All 4 pre season games have been completed now and we are heading towards round 1 in less than two weeks.

What is your preferred line up for round 1 based on what we’ve seen and what everyone thinks is our best 17?

Have any players impressed you in pre season. This is the fans that really matters. Home tie in round one and it’s all about getting the win.

my line up would be:

Jowitt
Murphy
Hall
Lyne
Lineham
Gaskell
Lino
Whitbread
Smith
Atoni
Ashurst
Pitts
Proctor

Bowden
Battye
Tanginoa
Kay

Personally I'd put Kershaw in over Lineham and just wouldn't play Tanginoa until he has chance for a run out so would put Crowther in to spell Procter....or maybe even Langi.

Surely Taufua will start on the wing in front of Kershaw and Lineham for now. And Kay and Bowes in at 9? Then a toss up between Smith and Gaskell at 6.

Nice that we have a few quality options to go with especially in the back line but for me it’s got to be Taufua starting , simply no point leaving him out ,he’s only played a couple of hrs for us and we need that class on the field

I haven't seen a game where he has played better than Kershaw.
I'd love him to show his skills and he hasn't been bad, but for me, Kershaw has been better.

Kershaw for me also, he's never let us down and I think he's getting better and better

Personally think Lineham has been the best winger in pre season. Bowden was in a moon boot yesterday, Hood was still limping, Crowther looks to still be struggling with his calf and Tanginoa hasn’t played all pre season. Battye looked to be heavily strapped too yesterday and struggling abit, but his form has been brilliant in pre season.
I’d bob Smith at 9 in the absence of Hood, he drilled one out on the full yesterday, but also kicked a nice 40/20, to have that kicking game from a 9 is a really good option for me, plus can cover 6/7 if any injuries occur, he’s simply too good to leave out of the team.
Jowitt
Murphy
Hall
Lyne
Lineham
Gaskell
Lino
Whitbread
Smith
Atoni
Proctor
Ashurst
Pitt’s

Battye
Butler
Eseh
Kay

Although no player should be guaranteed a starting spot.
Signing players like Langi and Tafua, to have them not make the 17, seems a little odd.
Quite where to play them is another question altogether.

Forgot about Langi

Fair point, but like you say no guarantee for any player. As yet I have seen nothing in Tafua that convinces me he should start on the wing. Murphy would be my first choice and let the rest fight it out. Langi has done OK so I think he will start at centre and I would pick him with Hall.

Reason I went with Lineham is simply because after Murphy he has played the second best.

Kershaw went well but made a few errors.

Taufua I didn’t see play yesterday but saw his 40 minutes vs fax and he was okay but need to see more.

It’s really difficult to squeeze Langi in imo. He’s too good to leave out but he’s most certainly a centre. I was completely torn between Lyne and Langi. I just went with Lyne but I’d be happy with Langi.

Tanginoa may not have played but he is a destructive weapon in attack and if he’s fit he would be straight in for me. Only if he is fit.

I think Tafua is our strongest yardage ball carrier out of all the backs by far, if he doesn`t play we give that up but I agree the competition for a wing spot is really tough. For me Lineham has been one of our top performers in the pre season friendly's, coaching staff say he his training the house down and it`s 100% showing. I would go Lineham and Murphy for game 1 but I wouldn`t be surprised or upset to see us start with Lineham and Tafua. Kershaw yesterday looked strong and always gives 100%, for me he looks a little immobile but that`s always been his style and it`s never seemed to get in his way before, he will get his chances throughout the year I`m sure.

For me Langi is a really tough one as well, I almost feel he is too good to leave out of the team and based on the time he was on the field yesterday I thought he was really strong in the carry, probably our best player, but put him in the centre and you have to leave Hall out which again is a big call.

I don't agree about the wings.
Taufua is not the best metre gainer. Kershaw is
Lineham has improved but was playing weaker opposition.

Murphy and Kershaw for me.....but I wouldn't be offended with any combination.

I would leave Lyne out. Hall is for me presently playing better than Lyne last season and this pre season.

The fact that as supporters were all calling different combinations for the wing positions, shows MA has some tough decisions to make … a great position to be in..
My choices
Linham
Murphy
But there ain’t much in it