Having chatted to him after the game he's bigger tha Ali much more solid. His exact words were that he was finding his way in the first game and would improve.

I should imagine CC saying take it steady nothing to prove at this point.

I thought picking himself off the floor and playing the ball was rather swift for a big fella, so important in today's game. No brain farts either, as props hoping to make an impression are prone to do. No offense big Dave.

Sums it up for me

Was good to see him come down to the North stand at the end of the game for a few photos and autographs and he actually thanked us all for turning out

He did alright. I enjoyed the way he casually tossed a Leeds player off his back and flung him a good couple of metres while trying to play the ball. He put himself about, always seem to be looking for the ball in attack and no fear when tackling in defence. Didn't hit the line and drive as much as I expected, but none of them really did. Pointless pushing too hard in a friendly and risking injury I suppose

I think he'll go well, he will certainly offer a selection headache for Chester which is really all we can hope for

Good luck to him

A selection headache? he is one of our quota players!!! are you telling me we have wasted one of those on a bench player or one who might not even make the team

If everyone's injury free at the start of the season, imo our starting 4 Props will be Big Dave, Huby, Pauli & England. When the inevitable injury or knock happens, or we give each a rest we have Hirst and Baldwinson to step in to do the business.

As for Pauli in this friendly, he was steady away. He obviously didn't hit the line as hard as he could, like all of our forwards tended not to, but after what happened to Randall it was all about getting some minutes into their legs and coming off the pitch unscathed. Ateotd he's been here about a month, so about a third way into his preseason, playing in conditions he's never played a game in and he's coming back after a broken leg in July. So for me, he did everything that could be asked for a first run out.

Williams was a quota player and spent time on the bench or not playing. He seemed good for his first run out, but at the moment, not at the level of Fifita or Huby. Perhaps he's still struggling with recovery a bit as his leg was heavily strapped before coming on

Let's be honest when you're a Prop it makes not a great deal of difference if you start or come off the bench nowadays, it's how the Coach wants to use you. They all get about 2 20 minute spells anyway. It will be interesting to see what CC does with Pauli this season. I wonder if he'll swap him with Big Dave off the bench especially at the start of the season.

Look at how Powell used Millington and Moores last season, he brought them on together after around 22 minutes and they had a massive impact on the game, that’s now an option for Trinity.

Personally I think it’s dependent on the opposition from match to match and how the coach feels his team can cause the most problems for the opposition or perhaps counter an opposition tactic like the one Cas used as above.

I also think we have to be clever in not overusing the giant pack we’ve got and sometimes having players who can take advantage of the space the likes of PP, Fifita and England create, players like Miller and Hampshire would be great at this.

We already have a very good expansive style which takes advantage of defences condensing in the middle to cope with the big front rowers we’ve got and let’s not forget Arona as well. Great line running second rowers like Ashurst, Batchelor, Kirmond and Horo will either exploit space or further help to create it for the likes of Lyne, Tupou and the wingers.

I think we’ve got the makings of a very capable team who could shock the game this year.

Don't bother, anyone who doesn't or pretends not to know that a 'selection headache' is a positive is clearly trolling.

If you are that offended Vasty, put him on ignore.
It's an opinion. I don't agree either but so what.

As for the starting props. I think my 4 (given I'm going on last season form) I'd put Hurst slightly above England now.
Clearly we are looking to play PP but the thing that will make him special is if he keeps his defence up like Dave did. There are a few big runners but they blow early and let gaps appear. Dave has never done that and hardly ever misses a tackle. That is what Keegan PP and England need to aim for.

I would agree with that, capable they definitely are.
I don't have any concerns there, what's making my bum itch a little for next year is the loss of John Kear and the effect his departure could have on dynamics.
He without doubt was a positive addition, very difficult to replace, its really the only fly in the ointment leading in to 2018 for me.

I'm not offended.

Since when on a discussion forum was it wrong to answer back to a poster, any poster - what's the point of a forum otherwise.

Sometimes you really are a bit bizarre.

Pauli is on premier sports now playing for City in the Country v City origin game.