Ta'ai is the real mystery hardly anyone seems to have seen him play but the hype is there just see if he can live up to it and as he is not even in the country I doubt if the coaches and especially his team mates know what he is like.

not put ta'ai in as not seen him yet, can stick him in after pre season but who would you drop? i think he will play in the second row. will have to be very good to get ahead of ferres/odonnell/chan/lawrence

bit short in the centres position?? but lawrence can always revert if wardle/cudjoe get injured..dont want both out at same time though!

Didn't P.A go over to Oz on a mission to study coaching methods? Not long after it was reported that Ta'ai had signed for the Giants,so just maybe our coach is smarter than some people give him credit for,I personally think he is.

I think he is a smart coach but its a gamble however you look at it (as it is bringing in most players from down under), think we are all looking forward to seeing him play and hoping the hype is right.

yes i agree most players will get a look in and be rotated, fielden and odonnell in paticular will be rotated i feel to keep them fresh

im just trying to figure out our best starting 13..not easy!! could pick a couple of teams and still be fairly happy!

wardle very under rated, great in defence and so strong with the ball in hand

yes he went over to aus last year, will of put a few feelers out im sure...and nabbed taai who saints were after too

Fullback: Leroy
Wing: McGillvary
Centre: Wardle
Centre: Bruno
Wing: George
SO: Robinson
SH: Brough
LF: Luke O'D
Second Row: Ta'ai
Second Row: Chan
Prop: Fielden
Hooker: Fooey
Prop: Crabtree

Lunt
Patrick
Grix
Ferres

start, then move grix to fullback, leroy to centre and bruno to sr once they are worn down... can also move grix into half back if needed

That's a very light bench, only one prop rotation or are you putting ferres at prop?

If all fully fit I think you will see

Grix
McGillvary
Wardle
Cudjoe
George

Brough (Stand Off)
Robbinson

Crabtree
Lunt
Mullally

Chan
Ferres
O'Donnell (can also step into front row line up. Luke might be used as Gallen is in the NRL. Fully fit, it's possible)

Any 3 from Patrick/Fielden/Kopzack/Ta'ai (99% certain will be used as an impact player in back/front row)/Lawrence
Faiumu

Anderson will be blooding some young players next year, and expect to see some game time from Aspinall

i reckon kopzchak and crabtree will be starting props..

i agree taai will be used as an impact player from the bench in 2nd row..

interesting about aspinall..another 2nd rower

I'll go with

1, Grix (I think given game time Murphy will be a better full back and still pretty young)
2, Jerry
3, Leroy
4, Wardle
5, George
6, Robbo
7, Brough
8, Koppy
9, Lunt
10, Fielden
11, O'Donnell
12, Ferres
13, Bruno

14, Crabby
15, Ta'ai
16, Faiumu
17, Patrick/Fergy/Mason/Cording/Murphy/Bobby/Mulally

I think we will go for a strong solid opening 20 then tear in at the end of each half with the power of Crabs and Ta'ai and the step of Fuey.

I think we will consider 4 forwards on the bench, if we lose a forward during a game we have cover on the bench, a back and Bruno drops back and we bring a bencher on, a half and grix steps in with Leroy to FB and Bruno to centre.

Would have liked to see another half sign for us, Gaskell would have been perfect but think we will have to stick with what we have and rely on a decent youngster coming through.... bring back Tom Hemmingway!!