I doubt we will see as many changes next year as we can't afford to lose matches in the opening 23 rounds to the 'lower' teams in the league. Personally I would be looking at having enough points on the board after 23 games to be able to rest players in the 7 weeks before the semi finals when it will be tough game after tough game. I'd look at our main 17 being:

Bowen (needs to step up at the start and end of the season though. Both not good enough for me)
Charnley
Gelling
Thornley
Burgess
Powell/New Signing
Smith
Crosby
McIlorum
Clubb
Tomkins
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Bateman
Tautai (hopefully the impact we've been looking for)
Williams
Sutton (should get his chance again until Flower returns unless we keep Taylor)

The best balance IMO, and a way to accommodate all 3, would be Rocky at 1 (eventually) Powell at 6 and Williams coming off the bench at 9. Williams and Powell have both shown they can defend well in the line and comfortably deal with 40+ tackles, I wouldn't fancy rocky needing to get through that sort of work. My main worry would be whether Powell has got enough quality to steer us round the park and take control, particularly in big games.

Clubb has been excellent this year and Crosby has come on a bundle. I'm happy with those two and Flower but after that we're a little short (even more so with Flower suspended). I think Tautai will go well and Sutton could develop but guys like Pettybourne and Dudson are a liability.

If and when Taylor leaves we need a replacement.

Two very biased comments there mate.

Firstly - Amor, Walmsley, Richards, Masoe, LMS, Thompson, Walker, Savelio represents as much depth as your selection of props.

Secondly, that is a shocking comment. Best pack in the comp is a bold claim, but by miles?

Ok I'll admit to being biased! But in my defence I was arguing the point with someone who was rubbishing our own props, so I went a little OTT.

My best pack claim is based on the second row really. Any 3 out of O'Loughlin, Tomkins, Farrell and Bateman would grace any team. O'Loughlin is the best all round forward in the British game so any pack that he is in has a head start.

Don't forget that the Wigan pack was a man down (as if we could) so I wouldn't read anything into your victory as far as your pack goes. On reflection. The Wigan, Saints and Wire packs will be strong next season. You wouldn't be surprised to know that I think the Wigan pack is the best. I think you'd struggle to argue with any conviction that Saints pack is better.

(Though no doubt you'll try)

Haha.

My opinion on our pack wasn't based on the game last week. I genuinely believe that our pack is better than most in the league and bettered by nobody.

I agree on O'Loughlin being the best player in the league, he is awesome. Farrell and Bateman are also top top players and especially in the case if Bateman he will only get better. Tomkins is yet to get going in my opinion but on his day he's a real handful and is very dependable defensively. I rate Flower very highly also and Crosby impresses me but is yet to find consistency in my opinion.

To balance that out, I also feel that Amor and Walmsley are top props and Roby is the best hooker in the league. Obviously we will miss Soliola and Manu but Vea and our next signing (which is rumoured to be announced very soon) will hopefully bridge that gap. Luke Thompson and Greg Richards are fast becoming hard to ignore.

Overall there's not a lot in it. You have the better 2nd row and loose forward and we have the better props and hooker. I personally believe we just about edge it. 90% of Wigan fans will say yours is the stronger pack, 90% of Saints fans will say that ours is; that's life. One thing for certain though is that neither pack is miles ahead of the other.