Are we not fielding a lock?
I'm not sure we can afford to play with only 12.
I think the best back three (Sharp, Melling and BJB) all have a preference for full back, which means they could potentially rotate in game. McDermott used to rotate Melling and Sharp last season in game, often on what seemed a random basis.
Clubb has been shifted around between back row and wing and centre. Next season he needs to settle into a position. As centre is the position we are weakest in then I'd suggest that is best (and I feel it best suits him). He desperately needs practice and game time. If Clubb loses form or is injured then Luke May would be the next choice. Howell is obviously the first choice and we should all be praying he stays injury and suspension free next year.
We have three halfbacks (Orr, Dorn, Gale) who are all I feel better suited to second receiver i.e. 6. I've gone with Orr and Dorn for now. Whichever two are playing best should get the shirt. Toss a coin as to who gets 6 and who gets 7.
I don't think I need to justify why Temata and McCarthy-Scarsbrook are the starting props, so I won't.
I terms of the hooking role, I like Ben Kaye's commitment in defence, but feel Ellis would maybe offer more in attack. Again, I'd be happy to review this later. Randall gets the starting berth and is one of, if not the first name on the team sheet.
Joe Mbu is far more talented than Brian Mac seems to think and his attitude and workrate are both first class. Jason Golden was our best back rower last season and he has a little bit of speed, so I would go with him to start.
The bench features Dave Williams, because he is bigger and quicker than Danny Ward. Ward also has an irritating habit of giving away stupid penalties and dropping the ball. I don't rate Oli Wilkes, but apparently he was quite good for Wakefield last year, so on the basis he is more of a known quantity than Matt James and Ben Jones I've given him the other bench spot. If one or both of Matt James and Ben Jones impress then I'd be happy to review.
Luke Williamson failed completely to impress and so isn't in the team. Robinson was injury prone and hardly impressed either, but he did had one or two good games (Leeds away in particular) and is younger. Hopefully neither of these players are as terrible next year as they were last year.
So with all that in mind:
FB: Melling
W: Jones-Bishop
C: Clubb
C: Howell
W: Sharp
SO: Orr
SO: Dorn
P: McCarthy-Scarsbrook
H: Randall
P: Temata
SR: Golden
SR: Mbu
L: Purdham
Bench:
Ellis
Williams
Wilkes
Robinson
