The dog's bollox who must not go on a season-long loan but retain the FB shirt. Discuss.

hasn't it been announced/said/rumoured that Mcdonnell will miss a fair chunk of preseason with his hamstring tear? If Sharon can't train, Shaul should get the 1 shirt any ways.

Toughy when McDonnells fit .

tricky one - shannon had done nothing wrong before he got injured. i would work on the principle that shaul has deserved the FB berth in shannon's absence and the position is his to lose whether through form or injury. needs to work on his fielding of the high ball though, but his positional play is pretty good - he was in the right place every time tonight

I would think It would put pressure on the wing spots also.

Has impressed me hugely and Shannon should not be handed his starting berth back on a plate.

Except the one were he couldn't make his mind up whether to catch it, let it bounce or let Crookes take it.

Shaul is progressing really well but for me when fit Shannon must come back in. Our attack has gone really flat since his injury and its an area of Shauls game which he needs to work on IMO.

We're losing a winger (Briscoe). McDonnell has played wing before a few times and is definitely comfortable there.
One way to fit both into the side would be to play McDonnell on the wing and have Shaul at fullback.

It's a very tough call. McDonnell is definitely the better player at the moment but Shaul is the future of the club at fullback and needs the gametime in order to progress.

A backline of

Shaul,
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman/Arundel
McDonnell

wouldn't be too bad.

McDonnell to wing (played there in Aus) Shaul - as our long-term fullback - retains fullback position. Let McDonnell and Bigg (is he essential in view of this?) fight it out. I like McDonnell but he is a crab a-la Raynor. Shaul is a Briscoe-esque/(pray to the forgiving god of the presumptuous) Tomkins-type direct fullback whom we've missed since, ermm, Briscoe.

Kinnell, mate! Snap!

To good not to be playing SL.

MacDonal was 3rd top metre making full back in league prior to injury, also was 2nd top tackle buster!!
If you look at some highlights for this yr, Shannon was a major factor in loads of our best attack n tries, in as much as starting them. Shauls a support based player n finisher, still needs to work on his link play.
Shannon still for me. Gonna be plenty of opportunities for both. Shaul can get plenty of game time whilst serving his apprenticeship as it were. A little like roosters have this yr!

I think still go with Shannon for the start of the season and get Shaul game time somewhere on Dual reg so we can bring him back whenever we want/need.

For the time being though Shannon has the spot for me, he's better linking into the line in attack, and he takes a lot more balls on the full than Shaul does because his positioning is better.

I'm sure by the end of next season Shaul will have progressed enough to really be considered our number one.

For me Shaul needs to keep playing for us, Will only get better playing super league level every week . Mcdonnell can go on the wing if needed