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

agreed, I think Washbrook will be the default 13 in most games and D Smith is likely to come off the bench.

I liked DW's form in the 2nd half of last season

Still don't see the risk with Owen, 16 games played well at SL level makes him a SL quality F/B IMHO - how many does it take exactly in your book.

You keep finding reasons as to why player X Y or Z isn't a good enough FB yet you never name one who is and is available now at a price we can afford. I'm not specifically having a go at you but there has to be an element of "he's good enough" regarding some players at any club and especially at ours. Let's be honest Mathers had a few hundred games under his belt at FB but was to all but his most ardent fans a risky player.

Owen IMHO as well as Hall and Sammut are no more a risk than almost any player on the planet other than a dozen NRL players and a tiny few SL players. Give them a chance is my advise as

They also had Forshaw Johnson Langley Radford................you need the balance

I'm not saying Owen won't do us a good job there, he might well do so but it takes more than 16 first team (not all SL) games out of about 140 to make him a superleague quality FB imho, it makes him a winger playing out of position. He did well for a young lad but he wasn't that great hence why he was pushed back to the wing and Ryan McGoldrick took that spot at the start of 2010 before his injury. Obviously he same goes for Hall and Sammut, who has much more experience of fullback including at NRL level. None of them are natural fullbacks. Although i do take the Mathers comment on board he was very good at organising the line and joining in with play. And most of the time he did the job under the high ball. So yes it going going to be a case of one of them doing the job for us and it being a case of 'he's good enough' but they are all better players in other positions hence the risk comment. Which ever one gets it i hope the nail it from the off because they all have the potential to be good there, but for now it's potential.

As for who else was available and affordable then without knowing wage demands it's impossible to know the latter but Shannon McDonnell is available, is a natural fullback, experienced yet still only 27 and has impressed during his time over here. I would have personally moved for him before we signed another forward and halfback but thats my own personal choice. JW knows more than me and sees it differently so it will be interesting to see which way he goes. Hell he might even play Chris Riley there, he played the same amount of times for Warrington at fullback as Owen did for Cas and did ok!

Have to agree with you, there are not many SL full backs what are defensively good but more tactically aware and are helped out with better defences', A FB is only as good as the defence in front of him to a large extent and until our defence improves greatly it will always be a risk choose who you play there.

I think it may be something like....

Sammut
Lynne
Collis
Hall
Riley
Miller
T.Smith
Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Kirmond
Ryan
Ashurst

Subs. Lauitiiti, Paea, Kirke, Godinet

From the press release from Webster there seems to be the view that Miller will play at 6 with Smith dictating play, rather than just a talk of Miller providing competition for places at 6/7. So Hall as a creative centre must be the option he is now looking at.

Think Ashurst is an 80 minute player who is strong in defence but also offers more in attack so will probably get the nod ahead of Washbrook and Daniel Smith. Washbrook offers little in attack and Smith is not an 80 minute forward unfortunately.

Kirke seems to be confident of getting more game time at Trinity so will probably get the first crack ahead of Simon (although smaller he seems runs the ball in extremely hard and may provide greater impact off the bench).

Good times though and exciting squad. Hope they 'gel' quickly and live up to their promise.

Owen
Riley
Hall
Collis
Lyne
Sammut/Miller
Smith
Scruton
Anderson
Kirmond
Ryan
Washbrook
McShane

Godinet
Simon/Kirke
Paea
Lauititi

Although, personally think he's planning to play Sammut at full back but for me that leaves Owen out of the team and we've just given him a bonkers three year deal, so I would at least expect Owen to be in his thirteen.

Owen on 3 year deal but getting paid what? Sammut is probably on more than Owen and is a game changer and our kicker who doesn't miss a lot. Miller is also seen as a key pivot so I don't think Owen will come ahead of Sammut.

I'm hoping he doesn't in terms of fullback but was just don't understand why we'd give him a 3 year deal unless he figured in James Webster's plans as a vital piece.

He is still second or third choice wing so not that odd getting a 3 year deal

It's called options, something we haven't had for quite a while.

exactly that's what im saying even if he isn't in the 17 he would be 1st choice replacement for the wing.so still going to play a big part this season

For what it's worth I would start with

Hall
Reilly
Lynne
Collis
Owen
Sammut
Smith
Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Ashurst
Kirmond
Smith

Godinet
Pea
Kirke
Lauatti

Reilly
Owen
Collis
Hall
Lyne
Sammut
Smith
Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Ryan
Kirmond
Kirke

Paea
Simon
Godinet
Lauititi