i'd go for...

1. craig hall or rich whiting

6. washbrook or turner
7. tansey

9. berro

i think out of the whole squad, either tansey or berro would settle into scrum-half the easiest

With Calderwood coming back, we're going to be making at least 3 changes I'd guess anyway (if the two mentioned are injured). With Turner and Washy at halfback, there isn't really much creativity IMO. But like said, it's 5 changes (but with only two new players).

We need to be getting Calderwood back on the wing though, that I'm certain. Hall has done well, but he is a centre, not a winger.

I take it you missed his performances there last season. Took him and us 6 months to recover.

i thought craig hall had recoverd from that after his loan spell at widnes. i thought his tackling had improved too. just my opinion of course!

Yep it has but he aint played at Full back again, if we moved him there it could happen again at present he has confidence back playing in the centre and on the wing! keep him there. To big a risk to move him IMHO particulaly when you have Whiting available if we need a replacement full back!!

I'm a huge fan of Hall, but I wouldn't put him back in a position that destroyed his confidence last season.

If Calders is fit then put him back in on the wing and drop Hall into Centre. That frees up Whiting to cover 6/7 with Washy in to cover the other HB slot. Minimum disruption and a halfback pairing that may not be optimal but should be OK with Berro operating at 9 and Tansey at FB.

Agreed. Less disruption to the team as possible.

That would do me just gotta watch our right centre defence with Witt's kicking like it was against salford.With Turner on the bench to try and cover for if its not working

1. Tansey
2. Calders
3. Whiting
4. Yeaman
5. Brisoce
6. Turner
7. Washy

Tansey has been playing as second receiver from full back anyway so there is no real need to change him around, he will still be a pivot. Washy replaces Long at scrum half and Turner can play a running stand off role. Harsh on Craig Hall but Calderwood is an out and out winger.

Whiting to play opposite their big centre would be better as well height wise for the kicking game!

Is Long definitely out? Or is this just speculation and forward planning?

I'd be happy with that as it leaves us with options and not making wholesale changes, during the game if things aint going as planned Tansey & Whiting can always swap roles to change things if needed, bit of total rugby well if the puffs in football can do it

Agree with all of that. Even though i dont think Turner is a SL SO he will do a job there and as you say Tansey has been playing as a extrapivot but he'll just have to help out a bit more.

I dont like the idea of changing about 5 players for 2 positions. 2 in 2 out, thats the best way imo.

ok so most ppl would keep craig hall away from FB. but is washbrook the best option for scrum-half?

Aside from Long i would pick Tansey as my next best 7 but having said that i would much rather leave evryone where they are and bring in Washy at 7. Mainly because i wouldnt like anyone else at 1.

I'd stick Hall at SO. Can't do too much harm defensively and is the best atatcking option we have there.