Quote: DaveO "If we really at the start of the season with Flower and Mossop (I assume he is still injured) then.
1 Bowen
2 Charnley
3 Gelling
4 Sarginson
5 Burgess
6 Williams
7 Smith
8 Crosby
9 McIlorum
10 Tautai
11 J Tomkins
12 L Farrell
13 O'Loughlin
14 Bateman
15 Clubb
16 Patrick
17 Hampshire
I have Hampshire at 17 as I'd love to see him given a go at 6 if McIlorum goes off for a rest and William goes to 9.
Then again that might not be good for Williams who needs time to get his partnership with Smith going but I just can't see L Tomkins in the side.
When Flower is back and Mossop fit, I'd expect them to replace Clubb and Patrick with Clubb the most vulnerable.'"
Can't really argue with that team, although I would start Clubb and bring Tautai on off the bench for impact. Maybe Powell rather than Hampshire on the bench, to act as a straight swap for McIlorum. I'm not a big fan of changing half back combinations mid game or having to move 3 or 4 players into different positions to accommodate 1 sub.
I'm really interested to see how Powell, Williams and Hampshire go this season. I was expecting Powell to get first crack at 6 (and he still might though the squad numbers suggest it will be Williams) but I'm pretty excited to see Williams getting a run there with a full pre season behind him. From the performances last season I still think Hampshire is best utilised from fullback and Williams is the best option to provide an alternative hooking style, spelling McIlorum off the bench. I agree I don't see where Logan fits in and I think it would have been best for both parties if he had moved on in pre season. Happy for him to prove me wrong, just can't see it.
I hope we don't chop and change the 1,6,7 and 9 positions too much. We need a settled spine and I don't think regularly moving players round 2 or 3 positions will be very beneficial.