Burgess is not ready yet for me.
12 months before SL for me (unless we get the chance to play him/Hampshire etc in any potentially one sided games in CC or late SL games).

I'd agree with all that. Can't see it though. Hughes has the no 4 jersey and I'd be surprised to see Wane not play him there despite the fact I think your team is has the right players in the right places.

And with no disrespect tot Salford who have been rebuilding (to put it mildly) if players like L Tomkins and Burke are going to get games this season it's against sides like Salford to give them a go.

I think Burke has earned a bench place from his performances. The fact that he can play prop, second row or loose forward is a big bonus.

For the same reason I would have Powell on the bench as he can play 6,7 or 9. I know that's a bit harsh on Logan because he has also done well in the "friendlies"

The centre position is still the one that bothers me most, of the three Hughes, Thornley and Gelling, I'd probably go with Gelling for his aggressive running.

We had better hope that some of the youngsters can exhibit "Sam like" abilities to step up a level.

What a woefully weak squad.

Good job the standard of SL is utterly pathetic or we really would have mid table mediocrity to look forward too.

What's up with Lauaki?

He was stripped to play last night but put through what appeared to be the most half-hearted fitness test on the pitch at half-time followed by being ordered by different medical staff to jog up and and down the touchline for the first ten minutes of the second half before disappearing down the tunnel without playing any part in the game.

Going off body langauge and generally lack of effort being put into his warm-up didn't look at all happy at being there.

Assuming we have not picked up any extra knocks I would go with

1. Sam
2. Josh
3. Goulding
4. Thornley
5. Richards
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Prescott
9. McIllorum
10. Mossop
11. Farrell
12. Hughes
13. Locky

14. Tomkins (expect big things from him this year)
15. Gelling
16. Dudson
17. Taylor

Gelling as the impact back row forward.

Has Gelling got the frame to play in the back row?

I now that SW touted him for a forward role, but he looks a bit gangly to me.

Has he beefed up pre-season

He has played nearly all his rugby before Wigan in the back row. I personally think we will need his yards down the middle.

Shaun Wane has already said that he will replace like for like and won't move players out of position so that would rule out switching Richards to fullback and would suggest that Murphy and Tierney are backup for Tomkins.

Murphy seems fairly confident under the high ball but when the balls on the ground he seems to panic.

He was a centre as a junior at Sydney but they moved him into the pack, Auckland kept him there so presumably they saw something in his game that was more suited to the back row.

If I'm not mistaken Hock, Hansen and O'Loughlin were all quite slim as youngsters and eventually filled out as they got older.

I was not dismissing him at a back rower and agree that if he can make 200 meters a game when on the wing then he may have potential in the pack.

Just looks a bit lean (well he did last year)



Your right about that and obviously players will naturally beef up as the years go by.

I suppose what i am saying is that i would prefer to have all that size and athleticism in the 3/4's as opposed to just another big back rower.

I was really looking forward to seeing how him and Thornley got on this year.

Hughes has certainly not embarrassed himself in the centres but i do think he should be slotted into the pack before Gelling.

Team will be:

Sam
Josh
Daz
Hughes
Paat
Green
Smith
Mossop
Micky mac
Prescott
Flower
Faz
Lockers

Tomkins
Tuson
Eric
Taylor / Dudson

Given the line up, I think I'm going to have to change my predictions for the opening game.

Which was / is?

Last 20 minutes when the oppositions tiring, and he can slip in gradually