What an excellent position to be in next season for PG, as he said last season his players played through the pain barrier, injections, niggling injuries etc etc and played on despite of all the problems. This now gives him the oportunity to rest certain players when a week or so off gives them the time to recover properly from these niggling injuries rather than play on with injections etc, quality in depth is what he's after and long term keeping them all as fit as possible. I hope PG stays for the next ten years, he knows what he wants and the way to go about it long term and I for one wish him well for all our sakes. He'll use the squad to the full next season and keep them all fresh, got to be good ! We've got quality all over the park and some to spare for the first time for ages, if ever !

Rich Whiting will only be classes as back up to those who still consider the sport to be a 13 man game.

He will play more games than he doesn't regardless of whether he is left out of the first game or not.

But does he? The boots off he's back in the Gym and cycling every day, fitness levels should be pretty good and start of pre-season training still 10 days away.

Galea will be vital next year for us, especially if we don't get a SH. If he stays fit he will prove to be one of our best signings.

he'll be battling it out with westerman for the loose man shirt, i'm sure he'll be a regular in the 17, likely to be on the bench with o'meley, galea and heremaia

Whiting will do what he does every year, earn his shirt and keep it, for me the bloke is one of the most under-rated players in SL, and I can never understand our annual will Whiting be just a back up thread.

I couldn't agree more.
I get so fed up of this pointless, ridiculous discussion every year.
RW has proved consistently every season that he is one of our best players and gives 100% every game.
Thankfully PG knows his value.

Should maybe do a poll to see who people would rather have at 13 between Whiting and Westerman.

no brainer, whiting every time for me.... first name on the team sheet for me

Can Whiting play 7?

Think I would rather go with

6 Whiting
7 Holdsworth

Than have any other current combo.

Whiting at half back?

I am a big, big fan of his but don't recall him having much of a kicking game.

I don't recall us having much of a kicking game in general

He got MOM against Leeds playing in the halves

Whiting played as an extra backrower that game

and Houghton can pull off a long range kick from acting half, he hasn't done it enough for me to say whether it's luck or a kicking game hiding away in there

Whiting.

Westerman is much better on the edges than he is in the middle. Very dangerous in attack.

For 13 next season I think it'll be between Whiting and Galea.

Whiting's the best option to have on the bench, too. He can interchange the backrow and also cover any injuries in the backs.

I think that all 5 of our 'high-profile' back rowers will get a lot of appearances next season - there are going to be injuries at some point.