If Taylor is only half as good as the legendary Michael (Mick) he will be a great asset.

Do you mean Bob? As in Bob Taylor who was a legendary player. I remember my dad going on about him. Or are you referring to Mick Scott? I'm confused but that could just be my age!

It was an oblique reference to Mick Scott. Bob, a second rower, was also a favourite of my dad. Sorry for any confusion.

Looks like he's feeling in good nick, and in "better condition" than in his double-winning season at Wigan. Whilst this is the usual pre season filler from the HDM he does look trim. Tim Sheens was quoted recently as saying he'd have bent over backwards to retain him had it been possible. With him and Watts both 24-25 and therefore in theory with development/improvement still in front of them, hope they can both have very good seasons. Both are contracted beyond next season too. Looking forward to seeing them in action. www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC- ... story.html

Looks like he's feeling in good nick, and in "better condition" than in his double-winning season at Wigan. Whilst this is the usual pre season filler from the HDM he does look trim. Tim Sheens was quoted recently as saying he'd have bent over backwards to retain him had it been possible. With him and Watts both 24-25 and therefore in theory with development/improvement still in front of them, hope they can both have very good seasons. Both are contracted beyond next season too. Looking forward to seeing them in action. www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC- ... story.html

That was only a problem because our interchange was weaker but now it's stronger I don't think there will be a noticeable drop in intensity

I think the balance is better this year. Paea was often played in 3 stints whereas Taylor is more suited to longer spells. We have Ellis as a rotation at prop this term, a luxury we didn't have last year, whose intensity is still excellent, then Feka's impact can be optimised. Backing up we then have Green, Bowden and a couple of academy players who've debuted. In the back row Mini can probably still do 80 and we have loads of depth here. On balance I'd see Ellis as a prop, which means we've upgraded year on year (Taylor and Ellis for Paea), and we still have plenty of options in the back row, where Pritchard and Manu replace Ellis and Westerman, with Mini starting and back up of Washbrook, Hadley, Thompson, Whiting, Yeaman, Turgut etc.

If everyone is fit then my four props would be Taylor, Watts, Ellis and Manu. Who starts I am undecided.

Manu at prop?
Back three or off the bench for me.

If fit you could easily go with just three props in Watts, Taylor and Ellis, as all capable of big minutes.

Personally think the 4th spot is a three way battle between Feka, Green and Bowden.

Big year for the last two as a big year needed to get a new contract.

Why would you want to go with 3 props? Similar to our over use of our back rowers, you may have players who are physically capable of long minutes but it doesn't make it the right thing to do and you are inevitably storing up problems for later in the season as we've seen plenty of times in recent years. I presume that radford's thinking is 4 props, possibly including ellis, with abdul and a back rower on the bench. I wouldn't be at all surprised if washbrook is a shoe in for 13 then gives houghton 10 minutes early each 2nd half with manu, pritchard and mini rotating back row. ellis could also flit between front and back row as needed. Problem is we have a lot of forwards the wrong side of 30 so we need to be looking after them properly, nurturing them through the season and not flogging them for 80 minutes each week.

I personally wouldn't but it's an option. Hooker apart plenty of depth and options and as you say, no forward needs to be flogged and play 80 minutes.

Really tough to pick a starting pack and bench.

Not really. houghton, ellis, mini, pritchard, manu, taylor, watts and washbrook will all play when fit. Only really one place up for grabs in the 17 assuming abdul gets a bench spot

Manu or abdull IMO will start looseforward

The scott taylor thread on the Wigan forum is interesting reading.....