & Graham Appo's lovechild and lose his running ability as a result, but he would be performing a slightly different role at LF, and would need to adapt as such.

Westerman looks bigger to me.

Atkins has a destiny in the 2nd row i think

Fair comment Morrissey. However, as you alluded to in the second part of your post it can only really be judged on whether that change is part of a natural process and whether the likes of Westwood were always fighting against the timber whilst operating at centre?

As above. The players mentioned didn't suddenly gain 10kg in the off season to change position.

With a sudden weight gain the gain is hardly likely to be the right kind of weight and would probably involve a fairly hefty increase in body fat.

It then would also involve a reduction in speed and flexibility.

Also worth noting that weight has no real bearing on strength in this environment.

Did any go to the training session with roosters yesterday.
The guardian has a picture of Dodds taking part, so hopefully he must only be a couple of weeks away from being available???

I went to the opposed training session last night, with Roosters.

Dodds was on the pitch, & participating.

I was a little underwhelmed by his physique. He is not the strapping Aussie prop, that I anticipated.

However he held down a 1st team jersey with Brisbane Broncos, & played in the 2015 NRL Grand Final so he obviously has a lot to offer us.

NRL have seen something in our Stef according to TS in interview today. Him and Hill but have chosen to stay in SL.