I know it’s fairly early but what’s everyone hoping for? We’ve certainly got a few choices but I’d go something like

French
Marshall
Hardaker
Bibby
Burgess
Hastings
Leuluai
Flower
Powell
Burgess
Farrell
Greenwood
O’Loughlin

Bullock
Partington
Clark
Isa

Depending on how he’s gone in training I’d give Manfredi a run at sub, just give him 15 mins or so. Then play him for half a game against Leigh to slowly ease him back into it.

I think you will find Smithies, greenwood, Club band Hankinson will all be pushing for a spot in that 17. I think Partington will be very lucky to anywhere near the first 17 wit hthe rest of the squad fit.

Regardless of his squad number, i think based on his size he is our 6th or 7th choice prop.

I believe Flower, Burgess, Clubb, Bullock, clarke and possibly even greenwood will be ahead of him for front row places.

Lockers is our 1st choice 13 with smithies clearly our back up so i think Partington will start the season off playing reserves.

I completely forgot about Smithies, yes I’d have him on the bench instead of Partington. Greenwood is in the starting 13 I put, as for Clubb he should be nowhere near the 17, too slow and makes nowhere near enough meters. Hankinson should only get in if Hardaker is at full back

Hardaker
Burgess
Hankinson
Bibby
Marshall
French
Hastings
Burgess
Leuluai
Flower
Farrell
Greenwood (but Isa will be picked)
Lockers

Powell
Smithies
Bullock
Clarke

Hardaker
Burgess
Hankinson
Bibby
Marshall
French
Hastings
G Burgess
Powell
Flower
Farrell
Greenwood
Smithies

Partington
Lockers
Bullock
Byrne

It is too early to call though. The friendlies will give a good indicator on where Lam sees players playing in the main and the tactics he seeks to infuse in. Both are intriguing as the other

EDIT: Gildart is injured

From whats been said - Im fairly certain the half backs will be Lealuai and Hastings.

Not sure where French and Hardaker fit in.

With Gilly out he'll probably go Hardaker in the centres and French to full back. Whether that will continue once Gilly returns I suppose depends on how Zak goes. It would actually be a good career move for him if he thrives there. Internationally we are far more stacked at fullback than in the centres.

Trouble is for me at least Hardaker is a flat average centre but an excellent fullback, the best for my money at least in SL so other than for injuries move him?

FB 6 French
RW 2 Marshall
RC 1 Hardaker
LC 23 Bibby
LW 5 J.Burgess
SO 31 Hastings
SH 7 Leuluai
P 14 Flower
H 9 Powell
P 19 Bullock
SR 16 Smithies
SR 12 Farrell
LF 10 G.Burgess

S 8 Clubb
S 13 O'Loughlin
S 15 Greenwood
S 22 Clark

We don't tend to play much silky rugby in these early games given rust and weather, plus we have changes in the halves and backs. Go big and try to win the battle up the middle. Longer term I'd like to see Smith coming off the bench, but this isn't the right one to throw him into. I'd be targeting that Toronto home game for him to play in depending on how they start the season.

He's doubtful for the Warrington game according to an interview I saw with Lam, so we won't see him in any of the friendlies

Hardaker
Marshall
Hank
Bibby
J.Burgess
French
Hastings
Flower
Powell
G.Burgess
Greenwood
Faz
Smithies

Lockers
Clark
Tommy
Partington

Hardaker
Marshall
Hankinson
Bibby
Burgess
French
Hastings
Burgess
Powell
Flower
Farrell
Greenwood
O'Loughlin

Leuluai
Bullock
Clark
Smithies/Isa

I know where you're coming from but I don't think he's been afforded the opportunities at centre that he has at fullback, at least at this level. He played centre in all his games at Fev I believe and was signed by Leeds on the strength of them. Many fullbacks started in different positions and often return to them with great success. He was also given the nod at international level over Percival so he must have the tools.

I think it's more a case of what's best for the team though. I don't think keeping an individual in his preferred position (if indeed it still is his preferred position) at the expense of team balance is the right way forward. The absence of Gilly swings that in favour of Zak to centres for mine. When everyone is fit I still would like to see what the French/Hastings combination looks like. If it clicks it could be devastating.

For me Hank comes in for Gilly rather than Zak and Bibby in the other centre. Otherwise what was the point in signing Bibby? French and Hastings HB, Tommy bench 9.