fairbank recovering from big shoulder op,looking to be back around xmas time...

mcgillvary is ready to train with full team very soon

taai not even expected to be in the country till xmas! bit of a hold up here??? hope hes getting his preseason somewhere down under... shame hes not going to get much of one here

Ta'ai is training with the New Zealand Warriors.He will join the Giants after Christmas.

It's quite usual for overseas players to come after Xmas so they can spend time with the family.

2013 squad
1 Grix
2 jerry
3 Leroy
4 wardle
5 George
6 robbo
7 brough
8 Koppy
9 fuey
10 crabtee
11 Chan
12 Lawrence
13 ferres

14 lunt (hooker int)
15 lod (second row/loose)
16 fielden (prop)
17 Patrick (second row/prop)

First game against saints. Start off with a large agressive pack similar to last years squad with the addition of Koppy in place of mason. The starting 13 when fit would be a match for any squad. Strong runners, defensively strong in the if the park and lots of pace out wide! Then the proposition of bringing on lod fielden and Patrick.....would scare the hell out of me if I was in the opposition side!
This team for me is what we need to start with. Majority of our old squad with Koppy and fielden coming in as a replacement for mason and one to bump up the pack. Let the other nenew lads loose later as they earn it. Lots of potential in this side!

hey you stole my team! well apart from swapping odonnell for chan on the bench

and maybe murphy at full back for grix.

would be happy enough with your line up though too.

koppy and crabtree starting at props is the way to go for me with fielden and patrick off the bench!

these should lay a good platform for brough and robbo to create chances for cudjoe, wardle, mcgillvary and george

1 Grix
2 McGilvary
3 Cudjoe
4 Wardle
5 George
6 Brough
7 Robinson
8 Crabtree
9 Lunt
10 Kopczek
11 Lawrence
12 Patrick
13 Ferres
14 Fiaimu
15 Fielden
16 Chan
17 Tai ai

Could do a bit of both- eorl is capable of big minutes so could spell it so that they spend some time on field together whilst having at least one of the two out there.

Hasn't Fielden has played one game in 2 years?

Why anyone has him in their team on that basis is beyond me - once he has proved his fitness and earned a place then fine.

Think you are right,this has got to be the way to prevent burn out.Only thing though PA should not go public on this even if it is his intention.NB made that mistake of not playing his cards close enough to his chest on rotation,and it backfired on him,having in the end to come out publicly saying he had abandoned it.

I'd rather Baloo tell a white lie on injury status if need be.

Agree, i would be tempted to use him as a spell prop rather than a starter and punch holes in tireing defences - as he gets more game time give him more time and then start him.

PA seems to think his fitness isn't a problem- his skills may be a bit rusty but as long as he can catch a ball and run forward as a prop he doesn't need much more in attack- his defence may need some work.

fielden off the bench and rotated with mullally if needing a rest keep em fresh!

1) Grix
2) George
3) Wardle
4) Leroy
5) Jerry
6) Brough
7) Robbo
Eorl
9) Fooey
10) Koppy
11) Ferres
12) Bruno
13) LOD

Bench

14) Lunt
15) Patrick
16) Fielden
17) Chan

You have the likes of Mullaly, Ta'ai, Ferguson, Fairbank all to come in plus all the youngsters.

I also think this will be Matty Dawsons breakthrough season and we will see a lot more of him.