Not long to go now and with the squad finalised, what's everyone's team?

1. Greg Eden
2. Ben Cockayne
3. Kris Welham
4. Sean Gleeson
5. Dave Hodgson
6. Travis Burns
7. Kris Keating
8. Justin Poore
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Mick Weyman
11. Kevin Larroyer
12. Neville Costigan
13. Jamie Langley

Subs:
14. Keal Carlile
15. Adam Walker
16. Jonathan Walker
17. Jordan Cox

Which leaves Lovegrove, Horne, Hall, Salter, Caro, Netherton along with some youngsters who aren't far off the first team. Looks very promising 2014.

1. Greg Eden
2. Craig Hall
3. Kris Welham
4. Liam Salter
5. Dave Hodgson
6. Travis Burns
7. Kris Keating
8. Justin Poore
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Mick Weyman
11. Jordan Cox
12. Neville Costigan
13. Jamie Langley

Subs:
14. Keal Carlile
15. Adam Walker
16. Jonathan Walker
17. Kevin Larroyer

1. Greg Eden
2. Dave Hodgson
3. Kris Welham
4. Sean Gleeson
5. Ben Cockayne
6. Travis Burns
7. Kris Keating
8. Justin Poore
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Adam Walker
11. Jordan Cox
12. Neville Costigan
13. Jamie Langley

Subs:
14. Keal Carlile
15. Mick Weyman
16. Jonathan Walker
17. Graeme Horne

Are Langley, Cox and G Horne better players than Lovegrove, always liked him and offers excellent go forward, I know he has problems in defence, but when I have watched Rovers/Bradford Lovegrove seems a better player than the 3 mentioned.

Eden
Cockayne
Welham
Gleeson
Hodgson
Burns
Keeting
A Walker
Hodgson
Weyman
Larroyer
Cox
Langley

Costigan
Horne
J Walker
Poore

Eden
Cockayne
Welham
Gleeson
Hodgson

Burns
Keating

Poore
Hodgson
Walker
Larroyer
Costigan
Langley


Cox
Horne
Lovegrove
Weyman

I like him as a player and think his go forward is pretty good. For me he seemed to have his best season a few back when he played as a prop (I guess he lacks the size for that role), since then he has played as back rower that again had good go forward but seems to have missed too many tackles for CS liking.

I think Langley's a better defensive workhorse, which is why he will likely take the 3rd prop/tackling machine role that CS prefers from his 13.

I think Horne offers more defensively, but Lovegrove more in attack and I have them as pretty even.

It depends which Jordan Cox turns up. If it's the one that IMO started to show some real promise from the middle of last season I would prefer him, however over the past few years Lovegrove has been a much more consistent performer.

! - Eden
2 -Cockayne
3 -Welham
4 -Gleeson
5 -D Hodgson
6 -Burns
7 -Keating
8 -Poore
9 -J Hodgson
10 -A Walker
11 -Cox
12 -Costigan
13 -Langley

Bench
Weyman
Horne
Larroyer
Carlile

When you look at players not in my 17 the depth of the squad looks much improved.

Most have Carlile on the bench, do we need him on the bench when we have Costigan who could take a 10/15min spell?

This was my thinking.

Costigan could come on and do a 10/15min spell as you say then give Langley a breather at loose-forward when JH comes back on. Then Langley could come on at the back end of the game for Costigan. This way we're getting most "bang for the buck" with our interchanges.

There's also Cox who can start on an edge and come on for the back end of the game in the middle - this is the way he was used last season and he was really effective.

I think it's pretty clear that CS has nailed his colours to the mast with regards to getting a side together who can defend and I don't think he's going to compromise this for one or two players who may offer a tad more in attack because any great defender will soon become poor one if they are having to do loads of scramble defence and repeat sets because of a couple of weak links in the defensive line. Alternatively, perceived poor attacking players will soon be perceived good attacking players if they see enough of the ball in the right areas - something you earn with good defending.

Poor defending will no longer be tolerated by the coaching staff, but the sad thing is, is that it will be tolerated by some fans if it involves crowd favourites, because they'll blame the coach or the new signings instead.

I don't know what CS's thoughts are regarding Costigan but I do not want to see him at hooker, I'dlike hime to play prop and prop only.
Against NZ at Headingley he had a real dig in the front row against pretty unsurmountable odds.

I'd like to see him as a starting prop.

I'd go.
Eden
Hall
Welham
Gleeson
Hodgson
Burns
Keating
Walker
Hodgson
Costigan
Larroyer
Cox
Langley

Poore
Weyman
Green
Carlile

I dont think we have signed Costigan, who is one of our biggest signings, to cover hooker and loose forward off the bench. Id expect him to be starting and i would think CS knows where he will fit into the picture. The fact we have a squad with so many options is reason for optimism rather than perhaps previously its been 'this our best 17' with average to inadequate back up

If our sole intension was to improve defence why didn't we go and get another centre to replace Welham?

Some good options. The larroyer signing I think is very strange. 2nd row isn't a position we are short in I believe. However the number of times I have seen him he looks decent, he was immense in Toulouse for les frogs last season. If Jordan cox plays like he did back end of last season then we have a potentially brilliant player on our hands