If you don't play Tomkins because he's not had a pre season run out when do you play him? You could say the same each week until the end of the year.

I think we're going with a different mentality this year. We've looked at Leeds just ambling along all year only to be fresh as daisys come the back end of the year and thought 'we'll have some of that'. I'm not saying we're going to purposely play poorly but I just get the feeling the first half of the season will be treated as an experimental period to look at some options and keep players fresh where possible.

Wane has gone with the attitude that he's knows what players like Tomkins, Richards, Lockers etc can do so is holding them back for the real action. We'll be rusty for a few weeks but does it really matter if come April/May we've lost half our matches? Probably not.

Losing Lima is a blow but not as bad as some make out. I remember a lot of gripes during his tenure that have now been forgotten. Hock is a big dent but we've more second rowers than sense and all it takes is for one (Farrell for me) to step up to the mark. Carmont was always phenomenal but at centre where going forward solid/decent will do...

That leaves the halves. As good as they were Tommy got crocked we had no partnership for the rest of the season. Finch shouldn't have played at all in the playoffs. If Smith/Green can come close to SW's billing ("I luurve me some fast strong half backs I dooo"icon_wink.gif and stay fit we are- on paper- in a better position than last year. On the other hand if one gets injured we're in the same position but with worse players. If you enjoy doom and gloom.

A rather depressing slant on the Tomkins situation in this evenings MEN, it goes on to say that Tomkins is expected to play against Salford on Friday. It goes on to say that Sam hasn't played in any of the pre-season games after suffering a knee injury which forced him out of their final play off game last season . Tomkins was also used sparingly by England in the Autumn Internationals.
Does this mean that he has been carrying a long term injury which has been treated with rest, or is it more?.

It would be depressing to see him run out on the Friday, which is the first day of the season to see him all strapped up.

James Graham, Sam Burgess, Stuart Fielden.

Surely Sam will start with Murphy going to Salford, I think Wanes been clever and not overworked him knowing how much we need him to fit for us to stand a chance of silverware.

Would like to see Gelling and Taylor in the 17, I feel they can offer that X factor that we might miss.

Looking forward to seeing Green, heard that he's been going well and looks in decent shape

Sam
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
McIlorum
Prescott
Hughes
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Dudson
Taylor
Burke
L Tomkins

I'd like to see this team. Only reason Powell doesn't make it is I think Green and Smith need as much time as we can to get them gelling together.