is chris bridge and simon grix fit????? just in my fantasy thats all

Mistake by me that.

O Meley for Ellis, Houghton to do the full 80.

This.

After the whole pre season of player-for-player cover, we are now asking Whiting to come back in the centres! Brilliant.

I actually think Turner should be a back rower now, the guy is huge with decent ability. Not saying he'll get a look in at the moment as back row seems to be strong as usual.
But with all the talk of his defensive problems, a move to the middle would suit him. Centre is one of the hardest positions to defend as your out on the edge & have make split second decisions when often out numbered.
Unlike a back rower who will get through alot of tackling but usually has players around him to help out.
Just my thoughts but like I say there are plenty of players fighting for a back row spot so maybe he thought he had more chance of pushing for a chance at 1st team in the centres.

Agree about Turner defending in the centre that will likely be seriously exposed by Wire if it's what we go with. If Gentle didn't know before he will now about Turner's weakness in this area. I hope that Turner is encouraged to move into the pack (or out) next season and we have a top centre on our shopping list who can help bring on Ben Crooks. Martin was a good buy on a one year deal despite the furore on here when he was signed - it's a shame he's not 7 or 8 years younger.

on this forum we now have gone from Tony Martin being an embarrassing signing to one now injured being irreplaceable

does not sound good does it nearly all our new signings injured without even a competitive game played but this should not matter if its the 1st game the 6th game or 20th game the coach has a squad and all he can do is pick the strongest team he thinks will get the result

Tony Martin is an adequate SL centre,Turner is an ok third choice you talk as if all other clubs have massive strength in depth at centre,current champs Leeds are starting out with 2 young centres for example

Nobody's saying Martin is not adequate, but 'adequate' is not what I want us to be aspiring to for recruitment. I understand why he was brought in, but it's still a bit disappointing/embarassing that an adequate player of his age was the best we could do, and that we were in such a position where we needed to do it.

Not all clubs have better depth than us, but those around the top 6 do IMO, and that's what we should be aiming for/judging ourselves against. It's not so much about the depth I was getting at though, it's the first choices where we are behind the rest. I would say that several (if not most) SL clubs have 2 better centres than Martin.

The key with the Leeds comment is the word young. They are giving 2 good prospects a crack at it, which is to be applauded. We rightly did the same with Turner, but unfortunately he hasn't turned out to be good enough defensively.

They have Briers and Joel Monaghan injured aswell as Hodgson and Solomona (no loss)

Usually rips us a new one, glad he isn't playing.

Hasn't done anything for two years now, had it IMO.

Still causes a lot of trouble with his offloads, but still a porker.