I don't think we're far off though. Didn't we have 4 of the 6 dream team forwards in 2016?

The issue would be if we lost Ellis or Mini. But I don't think that's any different to this year. I honestly think we'd have won that Semi for the GF had Ellis played. They're quality players and anyone would struggle to replace them.

Yeah I think Saints have recruited well in Douglas and Walker which will certainly beef there pack up. Leeds have a strong pack if they gell. Wigan and Warrington very storng contenders again but I do think we're up there with one of the best packs and I have high hopes of Masi making 2017 as his breakthrough year.

No we're not far off...where I think we'll struggle in comparison to last season is the interchanges. Last season we blew teams away with our interchanges, thriving in the 30-70 mins mark and I think we'll miss Pritchard a fair bit. Put that along with Radford hinting Connor will be used as an interchange and I think we'll lose a lot of the fire that worked so well last season. Saying that though the addition of Kelly will allow us to play a different game to the power play.

I'd like to see Ellis coming off the bench with Mini, Manu and Hadley starting 11-13. You'd then have Ellis, Bowden, Green and possibly Connor/Washbrook/Tuimavave at the bench.

I'm not sure about the back on the bench when you have the likes of Thompson and Washbrook who could do a short term job there should someone get injured. I supposed Connor could just slot into any position in the backs which would eradicate the need to move other players about.

I think the addition of Kelly, Connor and Griffin will more than offset the loss of Frank. I comfort myself in the fact that arguably our best performance of the season was achieved without Frank and Sika at Saints in the CC.

How will be know if our young players are as good a standard as Wigans if we don't give them a chance.

Hard to say about injuries, but I think we are as strong if not stronger this season in the forwards, ok we have lost Frank, but the likes of Masi, Turgut are a year older, stronger etc.

Pack will be fine, always a loan signing if we are struggling.

If a player goes on loan for the full season he can't be recalled

I think the squad is far better balanced that it was last season.

The fact we didn't cop much in the way of injuries exaggerated our depth in the forwards as it meant lads who would usually have played more games didn't get a chance to.

With another year under their belts to develop physically, I'd expect to see Downs and Masi (along with others) get their chances.

The young players will get a chance this season. Bringing them in for the odd game to gain experience is what you want but you can't expect them to play week in week out if we have long term injuries. I still think we should have signed another forward instead of Michaels as we already had enough cover in the backs.

Not sure about that...

... only if all 3 parties agree to terminate the loan, unless the original arrangement specifies otherwise.

We want him to stay all season, rovers won't want him to leave if he's playing well, we won't want him back if he's playing badly, so I doubt there is a get out clause.

If Sneyd, Kelly, Connor, and Tui all suffer long term injuries at the same time, I'd imagine we'd be keen to take him back early Its only going to happen if there is a major injury crisis, but I'd like to think there would be something stipulated in the contract which allows for an early termination should it be required. Hopefully we won't need to find out.

Think we could do with another big prop like Huby

Going to Wakefield isn't he?

didnt know about that.Good player though.
I think we are a missing a prop.its an injury prone position and we only need Taylor and Watts out at the same time and we will be very lightweight there.