OK - Potentially the best squad for years. What we need is the senior players to LEAD - no heads down and no floodgates opening!

Correct. Too many times at the latter end of the season did we seem to just give up when the game was out of sight.
Points difference and respectablity should still be on the players minds.

Pretty much agree on that one Wildthing.

I can't remember the last game in 2017, that Kirmond played for us. I know he came on ff bench for Semi Final, but barely recall him playing after Magic Weekend.

What was noticeable to me was that when we had our slump in form in the latter part of the season, Kirmond wasn't playing. We seemed to lack leaders on the pitch, and to me, I would have looked at some of the more experienced players to do that for our younger player to look up to, in Finn, Scruton and Tupou and unfortunately, none of them provided it.

Hopefully, Hirst and Huby will provide that.

Yes that is an area where Scruton and Tupou have disapointed me.
Scruton clearly had some leadership about him and his chase back tackles were very inspiring but it seemed to drift away once he was going to Rovers.
Tupou I thought would have brought more but I haven't sen it.

Finn is different to me. He is a good leader but he's also tactician and you need someone to go alongside him.

I never really felt Kirmond had that in him but he's been the best we've had for a while.

I'm hoping Huby, Hirst and to a certain extent Allgood can bring that to the team.

I agree there Pop Tart, regarding Kirmond, I didnt see obvious signs of leadership, but is it a coincedence that Wakefield's form was it its best when he was in the side, and then dipped following his knee injury sustained in the Magic Weekend.

He had a back problem at the start of the season was in and out of the side, but then came back in I think against Huddersfield on Good Friday. I think he then played pretty much from then up until, and including Magic Weekend.

At this level you shouldn't need a leader in terms of lifting heads.

This is a subject many intelligent people spend many hours trying to understand.

Lifting heads in terms of motivation to give your best I agree with you.
Jessica Ennis or Andy Murray don't need a coach to get into their game. They switch on and are ready to go.

But both those athletes would say they have peaks in their focus and that is what a leader brings to a team game.
A good leader will bring the focus of the team together when you are too tied to think for your self or you are hurting from the last hit.

It's proved over and over again when there is no leader on the field compared to a team who have a good one.
I don't think we've had a leader like that for a few years. JD being the last one that springs to mind.
It's not always the best player, but it needs to be the right one.

I wouldn't say it's because Kirmond got injured. I'd say it was because about 10 other people were injured at exactly the same time.

You need a leader on the pitch , someone to lead encourage and generally give team mates a pat on the back .
It's not something we have had at Wakefield for quite some time.
The sort of character that takes and lifts players when things ain't quite working.
I agree that not all players need a pat on the back but a player who can offer that extra something behind the sticks can be worth their weight in gold.

He was probably still a bit young when he was given the arm band but, Gaz Ellis has proved what a quality player and great captain can bring to a squad.
The admiration and respect that the guy has from his team mates is superb.
He can lead by example but also has a level of respect where players will listen.

It will be interesting to see how Keegan Hirst goes in the team.
If he can make the step up then, he will be a possible captain for the future but, he will have enough on his plate, getting used to SL.

Anyway, back to the team
My thoughts on players, their positions and the pecking order

Full Backs
Grix, Jowitt, BJB, MCB, Mazive

Wings
Johnstone, BJB, MCB, B Tupou, Mazive

Centres
MCB, Arundel, Lyne, Gibson, B Tupou, BJB

Half Backs
Williams, Miller, Finn, Grix, Wood

Props/Middles
Fifita, England, Huby, Allgood, Hirst, Walker, Morris

Hookers
Wood, Finn, Moules, Sio

Second Rowers
Ashurst, Kirmond, Molloy, Crowther, Batchelor

Loose Forward/Middles
Arona, Sio, Crowther, Anakin

Think I'd give that young lad Huby a run out



Jowitt ahead of Grix every time for me.

Not convinced BJB is a centre and do you know something we don't regarding Moore?