Here Here well said wonder if it is because Bateman will get the number 13 next year are off to NRL.

Perhaps Powell is the one who has been transformed into our goal kicker by Hodgson and is now irreplaceable.

Powell was a highly rated halfback throughout his late teens and early 20's, but he was unfortunate to break into the first team when we had Smith established as our scrum half and Finch then Green playing at 6. The halves were fairly settled. Powell was always something of a typical scrum half, good kicking game and a very good passing game with strong defence. The fact that our halves were quite settled meant he only got occasional chances in his preferred position due to injuries, and he partnered Matty Smith pretty much every time. Both are very similar and Powell was tasked with being a little more direct and didn't really have as much responsibility (which is only to be expected for a stand in). The fact that Powell then adapted to the hooking role and became an important part of the team in that position doesn't mean he can't switch back to the halves.

It's very rare that Powell has been able to play on our right edge (given Smith was pretty much an ever present), but when he has I think he's done quite well and looked quite fluid shifting the ball from left to right, something that might benefit our attack given how we've now got some genuine pace on the right edge in Sarginson (and the most underrated winger in Super League in Davies).

It should be interesting to see what body shape they are going for with Powell. Will he have shed some mass to gain some zip or will be be the more muscular type of half. I have no issue with him getting that squad number and he always seems more influential when not being spelled.

No real surprises for me except maybe Clubb at 8.
Powell at 7 not my personal initial choice but you've got give the lad a chance before he is written off. Wouldn't surprise me if he also became our regular goal kicker.

I don't think that SW has played a back on the bench for years if ever therefore, I just cannot see Escare playing from the bench.

If the pack are to play differently then having Powell at half will be seen better from a defence point view by SW and his assistants.

If I recall correctly Powell was intended to play at 7 versus the Roosters before he was injured in the warm up game so SW obviously rates him as a 7.

I also think that JT will start before Bateman

It’s not even that by all accounts.

Wane told the press yesterday that the kicking coaching is going well and Sam Tomkins is currently in pole position to take it on.

Look at the end of the day its something different and Im more than happy to give it a chance. If we'd stuck with Leuluai at 7 that would have been a different story.

Powell simply can't be any worse than Tommy at 7 surely?

I can see something like the following happening.

Sam will start at 1.
Powell will start at 7
Leuluai will start at 9.

Leuluai will go off and Powell will go to 9.
Sam will move to 7 and Escare will come on from the bench at FB.

That gives us a variety that I can’t see at any other club and our squad has phenomenal versatility. The opposition won’t know what we’re going to do from one week to the next and if the combinations work as we’re led to believe then it’ll very very interesting.

I think it's fair to say I'm confident of that. And anyway, as has been widely discussed, we have other options available to try. In this case, any change is all good.

At that time Powell was playing well at 7 (he had started the season really well) and was a shoe-in for the Roosters match - sadly he got injured and never featured much at 7 after that, will be interesting to see how he goes. If (and it was quite a while ago now) he could regain the form he was showing prior to that injury then he could surprise a few people - as has been said he cannot be any worse than Tommy was last season.

Think you're right. Was running the show from 7. Think he turned his ankle in training, stood on a ball if I remember rightly.