For me, Briscoe wasn't that bad to omit from the team, he wasn't at his best but he's a lot more solid that Cockayne at the back.

Hall needs to earn his place in the team so unless he does quite a bit more in pre season than Welham, he should retain his place.

The only other change I'd make is Murrell at loose for Watts and then put him in the front row starting with Vella, dropping Clinton to the bench in place of Wheeldon. I feel this give us better balance in the props, having one as a "holding player" and one providing a more direct contribution. Vella and Lovegrove as the holding players and Clinton and Watts as the more go forward types. I like your idea of Mason starting and hoping for a bit more impact with Newton off the bench, so I'd go with;

Briscoe, Fox, Webster, Welham, Colbon, Green, Dobson, Vella, Fisher, Watts, Mason, Galea, Murrell. Int; Hodgson, Lovegrove, Clinton, Newton.

Watts ahead of Wheeldon.

Never get confident about derbies, seen too many that have gone 'against' the odds. On paper our 17 is better I think, but the game is played on grass.

I agree

We have so many options in the forwards e.g. Mason can play anywhere including L/F a bit like Watts did towards the end of the season.
I also wouldn't play Newton from the bench, for me he is one of the best all-round S/R in SL and needs to start.

And I in turn, also agree fine Sir. Nice this isn't it. I see Clinton, Vella, Mason, Newton, Lovegrove and Watts as almost interchangeable with Murrell and Galea able to play both loose and SR. I'd like to see us switch these players around during games to mix up the angles and exactly who's doing what. Newton's running out wide is great, but it's much easier to defend against if you know that's what he's likely to do nearly every time he gets the ball.



I agree, he is good, but we've flogged him and Galea to death over the last two seasons and I feel that out of the players we have he could cause more damage in spells towards the end of the half. Galea is a much better defender, mainly due to his ability to read the game and would keep things tighter at the start of the game.

It's only an idea of Sheldon's that I've run with a little.

Actually, thats a team selection that would have Agar saying 'jesus never planned for that!'. Quite an attacking and mobile lineup.

Agar wouldn't know what a good line-up looked like, never mind plan for one.
He'll be in the papers soon trying his 'Mourinho' mind games again.. I'll be sure to take my blonde wig to Cardiff.

I think Rovers will be stronger this season than they were last. I'm not sure the same can be said of Hull although they do still have some handy players in O'Meley, Fitzgibbon, Briscoe, Manu and Houghton. Whiting usually manages to score against us too.

With no injuries I think we'd go into the game as favourites but these are never foregone conclusions especially at the start of the season. Last year Hull started very well.

Fear, no. Respect, yes. You can never predict a derby result so you should never underestimate the opposition.

Not that it will happen but I would rather see Cockayne in at centre instead of Webster, especially in a derby

Man for man Rovers team and strength in depth is much superior.

Calderwood and Berrigan reffectively replaced by Sharp and Westerman hardly insires more skill/speed or strength in the most fervent black and white.

An unknown (to Hull anyway) Blake Greene with a debut from Big Willie should tip the scales firmly in Rovers court.

P.S. Craig Hall gave Justin a full breakdown of Agar's gameplans and a few seconds later the squad continued training.

I think you'll find when it mattered even with all his pivots available Agar came up way short of Mr Morgan..

(P.S don't let the fact we had nearly a full season without one of our pivots get in the way of a good story)

There is only one thing to fear in this game, and that is that it's a derby.
Anything could happen!

well said, this is gonna be a close game, all this better man for man stuff is crap,
Tansey is class on his day, but then can drop a clanger, but S. Briscoe hasnt exactly been world class over the last season. T. Briscoe is as said earlier the thorn in our side.
were better in the centres, and probably the halfs but we dont know what Green will be like yet.
forwards wise Hull are always strong, and will be again next year, this is there strong area. O'Meley, Fitz, Manu are top quality then you have Moa of the bench who i think will be a big hit this year, Clinton and our back row are great, but Vella needs a big year IMO and we just dont have the impact of the bench that Hull have.

the one place we are definatly stronger is our coach,

so all in all for me it will be close, but we will win.