Hope you're right, but wasn't there a rumour that he hardy trained last season due to persistent injury problems?

Me too. But we are not picking the team.

How many teams carry a back on the bench? Most benches are all forwards, 2 props a 2nd row and a hooker.

You would drop one of our most consistent and best performers(coaches player of the yr no less) last yr for a player who has mostly been in the centres in recent times and keep yeaman in?
Regards the talonoa 'pace' thing. Most over blown thing I've heard for a while. Not lightening but I've not seen much to say his pace is a problem. Strong as an ox, makes good metres, safe, defensively strong, got good hands, always finds front and a fast play of the ball. All great assets and key parts of being a modern winger. Sum of all them is far more valuable than fast. Also with an offseason this yr he could be better still!

Same except I'd have Paea off the bench.
It's the team I'd pick now but heard some good stuff about naughton n I think he may end up in there!

I want my wingers to be fast, clinical at the line and positionally sound. Three things Talanoa isn't.
As for Michaels, his last few games were in the pack.

It's not make or break, I'd be happy either way probably. I just don't think Talanoa is as good as some make out. He's certainly not as good as LR makes out, his one of the best in SL comment was laughable.

For me, you've got to Whiting on the bench

Michaels should play centre, which is his best position and not be moved to the wing just to accomodate Yeaman.

Talanoa is as good as radford says I agree. There's stats to back a lot up but mostly I prefare my eyes. From the first games last yr I was walking away from the ground thinking what a good game he'd had. Even when the team had been dire often.
Finished everything put his way. Positionally caught out a few times but I think some was team defensive structure n the fact he'd been out the game a long time. Speed wise monaghan isn't particularly fast, but he was top try scorer.

How do you know centre is Michaels best position? I watch the Gold Coast avidly and I've seen nothing to suggest that's true. But he does have a lot of pace, something we were lacking last year, that's my reason for picking him.

I remember a couple of occasions he made breaks but threw the ball away, one at home particularly stands out. I just don't think a winger should be picked on his ability to make yards.
He's a good player and I certainly won't complain if he's given the job (which I'm certain he will be) I just want pace in my back line.

Put Talanoa in the Warrington team and he'd score a bagful, I hope we get to the level were our wingers score walk ins. Plus how many of Monaghans tries are due to his ability in the air?

I think I'd swap Sa and Michaels around but at the moment that looks like our team. Plenty of time for things to change though. Rankin can move past Pryce in the pecking order and Cunningham could earn himself a spot on the bench.