Yes terrific attitude - no-one could question that. Phrased it wrong saying I don't rate him - he definitely has strengths but I personally feel we have better options atm. As for O'Neill- I'm sure he'll get his chances this year. The most important thing is for him to play each week.

I’d go with that but I think Smithies will get the nod ahead of Shorrocks.

I suspect we won’t get more than 30 minutes out of Mago so Smithies to play covering prop and second row if required

I think we will go

Field

Thornley KPP Bibby Marshal

Cust Tommy

Singo Powel Ellis

Batty. Faz

Willie

Mago Byrne Smithies Shorrocks

I could not argue with Zak, Smith, Partington or Miski being in the mix most likely is Zak for me.

With Bevan on his way back and Havard to return the depth of squad is so much better.

Bevan Field and Zak at full back

KPP has thrown a curve ball at the centre position we now could have four realistic options. We have the same for wing you throw Halsal in at 5th choice.

Same at half.

Pack we are well off in cover now without relying totally on kids. May take a few games before we see who plays where but that's what we need.

I do not get the issue with Marshal for me he's worked hard on his D and under the bomb. I also think he returns the ball well and wins us plenty pens. Ball in hand I rate him in top 5 finishers in the league.

In reality it's like we have 7 new signings with Field and Bevan back.

I agree with all of that, including the praise for Marshall, who I think has worked at his game and sought to improve the defensive side of it.

Great to have options.



If you’d told me a couple of weeks ago KPP/Thornley would be our centre/wing combo I’d have thought we’d had a major injury crisis. If playing centre gets KPP 80 mins every week I’m happy with that.



Amazing to think we’ll have the likes of Partington, Shorrocks, Smith, Miski all fit but probably missing out on the 17. Along with Havard, French and Hardaker to come back.



Depth seems much improved.

I think the depth is our greatest hope of success this season. We could be short of 7 or 8 players and not see a huge drop off but you certainly couldn’t say that about the favourites for the comp in Saints or Catalans. They’ll have better first 17’s than us and if things carry on for Saints as they have done for the past 4 or 5 seasons, their depth won’t get tested anyway but should they hit a bit of an injury crisis it could really close things up.

Everyone seems to be forgetting about Ramon Silva too who I thought went really well in his pre season appearance. Depth seems to be the best it's been in some time.



I don't get the criticism of Marshall. Obvious attacking threat (and you can't have too many of those!) but, more importantly, has worked hard on his weaknesses to the point they have become strengths. His carries out of defense are excellent for someone without natural size. A no-brainer for mine, although it's good to know that there are strong options waiting in the wings should any of that change.

Hopefully Silva can get a few games in the reserves, maybe a game or two in the CC. He looks to be a good signing just doesn’t need to be chucked in at the deep end straight away

I agree. However, I think if he had to come in to cover for an injury or as rotation he wouldn't let anybody down. When you think he is currently 7th or 8th choice, the depth compared to last year is staggeringly better.

He’ll be a slow burner Silva I’d imagine. He wasn’t involved at Wire and I think it’ll be a mix of reserves and maybe dual reg games for him. I could be wrong but I don’t think he’s played any first team rugby at London yet and he’s been playing the game for only 4 or 5 years, so I think they’ll want to get a good year of training in to him and maybe get him some experience in the championship to get him ready for the first team. If we see him in the first team this season I’d imagine it’ll be in a cup game against lower league opposition or a few months down the track in superleague.

I agree, I have no expectations of Silva at all for next season and think maybe a handful of games depending on how he develops next year will be the most we can expect.



He is a development signing, I think there is a bit of excitement about him because of his no traditional background but at the moment he has a long way to go before he is regular SL standard ready.

Bad conditions, soggy pitch, cold and wet slogathon, I think we need to go big with plenty forwards on the bench.



1. Field

2. Thornley

3. KPP

4. Hardaker

5. Bibby

6. Cust

7. Leulaui

8. Singleton

9. Powell

10. Ellis

11. Farrell

12. Isa

13. Bateman



14. Mago

15. Byrne

16. Partington

17. O'Neill