If we weren't playing a SL game there then I would be worried, but that should keep us focused, also I'd rather play the game against Wigan on a neutral ground rather than away, so that gives us an advantage. I fully expect us to win our first two games, Cas away will be tough anyway.

Onto the first game I think 15 players pick themselves. Think we all know the backs, frontrow, based on pre season I expect Hadley to be LF.

Bowden and Paea will be on the bench.

Other two spots are up for debate between Abdul, Fash, Turgut, Washy and Griffin.

I'd certainly have Abdul there, think he has earnt his chance and gives us an extra attacking option if we are struggling.

Can't decide on the last bench spot.

Folks need to stop ting their pants on here before a ball is actually kicked in anger.

If Hadley is LF then Washy or Turgut on the bench to spell the back rowers.

As we are expecting Connor and Tuimavave to start then Griffin goes on the bench.

Personally I'd like to see Abdull at LF but I think Radford's conservatism will overrule that temptation.

12.5K tickets sold now, one of our highest pre-sales in years (excluding the Derby and the time had a shot of winning the hubcap against Wire)

Surely they will open the North stand soon? only single seats left in many parts of the ground now.

Excellent news - can't imagine there will be a huge following from Huddersfield on a Thursday night either.

If all fit bar Green, I'd go:

Shaul
Faraimo
Connor
Tuimavave
Talanoa
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Watts
Minichiello
Hadley
Manu


Paea
Bowden
Fash
Abdull

Think all bar the last 2 bench slots pick themselves - got a few in the mix IMO - including Washy, Griffin, Masi, Downs, Turgut. That said I wonder whether Mini and Bowden will be risked with both having had fairly recent surgery.

Washbrook will either start in the 2nd row or be on the bench. When everyone's fit I expect he'll play watts at LF with the other 4 props rotating with hadley and washbrook fighting it out for the 2nd row interchange spot

According to sources our sales are going well (by our Thursday night away match standards) we've also got more bells this year

Au contraire, there may not be much recent history of English teams playing competitive games in Australia at the start of the season - just Wigan in 2014 in the last twenty years - but they didn't suffer too much. They won seven out of the next eight and ended up at Old Trafford.

Funnily enough they played Huddersfield at home before flying out and got beat.

Lets hope Connor, Shaul, Watts and a few others get homesick during the trip to Aus.

Would be surprised if the first two met the NRL physicality requirements, and Watts said once before he wants to play for Hull for the rest of his career IIRC. He may be due a testimonial in 4 years I think, he'd be 31 then.

Huddersfield have injury problems and could have 5 missing according to League Express. Mind games?

Shaul isn't going anywhere least of all the NRL, as good as he is in some respects his deficiencies elsewhere to me mean he wouldn't be a target. Watts and Taylor plus Connor are the players most likely to be looked at but good centres are ten a penny over there.
I thought Watts last year was easily in the top four of all available English props either here or the NRL and it was a disgrace he didn't go to the WC. Hope he has another great season and refs/RFL actually bother to understand what is happening in the tackle and make decisions that are equal for all players not just based on an outcome.

not mind games, seems the injury curse that has hindered us for the last two years is still with us

mcgillvary, cudjoe, symonds, wakeman, mellor, simpson all out

sam wood and jake wardle two younger members of the squad also out.

leeming and ikahihifo havent even had a pre season game due to being injured also so hardly a good prep for round 1

Those two caused us problems last year I seem to remember.