Welcome back also.
I have to say that Ratchford would be first on the team sheet for me (in both senses). He is an excellent pivot and playmaker when he comes forward and of course an excellent goal kicker and a decent defensive FB, so I would want him on the field for the full game. I don't think Thewlis is a winger and Ashton doesn't look a natural either tbh, it's simply a position where he gets some space and freedom to strike. Thewlis is already a very good FB but doesn't yet have the ability to probe the defence and conjure a gap in the same way that Ratchford can - hardly surprising considering the difference in experience. He can certainly come into the line though and convert an overlap opportunity into a try / try assist. So while my heart would say make room for Thewlis in the first 17 my head would say he has to wait and that Powell has made the correct call for these three players.
All that would probably mean Davis filling in at hooker whilst / if Walker has a rest. I have been pleasantly surprised by Walker as he seems to have really kicked on. I would say his distribution is flatter and faster than Clark in general, and of course he now has a bit of a kicking game. Like Clark he is quick off the mark when presented with a small defensive lapse but loses out in some areas because of his size. I think he will do a really good job in Clark's absence and it will be interesting to see how Powell gets him to develop further.

Did well to win but made exceptionally hard work of it. Defence looked unorganised at times and same old wire problems; too many penalties and unforced errors.
Definitely work to do, but good to get the win

We had a fair few chances to score more and make more breaks but that sharpness with come with time. Bullock looks like he will be good for us, not saying he's on Hills level but i won't complain with him coming off the bench for us. Wrench had a decent game but i think once King is fit he steps straight back in to the team which i'm happy with. I know people don't seem impressed with Holmes but i though (apart from the yellow) he had a good game. Hits like a truck and his go forward was decent and will get better. Matau'tia was ok and goes looking for work so hopefully he will go well. I could complain about the overall performance but i saw ALOT of good in the game and impressive stuff that will get better and click 100% as the season goes on. It's game 1 so there's no worry from me. COYW

Ratchford has probably lost a bit of spark and pace but i suppose he needs to be in the team for goal kicking alone. His goal kicks were outstanding yesterday, especially the last one to seal the win.

Not to mention two top-class passes to create tries and a try saving tackle. Man of the match by some distance.

A lot to agree with there WO.
Ratch is definately my 1st choice full back for the reasons you gave. And let's not forget, he won us the game with a touchline pressure kick.
Thewlis is his stand in. Absolutely no qualms about putting him in if Ratch is injured/suspended (or even filling a gap in the halves).
Ashton and Charnley are my 1st choice wingers.
King and Ma'tautia are my first choice centres. Wrench is still learning but he had a better game than I've seen before from him.
As you say Walker has come on a lot and on depending on the opposition I could see him starting ahead of Daryl (but that would be tactical only).
Clark is still the stand out hooker for me. From what I read he played a lot of last year carrying injuries, and I wonder whether there are still some after effects from those looking at yesterdays game. I hope he's given enough rest to ensure he gets back to his devastating best.

My view on king is the opposite…
Connor Wrench has got his opportunity because of Kings absence and doesn’t warrant dropping, that’s no reward and how it might affect the kids confidence. King can sit it out and wait his chance.
If a player earns the shirt, he keeps it. I’d rather see Wrench respond knowing king is waiting. Competition is healthy.

Thewlis…a winger!?
Good grief..!!

I’ve made no secret on here that I’m a huge fan of Ratchford.
However I’m telling you now Ratchford is not as good a Thewlis at fullback.
Putting Thewlis on the wing is no less a sin than Bennett playing Austin on the wing.

I would put Ratchford in as 14 utility, he’s 30 now and on the slide, we need to wrap him in cotton wool. He has so much talent him off the bench is the Heinz 57 we need….Livett being another.
Playing 14 is no disrespect but the opposite, like saving the strawberry off a cream cake til last.
Thewlis is second only to Tomkins imo. He will be England 1 within 2 years.

Ratchford off the bench adds to an already light bench, I agree Thewlis should be given a chance this year but shifting ratchford to the bench adds to our woes.

Thewlis will be first choice fullback before long. For the time being though Ratchford is a better option, certainly at linking up in attack.

Agree with duckie about Thewlis on the wing, it's an option if we have a few injuries but he's a fullback and a very good one at that. The shirt will be his before long he just needs to be patient, ratch will miss games here and there so Thewlis will get back I the side sooner or later. We certainly don't need to be signing a new fullback to replace Stef when he retires.

Diz, Ratchford adds options on the bench. 1234567&13. We go with 3 forwards.
My harsh decision is to drop a 9 is made easy with Clark head failure.
My 9 would always play 60-80 mins. A bench utility forward can cover a rest for the 9 if required. I’m not a fan of 2 9s if that compromises pack weight, but I would always want a utility back on the bench. There only one utility with more Swiss knives than Ratchford, and that’s Livett.

Thewlis has played very well on the wing and is unfortunate not to be ahead of Ashton and Charnley for a spot in the 13 based on 2021. He has to prove to me that he has the capability to provide the same sort of link play that Ratchford is able to, to be worthy of a starting spot at full back

do you not think you should give it a rest over livett, he's been gone two years, you're sounding a bit single white female on this.

Whilst there is a lot of argument as to who should be playing and in what position that is a pleasant change from past years when it was all about who could 'fill in' when we had an injury / suspension. At the very least we have strong competition for FB, Centre and BR. And regardless who actually gets picked, the 'loser' will still get a game in the Reserves on Saturday.