Whitbread looked good yesterday, but I reckon him, Fifita, Arona and Battye will be the starting props. Tanginoa and Pitts are our 2 best second rowers. Walker or Crowther at 13 for me. Walker from the bench could also cover at hooker as well.

I’m with you on Tanginoa. The guy is just destructive down left channels and despite a brief stint at right SR where he looks less effective it seems he’s got that left SR spot sewn up. Chester paid a price in trying to turn him into a prop imho. I’d love to start batch at right SR but Pitts is consistently very good and if the two are available Pitts gets that spot for me.

What we could do is start with say Whitbread/Crowther/Walker at 13 and then switch Pitts to 13 and bring on Batchelor to Right SR. There are a lot of options.

The added bonus for allowing Whitbread to 13 is the emergence of Aydin. He looks pretty much ready for a bench spot. I’m sure Poching won’t have played Jai at 13 if he didn’t see it as an option.

Pitts is a must pick to me. I think I'd rather have him on the right but 13 is an option.
He's captain material so needs to be in the mix.

Fax fan here, the highlights are on fax tv now https://youtu.be/kz7-WpIvAgA

Fax fan here, the highlights are on fax tv now https://youtu.be/kz7-WpIvAgA

I understand your view, i just think Batchelor is a better player.out wide ... I have Pitts on the bench for his versatility... although it seems batch was used as a middle against Halifax

Well poaching has one more game to weigh up his options before our forwards will get a baptism of fire against arguably the best forward pack in the league led from the front by Satae and Sao .Not until we get our forwards up against stronger super league opposition will we really know where we’re at ,and will give us all an insight to where our strengths and weaknesses are in the engine room . Get that balance right and we’ll be a match for most ,as give our half’s the room and we have a back line to trouble the best of defences .I for one can’t wait to welcome Hull and let the mind games begin .

And don't forget there's also Ashurst who I thought went well on Boxing day...who'd be a coach ??

Not in the same camp as you on Hull I don't rate them that highly. With speed and mobility we should break them and with pace outside I fancy our chances at home. They were the worst team in the league bar Leigh last season

Some of the signs were really positive yesterday. I was impressed with Isaac Shaw - who punches above his weight - as well as Corey Hall. Corey Hall looks like he could be a bit of a find. I'm in agreement with Tanginoa and Pitts being our two best second rowers. Batchelor and Ashurst are also great options in that department as squad players. Hood looked decent yesterday which was positive. Davetanivalu looks like he has potential and took a very tricky high ball under pressure as well as some very strong carries and probably clocked up a decent amount of tackle busts considering the short time he was on the field. I think Lineham could be under pressure if his trajectory continues upwards. Some of the goal line defence was good in the second half as we lost field position for a twenty minute period where Halifax had sustained pressure. i was impressed with Halifax second half and thought their half backs looked like they will cause many defences a problem. Keyes was a particular stand out. Whitbread is a shrewd signign and I'm looking forward to seeing him play. I think overall it was a positive performance and we should only get better. Hopefully we will play our potential starting thirteen in the last friendly and see the overall coherence of the team. Add Lino, Gaskell, Tupou, Fifita, Arona e.t.c into that squad and I think we should be capable of having a decent season this year.

I agree with this. I don’t fear hull these days and we tend to go pretty well against them. We can more than match them in the forwards but I think we have the better backs and agree that we have all the tools needed to break down hull especially at home.

Bring them on!

Agree with most of that tbh. I’m not sure where Gaskell will fit in atm and he may have to bide his time. Max is the best fullback and Miller/Lino are dead certs. I’m sure his change will come if he’s patient.

Just re watched the match and Whitbread like I suspected at the game was superb at 13. Scored 2 try’s and put in some good tackles and great drives too with some real metres. With Aydin impressing too I think he is pretty much ready to get a good number of games from bench this year.

Honestly I came away very positive. I thought our distribution and passing looked pretty sharp too.

Was saying the same about Corey Hall after the Fax game, I was thinking he would be a bit of a project signing and we may not see much of him but although he obviously still has a lot of development left in him, from what I`ve seen of him so far, he looks ready to play SL.

The only thing he is lacking is a bit of physicality that's all, He's probably a stone light and lacking that extra bit of muscle from what I can see but it's only what I see. In terms of technique etc he's as ready as it's possible to be at that age and with that experience. He looks like a natural player. as does Murphy who's in a very similar position right now (but younger).

The vibe is get is very much TJ in his debut season, lacking a bit of size and first grade experience. It's going to be very interesting watching him grow, I think come a year down the line after some minutes under his belt and a proper season he could be a very different player.