SAMMUTT
RILEY
COLLIS
HALL
OWEN
MILLER
SMITH
ANDERSON
MCSHANE
SCRUTON
KIRMOND
RYAN
ASHURST

ALI
PEA
SIMON
GODINET

I don't know why but I have a feeling that Simon will be a good signing for us.
My 17

1. Sammut - Despite not having good form last year I reckon a pre-season playing at the back and getting used to the role will allow him to settle and play off the cuff like he does.
2. Riley
3. Collis
4. Hall
5. Lyne
6. Miller - I reckon playing off Tim Smith will take the pressure off him and allow him to be a good signing
7. Smith
8. Anderson
9. McShane
10. Scruton
11. Ashurst - I think Tim was a factor of this singing, runs good lines and a solid player.
12. Kirmond
13. Ryan/D Smith - I put Ryan at loose because I don't think Washbrook offers anything there aside from defence which I think Ryan can handle himself. If it wasn't Ryan I'd like another good ball handling front rower such as Daniel Smith to play there.

14. Godinet
15. Paea
16. Simon
17. Lauitiiti

The impact off the bench could swing the game our way, big units and plenty of aggression. Godinets speed of the ruck in the four nations was a huge boost to Samoa.

When was the last time we had so many options that choosing even 17 players was so difficult??

I'd probably go

Sammutt

Riley
Collis
Hall
Lyne

Miller
T Smith

Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Kirmond
Ryan
D Smith

Godinet
Paea
Kirke
Lauitiiti

But that leaves Ashurst, Simon, Washbrook all failing to make the 17 with 2 of those being new signings you would have thought they would have been in the coaches plans somewhere otherwise why sign them.

Sammut

Riley
Collis
Hall
Lyne

Miller
T Smith

Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Ryan
Kirmond
D Smith

Paea
Simon/Kirke
Lauitiiti
Godinet

Not convinced about Sammut at fullback but whoever is there is going to be somewhat of a square peg in a round hole. Could play Owen or Hall there but each would be equally as risky as the other, all good going forward but possibly a little suspect defensively. Sammut gets the nod from me as he is the best goalkicker in the squad. Toss a coin for the choice between Simon and Kirke.

Sammut

Riley
Collis
Hall
Lyne/Owen

Miller
Smith

Anderson
McShane
Scrutton
Ashurst/Ryan
Kirmond
Smith

Paea
Simon
Ali
Godinet

Just wondering why Owen or Hall would be a risk. Owen in particular played his best SL Rugby to date at F/B in 2009. Unless you're expecting us to sign a FB of Billy Slater status I don't see any risk at all.

Tim Smith has always been at his best with Sykes at 6. He looked worst with John at 6. I take from that he is better with a steady experienced 6 so I would play Hall at 6 and definitely not Miller who like Isaac John will probably improve but this season is too crucial to take risks so I see Miller as back up for Smith not first choice stand off.

I think the opposite tbh. He needs a passive player rather than an experienced one so he can take the lead, I may be wrong. I suspect miller will fill this roll not Hall.

Owen played 16 games at fullback what will be 6 years ago come the new season and has hardly run there since, hence it would be a risk. It may well work out him playing there and he did look promising there in 2009 but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then and the fullback position itself is evolving to become another pivot position and i'm not sure what his creative skills are like compared to the other candidates.

As for Hall he is a quality player but, just like Sammut, is prone to a howler, just ask the Hull KR fans. Which is why i picked him at centre in my team as i feel he is better in a less exposed position. So unless Billy Slater turns up it was Sammut for me as i wanted him in my team for his high standard goalkicking as well as his attacking prowess.

Sammut
Riley
Collis
Hall
Lyne
Miller
T Smith
Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Kirmond
Ryan
D Smith

Godinet
Simon
Paea
Kirke

Lauitiiti used in selected games

Give Miller a regular place, something he never got at HFC, let him settle into a partnership with T Smith.

Kirke can cover front and back row at a push while Ryan or Kirmond could switch to centre if we get an injury during a game.

Godinet can cover both half back positions and has proven himself as an international hooker who can make an impact off the bench.

Overall it's a Physicaly BIG team with both Hall and Lyne being 6'4" but both have proper speed out wide. D Smith at Loose and 3 big men on the bench make our pack a handfull throughout the full 80 minutes even when we rotate the front row.

The only thing for me is that a big pack often has a short span engine.
I'd like Washbrook or Annakin at 13 to be the perpetual motion addition.

Too big and they'll run through us when we are all tired

a big pack will tire the opposition out even more though and the rotation of three big men off the bench will negate the fatigue to a large degree.

Bradford during the Vainikolo, Hape, Vagane, Anderson days were behind at half time in many a game but they knew from experience that their sheer physical size would tire the opposition and they'd get them in the final ten minutes of the first half and the final quarter of the second