So when would you play him, seeing as he can't now play for the academy side due to the no overage rule?

How is Tomkins playing against Salford in the first game of the season that much different to him playing against Salford or Wire in a friendly? What's the risk?

Think threads like this show the difficulties we are going to have this season - Our first 13 still looks pretty good but once we start picking up injuries we litterally have no strength in depth with the losses we have had over the past 2 years.

At the start of the 2011 season we were capable of naming two packs as good as any in SL...now we struggle to name one Almost wish we had the option of giving fielden another year now!

Looking very weak in the pack with tuson and hansen out, but I would go with the following;

1. Sam
2. Charnley
3. Goulding
4. Hughes
5. Richards
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Mossop
9. Micky
10. Lauaki
11. Taylor
12. Farrell
13. SOL
------------------
14. Dudson
15. Prescott
16. Powell
17. Gelling

Should be enough for Salford on Friday but unfortunately see nothing more than big disappointment the week after against wire!

Been told Sam isnt fit either so weather he plays on Friday or not is a doubt... not sure how much truth is in that though.

My team would be..


Sam if fit... if not Murphy.
Charnley
Goulding
Hughes
Richards
Green
Smith
Prescott
McIlorum
Mossop
Tuson
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Lauaki
Dudson
Gelling
L.Tomkins

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Hughes
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
Mcilorum
Prescott
Tuson
Farrell
O'Loughlin

Lauaki
Taylor
Flower
Tomkins

Bit depressing writing that - the squad's gone downhill pretty quickly hasn't it?

Thornley was brought in as a direct replacement for Carmont so would like to see him establish a partnership down the left with Pat without swapping and changing every week between him, Gelling and Hughes. I see Hughes more as a back rower. Putting rumours of injury to one side id go

Sam
Josh
Goulding
Thornley
Pat
Green
Smith
Prescott
Mike Mc
Mossop
Hughes
Farrell
Lockers

Dudson
Taylor
Flower
Logan/Powell ( cant decide on a straight swap for Mike or move smith to 9 and Powell to the halves)

Not seen any of the trial games but from what has been said I'd go:-

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

Dudson, Taylor, Burke and Powell.

Thornley at centre over Hughes who's a 2nd rower.
Hughes 2nd row in front of Gelling.
Two props on the bench is a must with Burke as 3rd forward.
Powell can provide cover at 6,7 & 9. Has to be in there IMO.

I'm not sure what I'd do if Sam's out injured, Murphy dropped far too much ball in the friendlies. Perhaps a Gelling-Thornley partnership on the left with Richards at 1. Anyone seen much of Burgess?

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