1..McDonnell
2..Crookes
3..Arundel
4..Yeaman
5..Briscoe
6..Holdsworth
7..Seymour
8..Watts
9..Heremia
10..Lynch
11..Ellis
12..Tickle
13..Whiting

14..Houghton
15..O'Meley
16..Westerman
17...Johnson/Pitts

Think Houghton could be more destructive off the bench when teams are tiring.Hope Galea only plays due to injuries,that goes for Horne as well.

Players to come in....Horne,Galea,Crookes,Lineham,Kent,Green,Bowden,Johnson/Pitts all players with SL experience

It's a very very good squad and a nice blend of youth and experience, all things considered we might even be able to rotate players without having a detrimental effect on the overall performance (injuries not withstanding). Gentle's first season was excellent especially given the loss of McKinnon and the playing roster once again at breaking point, that said I expect us to kick on from that & if we can have our best 17 firing on all cyclinders and not completely spent come the play-offs because of having a stronger squad then I feel we can have a real chance of silverware.
Early season form will be vital I feel, more than ever despite the 27 friendlies that some RL fans are bandying around.
Can't wait to sort out my calendar and actually feel like the extra spend/time getting up to make as many games as possible this season will be worth it.

My team would be:

Mcdonell
Lineham
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Seymour
Lynch
Houghton
Watts
Tickle
Ellis
Whiting

Galea
Westerman
O Meley
Heremia

Only three props, but I think Galea or tickle could move to prop for one spell, not sure what role Heremia will play as playing Houghton for only 40 minutes is a waste, he is too good, Saints wouldn't play Roby for only 40 minutes and having Heremia on the bench for only a 20 minutes spell seems a waste, so maybe Johnson for the last bench spot.

That leaves some good quality SL players not playing like

Johnson
Crooks
Crookes
Horne
Pitts
Green
Bowden

Galea can't play prop.

And Tickle dosnt like playing prop

And with 7 props in the squad, I would guess Gentle intends on playing 4 of them

They'd both do it, I've no doubt they'd run into a brick wall if PG asked them, but Galea just couldn't play there effectively.

I'm amazed how little Pitts is rated.

This is the novelty of hopefully/supposedly having a squad with a bit of depth. We'll have to get used to seeing players playing in their correct positions rather than just the "best" 17 players based on their status/standing/experience with some out of position. This will mean , if everyone stays fit , seeing some "stars" out of the 17. We've not had this luxury for a while and it may not last but it will be interesting to see whilst it does if PG goes "horses for courses" , rotates players or sticks with a winning side.

I think we will see PG stick with any 17 players that earn the shirt during the weeks training and performances. We will no doubt see most players in the squad in the 17 during the season with injuries and suspensions etc. For me though this is the first time in years when you can actually look at the whole squad and find it hard to pick out the 17 rather than the last few years where you could pretty much bet your life who would be in the 17 each week.

Can't wait for the season to start, especially at Headingly.

There seems to be a general concensus of opinion as to who the starting 17 will be with the exception of which 2 from 3 of our loose forwards will get the nod to play alongside Ellis and Tickle in the back three.
Listening to the noises from our coach who is delighted how tight a unit Lynch, Ellis and Galea have become and how their experience can guide us round the park, i think Galea and Westerman may start the season with Whiting sitting it out.
As Whiting is only recently back into full contact training he will probably be a bit behind the others in terms of conditioning so maybe not a bad thing if he is eased back in after the first couple of SL matches. Same goes for Lineham who i rate highly but think Briscoe and Crookes will probably start.
Anyway, roll on February and we'll soon find out. Can't wait, I've got my thermals warming on the radiator already!

McDonnell
Crookes
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Seymour
Lynch
Houghton
Watts
Tickle
Ellis
Whiting
Green
O'Meley
Heremaia
Galea