Exactly. So chuck Shaul in at FB and move Rankin to where needed.

I think he'd too good to simply be used as just a bench utility player.

This is the dilemma for fans (I suspect not so for Radford tbh) I rate Rankin, he's not only young (just turned 23) and very enthusiastic he's got a certain amount of talent too. But the club have forced a situation by signing two halves and another back up full back in Naughton plus we have Cunningham as back up 9 not to mention Abdull & HTW in the halves too. This for me is the mistake that will bite us, we are light in the forwards with only 6 registered props (from a squad of 33) including a 20yr old, compare to Leeds whom have 7 in a named squad of 27!

So no matter what Shaul will retain the 1 berth, Pryce & Sneyd @ 6/7 and even taking into account injuries you're still left with players too good to leave out and/or languishing playing at Doncaster.
If Naughton is the one to miss out constantly (likely) & be shipped off to donny then why even sign him, we already had cover at fullback, centre & wing (his positions). I kind of understand Pryce but think it's a wasted signing again, isn't Sneyd supposed to be our 7? What can Pryce do that much better than Abdull, personally I think JA would come on massively in 2015 given the 6 role that he did so will at back end of last year, if he isn't then he's going to be playing at Doncaster until Pryce gets injured which is criminal IMO & against what Radford is supposed to be about (i.e. giving the young guns a chance). Rankin will either be interchange 9 or left out in the cold which could mean Cunningham gets a shot. Again, too many players in positions we're well covered at, we just have too many backs (Even Thompson is listed as a utility back in the squad??) and not enough props, sadly we are still missing a killer no.9. Whilst I love DH & he's as honest as the day is long he's being part of the problem re our distribution, Cunningham isn't the answer to that either from what I've seen.

That said the likely 17 (not the same as my selection) will be;
Shaul
Talanoa
Micheals
Sa
Lineham
Pryce
Sneyd
Paea
Houghton
Watts
Eliis
Minichello
Westerman

Green
Rankin/Thompson
Bowden
Feka

It's a very decently strong side that on paper should see us into the 8 okay without any bother, it's the guy on the sidelines that worries me far far more...

So our problem is that we have too many good players?

nope, that's not what I said clearly, what bit of being light in the forwards did you not understand?? Or do you think that having only 6 registered props is enough these days?
The other problem is that having your brightest young talent not playing regularly is detrimental, that was quite clear from what happened last year. That you forced that situation by signings that aren't needed makes things even more glaringly obvious.

Or do you think it is good business signing a 34 year old half when we have a very good young stand-off that demonstrated his capabilities last season, that we now have three no.6's, two of which won't play there for the majority of the season (long term injury to Pryce notwithstanding).

Would you say that having JA playing at Doncaster (or worse sitting in the stands) is good business or a waste of one of most talented youngsters in our squad?
Do you think it is good business to sign a 20 year old utility 3/4 (Naughton) when we already had Rankin able to cover at FB(& 6/9), Lancaster & Yeaman/Arundel for the wing & centres respectively not to mention Thompson (it would seem from the utility back squad descriptive of him).

Yes it's handy to have plenty of depth, but I wouldn't say our squad has too many good players, I'd rather we have a balanced squad & right now it isn't, too loaded on the backs as I've said. I'd rather the salary went elsewhere..but that's just me, this is an opinion based forum afterall..what's yours?

Pryce won't be 34 until next October.

He may get an injury, but then so might Abdull or Rankin. Pryce has played 20+ SL games every year since 1999 with the exception of 2011.



Yes because he is highly rated and could be one of the best young players in Super League over the next few years.

I don't think you'll find many clubs with more than 5 or 6 in their top 25 squad.



I'm not sure who you're referring to here, can't be Rankin because he quite simply isn't our brightest young talent.



Think you need to appreciate that Sneyd isn't that experienced, sticking Rankin alongside him would be daft and mean we may as well have stuck with Miller.



Jordan Abdull? Abdull needs to trim down and will play the year with the 19's which is fair enough. I'm all for sticking youngsters in, but on the wings or in the forwards, not a pivotal position like 6. He's simply not ready to be 1st choice there.




Rankin has never played 9 in his life, he's back up for Leon Pryce and probably 3rd choice FB. When Rankin played FB last year he was $hite. Naughton will surprise one or two, I know two Bulls fans who would argue he's better than Shaul already.



My opinion is that the squad looks ok.
FB - Shaul & Naughton
Wing - Michaels, Talanoa, Lineham & Lancaster
Centre - Yeaman, Sa, Michaels & Logan
SO - Pryce & Rankin
SH - Sneyd & HTW
Hooker - Houghton & Cunningham
Props - Watts, Feka, Paea, Bowden, Green & BTW
2nd Row - Ellis, Mini, Hadley, Thompson & Whiting
13 - Westy & ??

Only place that looks especially short is 13, but Mini could play that role if we needed.

We have plenty of LF options. Whiting, Abdull and Turgut can all do a good job if Westy is out.

Hooker is the worry for me. I'm unsure about Cunningham, and even if he does well we are in trouble if Houghton is out. Rankin has never played there but I suppose he would have to in that situation, because I can't think of anyone else suited to it, apart from Superman obviously.

None of Whiting, Abdull of Turgut can play the position like Westerman does, that's the point i'm making. Mini could at a push having watched him a lot for the GC.

Are we talking about the standard to which Westy plays or the style he plays? Whiting and Abdull both have the blend of size and skill to play that first receiver role to a good standard. I think Westerman (probably alongside Ellis) is our best player, and him being injured would be a blow, but we do have options if that happens.

1865..
I never brought up Pryce's injury record I stated it would only take a long injury to him that would mean either Rankin or Abdull getting more than a few games in that position. JA being one of our brightest stars(wasn't that obvious?),
You have your opinion of him but to keep him in the 19s at this moment in time is pushing him backwards and not forwards. For me he offers more than Pryce does.
You say Sneyd isn't that experienced then why are we taking a punt on an inexperienced 7 in the first instance? As it happens you're talking wet, he's got 80 games under his belt and led Cas last season to an outstanding season.
So you're suggesting isn't the 7 we should have signed(too inexperienced)and after 80 games in SL is incapable of operating unless he has a 33 year old no.6 to hold his hand..give me a break..

As for Rankin, Shiate at fullback, that's debateable at best!. Yes he dropped his first carry (from which they scored) and dropped a spiralling bomb in the driving rain but was far from our worst player and was tight all game otherwise. Re hooker, he can pass, has speed and a decent vision for the field and would be an ideal interchange for Houghton, I'd rather him than Cunningham tbh.

Think interchange hooker is our biggest issue. Personally I'd have a bench of Rankin and 3 forwards.

I'd want to see Cunningham first. He is a hooker afterall. I aren't sure myself, but it's only fair that he gets a chance before we throw him on the scrap heap. He was very highly rated as a youngster, and the fact he was playing in a terrible team last year shouldn't count against him.

Neither did I, you asked "if it was good business to sign Pryce?" I think it is as putting someone as inexperienced as Abdull OR Rankin alongside Sneyd would be stupid. Not sure where the injury thing came from?!? Maybe like other things, you've dreamed it up?



Absolutely ridiculous statement, is he even 18 yet? You can't go throwing a half in at 17/18, especially at Hull FC. Pryce was one of the leading HB's last year until he was dropped for signing for us. His experience is exactly what we need in the halves to turn those close losses we had last year in to wins this year.



80 games isn't experienced for a half at all, he's more experienced than I realised, but if you think him and someone who has less that 20 or less than 8 games there is a good thing I think you'd be making a massive mistake.



Rankin at 9 is a ridiculous concept, thought up by a man who has only been involved in RL for a few years and not even mentioned by the coach or the player himself. Rankin will always be a decent runner in broken field, but unless we play the likes of Wakey or Widnes every week his game can be nullified, he can't unlock a decent defence.

Yes, but none were really expected to be. The key phrase is 'became regulars'. It's one thing to be open to a player earning a spot, another to be suggesting it should be his already. None of those 3 were really first picks after 5 games, either. Lancaster could well be first choice by the end of the season, but at this stage he has not earned first crack at it, and I don't personally see it in the team's best interests yet.