Who's position is under threat ?
Before a ball had been kicked I think everyone would have said Tierney but he seems (IMO) to be getting better with every game while our half-backs to be blunt are offering nothing at the moment.
Sam to 6 and Smith/Williams fighting for the 7 shirt ?

Don't be silly, all the wet willies on here have already written his career off... Get with the program, and be depressed...

Sam to cover all positions in training, see where we are when he is back. Williams the most likely to be worried, stability of Smith would be needed with Sam's return at the moment.

Depending on McIlorum's fitness & Powell's form, how about Smith to 9, Tomkins & Williams in the halves?

I'd go for that, as i said, we would need to see where we are when he becomes available.... I'm a fan of Williams, but form a little sluggish at the moment... Early season tho, and he made a couple of good breaks against Salford, who were MUCH vaunted at the start of the season.

He's still about 6 weeks away isn't he? Might as well wait until then to decide... form is only temporary.

Just on Tierney, agree he has far exceeded expectations. Just needs to improve his support play. We made a few breaks against Salford and he was nowhere to be seen, but that will come in time I suspect. Bringing the ball out, under the high ball and in defence he has been great. Probably my MoM on Thursday.

If Tierney continues the way he has started Wane has an interesting decision. I'd have a think about Williams to hooker. Smith has not played well since Green left and he has shouldered all the responsibility, I think a halves partnership of Smith and Tomkins could work very well.

Maybe. I still think Williams is a real talent; he had a slow start to last season, but came good. And, as noted, even though he was very poor against Salford, he still made some telling breaks. And it's not like our team is full of players who can do that.

For me if his form stays and lets be fair he's still young he will make mistakes i'd keep Teirney at full back and give Williams a rest he is so out of sorts and again we forget hes still young rest him and let his for reappear

1 Manfredi

2 Charnley
3 Gelling
4 Sarginson
5 Gildart

6 Tomkins
7 Smith

9 Williams

Tbf though, I don't like Williams at 9, but Manfredi at 1 could be box office.

Still think his best position i easily in the halves, putting him at fullback has actually probably hampered his potential to become a world class half
He isnt comfortable under high balls and can be a turnstile in defence (how is his defensive organisation btw? Ive only seen him live 5-6 times), if Tierney or who ever is better at that stuff then surely 6/7 is his best choice
Your only worry might be his kicking game after 4-5 years at fullback, but Darren Lockyer and Anthony Milford did it fine, and the way Sky go on about him hes obviously better than them right?

You guys are aways complaining about smith right? Why not see if Williams has what it takes to run games?

Criticism of Williams is well overblown, remember he had a shorten offseason cause of England commitments. He'll get it sorted. When all are fit,

Tomkins
Manfredi
Gelling
Sarginson
Charnley
Williams
Smith

Sorted, Sam being back will be huge. Leadership, organisational, xfactor.

I'd go:

FB 22 Tierney
RW 5 Manfredi
RC 3 Gelling
LC 20 Gildart
LW 2 Charnley
SO.1 S.Tomkins
SH 6 Williams

H 13 O'Loughlin

S 7 Smith

Nothing against Sarginson, just think he's our third best centre on form. Smith average at best at SH but I think he would be an improvement on Powell as a bench hooker. He played well at 9 for ua when he first signed

Definitely Tomkins to full back for me, although Tierney is doing well and improving.

I think our whole game plan in attack revolves around having a creator at full back as well as a player that will offer his own running threat. That is why I'm convinced we'll see Tomkins back at 1 and unless we change the way we play it's the correct call IMO. When he is back I expect to see other players games improve because he's the type of player that brings out the best in those around him.

Great to have options though.

I think our areas of improvement need to come from:
creative roles within the team (1, 6,7,9)
pack leader, i.e. a big powerful experience prop

Tomkins will provide the 'x factor' from the back, he has to be played at FB. No one else in our team can come close to Sam, he needs to be played at FB given a free role to attack either flank running out wide either attacking the line or setting up his outside backs. At half back you're looking for someone to 'set up' other players/ball runners as a play maker, often only operating on one side of the pitch.

Who should be in the halves? Williams will come good. He's young, will attack the line and has a quick step. Smith, questionable. He's a good player but is he good enough? That's the debate. Hampshire? I don't get the hype to be honest, not in the senior team at least, if he would have impressed massively he wouldn't be bench warming at Cas.

I like Micky as a player, never been sold on him as a 9 though. I think he'd be a good 13, hardworking tackling machine and enforcer.

Tomkins
Charnley (although his 'facial injury' is an odd one') Sarge Gelling Manfredi
Williams (NEW 7)
Flower (NEW 9) Lockers
Bateman Faz
Micky
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NEW INTERCHANGE 9 NEW EXPERIENCE PROP Clubb, J Tomkins