after having far to many hookers and 1/2 this year we look paper thin we should have kept tommey lee , i think we still need to be looking for someone else you can play 6 or 7 . If we are going to play with 2 hookers (one on the bench)at the moment we have 5 playes to cover 4 postions given normal injurys during the season we need to sign more cover or hope are youngsters are ready for the first team

You are correct 84 Brown played three tests in 2010. France.Then PNG and New Zealand in the Four Nations .Will update my data,thanks 84.

I'm another who reckons Sheepridge Giant has the team just about there. Only question mark is Ta'ai who's an unknown quantity to us at the mo.

If the rumours circulating are right then he's gonna be starting prop and an absolute bloody monster at that.

Arnie "The Terminator" Lomax's second coming. Be afraid be very afraid SL

If this is the team that PA is looking at and which most posters on here seem to agree with then my view is that it is a very solid team which will be strong defensively.

They will not ship many points and wil not be bullied in the midle like we were last year.

I just hope that Thorman and Purtill are working very hard on attacking moves and the attacking system.

I worry that attack wise it does not have enough to break down really well organised defences. I can see us beating the top teams in the arm wrestle can we break them down near the try line.

To do that Durham we need leroy and jerry to have top seasons next year.

People seem to be thinking ta'ai is going to be played at prop - i dont think he will be.

Paul Anderson is expecting massive things from Mullally and is expecting him to be pushing for a starting spot.

Fielden will be fit and rearing to go for the start of the year. Kopczak will be a starting prop. Crabtree will be looking for a massive year before the world cup. Patrick also in there fighting for a spot. Johnson also coming through

Lunt/Faiumu hooking

O Donnell, Ta'ai, Chan, Ferres, Lawrence, Ferguson, Fairbank for the remaining spots.

I do however think O Donnell and Fielden will be used sparngly though even if fit.

i also think players that will play a lot of time at batley are

Josh Johnson
Ben Blackmore
Matthew Sarsfield
John Molloy

we did offer tommy lee a contract but he opted not to take it, could of def been an option if he stayed, might of even been out stand off but im happy with robbo/brough.

if the above two get injured then we have grix who can cover.

if one of the hookers gets injured then robbo can revert and grix again can come in.

we have abit of space in the cap if anyone comes available...maybe even batley might offer us someone!

joel farrell is doing well as a yougster at hooker too.

i also dont think ta'ai will be playing prop, i didnt even put him in my team as yet to see him play and dont really know where he will play, i think 2nd row.

mullally very close to making my team..he is going to surprise a few i feel, highly rated. but patrick has pipped him on the bench in my team. with crabtree/kopzchak starting and feilden on bench.

odonnell and fielden to be used sparingly,..thats when taai/chan/mullally/fairbank will come in

I reckon it may well be the backs who may be in for a shake up, their defence at times especially on the righthand side last season was very weak to say the least.

Having been off posting for a while what a positive 5 page thread to read. Really a giants thread ? Roll on next season. Kopcaz and fielden ain't be signed as squad players!!
We will be tough up the middle and defensively strong if not that creative in the halves. Hope Fairbanks gets an opportunity. Think it will be a different style of rugger at john smiths next year - bring it on - season tickets - plus an extra one already purchased.

Lets be reet,an ex NRL first grader versus a Widnes reject,I know who I am tipping to do the business out of those two.

Not a reject sheepridge! Widnes wanted to keep him but he didn't want to stay!

I don't think Paul Anderson will look at it that way, I think it will be more about playing players in their correct position.

Mullally is an out and out prop.

now now... Ta'ai was harldy playing many games in the NRL.. 52 in 3 seasons is hardly a regular. and released by the warriors so you could say he is a reject. but looking forward to seeing what he has to offer.

as for mullally being a reject..i disagree, widnes were desperate to keep hold of him and were very angry he chose to come to hudds after they had even sent him to oz to gain more experience the season before as part of his development.. so upset they sent him off to whitehaven for the rest of the 2012 campaign after he signed for us!