It has been very noticeable in all 3 games although we have played overall pretty well with good performances our goal kicking has been dire. Tickle is no spring chicken and may have to be rested more this season. We need another excellent kicker to take the kicks when he is not there otherwise we will lose games we should be winning. Owens is our next best kicker but does not appear to be in Betts plans. He must play on the wing in stead of Ah Van who is an inferior kicker. We also need to develop more kickers. Tickle surely could help in the coaching of kickers while he is around? Any comments?

I think Denis will have a real dilemma with Jack Owens this season. A string of injuries to AhVan and Paddy's demotion allowed the opportunity for Jack to get plenty of game time (and Paddy's number last season), but such opportunities may not be as readily available in 2015. Paddy came back very strongly and secured one wing spot and although his performances were a little more erratic PAV reclaimed the other spot and has been available from pre-season, which he wasn't last year. Jack certainly isn't going to displace Hanbury for a while yet, except when he is injured. Denis will feel obliged to field what he sees as his strongest available team this time around with P&R looming, so it might be that games are few and far between, for Jack. Mind you as we know its a tough old sport so gaps are created by injuries.

All of which ramps the pressure up on consistent kickers. Tickle is clearly a top quality place kicker when fit and on form, but if there is a doubt about his ability to kick regularly then we will have to think hard about getting decent cover (that of course might cause a rethink about Jack), or it may be we are just being cautious following Danny's surgery and he will still be the main man!

Tickle took first 2 kicks on Sunday and I believe both were wide out got one missed one, so that suggests he is OK to kick just maybe managing it during the friendlies because of the ops. Also gave chances to others to maybe stake a claim should Tickle not play not that others went to well in all three games.

Come Rd 1 I expect Tickle to be kicking with either Ah Van, Owens, Marsh or Phelps as back up.

I do find it unfair that Jack has only had one pre season outing compared to PAVs three. If Flynn is now considered a shoo in for one wing berth surely it would have made sense to give both Patrick and Owens equal game time, perhaps a game and half each on the opposite wing, in order to help decide the other wing spot.Looks like Denis has already decided on his wingers.Like I say I am an admirer of PAV but Owens deserves and equal chance.

It maybe the case that DB likes or prefers Owens and Flynn but has told Ah Van he has 3 pre season friendlies to stake his claim. DB had his doubts with Ah Van fitness wise or confidence wise were as he is more than happy to play Owens and Flynn so thought it best to give more time to PAV to see how he went.

Just a thought.

Who knows what is behind the selection of our wingers? Paddy despite his mistake at Cas has cemented the right wing spot and Denis seems keen to play PAV whenever he is fit and available, despite some less than brilliant performances, when he first came back, in the second half of last season.

I think most fans would like to see Marsh being given some games on the wing, as our fastest player, who has never really completely convinced at centre (but is OK not saying he is terrible), but it has never happened and bizarrely when Dean and Marsh have been paired together it has always been Dean who has taken the wing slot. Dean has good pace, but lacks Marsh's acceleration, so he needs a bit of time to crank up and hit his straps. Perhaps he is the safer defensively?

As much as I like Owens as a gifted footballer, he isn't a natural winger, he lacks the out and out pace needed, but he uses his shrewd footballing brain to get himself into the right places, barring injury though wing is his only chance at the moment with Hanbury being such a vital piece of our attacking play.

Hulme and Ince will hopefully come into the reckoning a bit this season, Hulme having the greater experience probably getting more chances and it will be good to see how they go. Hulme has already shown that he knows where the line is and that he can tackle well. I still remember his hit on Kirmond against Wakefield at home last season. So maybe the cupboard isn't as bare as we think, but it wont necessarily help Owens get game time!