I don't think it was optimistic at all NK. The emergence of Partington and Byrne as genuine starters and the addition of a still clearly destructive Burgess coupled with Clark and Bullock (with a full year and pre season behind him) who have both shown themselves to have good minutes and good go forward has transformed our front row options. That's before we get to Havard, Kilner and Wells. This time last year we were pretty much looking at Clubb and Flower with some raw inexperience to back them up. That is some difference! Notice I haven't mentioned Flower for this year and who was our first choice prop last year. This time around he has to prove himself in order to get in front of at least 5 others!

Also it's a short turnaround so Lam will probably shuffle the pack around again on Friday at Salford.

We didn't win a single "big game" last season because we were bullied in the pack. I was hoping Burgess and Clark would fix that but I'm not convinced yet. As good as Hastings is/has been like all halves he will be useless behind an ineffective pack.

I agree that we are improving on the prop front but are overly reliant at the moment on the young guys ie under 20/21 to do the big minutes and start the game
We have some cracking young lads coming through and if we can keep them together in 2 or 3 years we could have a serious pack
I hope Havard and Flower go well today and Flower as starting prop sounds far better than Clubb

I’ve seen nothing from Clark to suggest he will become a regular first teamed and he is obviously behind the kids in Lam’s eyes
This year for me depends on how much of impact GB has on the pack if we are competitive in the big games

I think the right call would be to say it has the potential to be one of our strongest areas. I say that because I’m truth I’m looking all round the side at the minute and we look strong in most positions, especially when we’re at full strength. Good quality starting players and good quality back up in pretty much every area.

I think it’s a bit OT to say we might get turned over, I fully expect a victory today against a weak KR side. I think the pack we are likely to put out should dominate theirs and from that Hastings, French, Marshall and Manfredi should have a good day.

Out of the props we have at our disposal at the moment I reckon Clubb and Flower will be shipped out to make way for Wells and Kilner.

Wells is a 2nd row and clubb just signed a new 2 year deal so dont think that is going to happen.

Benny has a deal until the end of this year so he may be a bit vunerable

My mistake on Wells but his build is more of a front rower than a back rower. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him propping in years to come.

I know about Clubb but I’d hope we can release him somehow

Starting 13;

French
Marshall
Bibby
Zak
Manfredi
Hastings
Tommy
Bryne
Powell
Oli
Farrell
Isa
Smithies

G Burgess
Flower
Havard
Smith

I probably wouldn’t go with that starting front row but other than that I think it’s a decent side. Well capable of putting a decent score in against KR.

Rotating the props to keep them all fresh, I like it. Looking forward to seeing Havard.

Perhaps Bullock and Clark back in on Friday against Salford, since the team have a short turn around. Then best possible pack vs Catalans

Doesn’t make sense to me and the “rotating props” excuse. It just doesn’t wash. If we were truly rotating Bryne, Oli and possibly Havard would be rested given they’ve played every game (except Havard). Bullock and Clarke would be in, after all they’ve played twice.

I’ve nothing against Oli, Bryne or Havard playing at all but let’s call this what it is; a dropping of Bullock, Clarke and Clubb (the latter can stay dropped too).

Well we made hard work of that. Hats off to KR though they played well and were the better team.

HKR had a good go, I never thought they would win it. Marshall and Bibby were poor today, Burgess would have been chased out of the town by a pitchfork waving mob if he had made the errors Marshall made today.

Will Marshall get dropped?

Are you kidding? We were miles off our best but never looked like losing?