Like the addition of Dwyer, can't rely or expect Parcell to stay fit and do 80 mins every single week.

Hopefully Peteru is more in the Garbutt/Parcell unknown category rather than Achurch. Worst case scenario though if it's the latter is that we still have s good number of props.

Myler is obviously the big one. Not overall been sold on him before but he is hitting the right age for a HB so this move might be the making of him.

I know some aren't happy with Moon at HB but looks like that'll be how we go but he's done well and he'll be better for a full preseason knowing that'll be his position, switching to that position in particular just several weeks into a season is a big ask (yes he's played some games there before but never had a proper run)

Likewise Sutcliffe will be better for knowing that centre looks like his position now and if it doesn't go well then Keinhorst is a very good backup.

Think Ferres could still be a good player for us if we can get him injury free. JJB still offers something for me but his mins should be reduced and/or coming off the bench.

I hope the shirt numbers change to reflect the position the players will be playing and there standing in the squad as much as possible. Its the first time in a long time the whole back line could be numbered correctly as there are no club legends whos numbers are untouchable that would need changing. Im hoping to see:

1.Walker
2.Briscoe
3.Watkins
4.Sutcliffe
5.Hall
6.Moon
7.Myler

Think all the players except golding would be happy with that and id guess walker would be unhappy if he isnt 1...mayswel give it to the incumbent imo.

The forwards are a bit differant because even though he'l more than likley be in the second row, theres no way you take 13 off ward.

I think the squad is stronger than last season - it should go well.

No doubt the WCC trip will take the edge off them from at least 2/3 weeks after their arrival back in the UK

Hopefully they are travelling there nearer the front of the plane than the back

I disagree. I think Golding will keep the 1 shirt and make Walker fight for it. It’s the same situation as Briscoe when he came in. Only see minor changes with the new additions IMO

1 Ashton Golding, 2 Tom Briscoe, 3 Kallum Watkins (VC K), 4 Liam Sutcliffe, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Joel Moon, 7 Richie Myler, 8 Keith Galloway, 9 Matt Parcell, 10 Adam Cuthbertson, 11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 12 Carl Ablett, 13 Stevie Ward (C), 14 Brad Dwyer, 15 Brett Delaney, 16 Brad Singleton, 17 Mitch Garbutt, 18 Jimmy Keinhorst, 19 Brett Ferres, 20 Anthony Mullally, 21 Nathaniel Peteru, 22 Ash Handley, 23 Jack Ormondroyd, 24 Jack Walker, 25 Jordan Lilley, 26 Mikolaj Oledzki, 27 Cameron Smith, 28 Alex Sutcliffe, 29 Joshua Jordan-Roberts, 30 Harry Newman.

Agree with everything you said here,maybe apart from ferres,who iv got doubts about,but hope he stays fit and you are right.

Sutcliffe is who im particularly looking forward to seeing develop at . Thought he looked really good there at the back end of the season. Wouldnt be suprised if he's in the england left reckoning come the end of next year.

How can you disagree,i said its what im hoping to see not what i think will happen. With the exeption of fullback your numbers are exactly what i said.

I still think Ferres could come good for us. Apparently, he wasn't able to train most of last season, so that goes some way to explaining his form, and the shape he was in.

I know that I am biased but I sincerely hope that the club pin some long term faith in Stevie and hand him the captaincy for 2018.
I know that the Aussie clubs are constantly watching him and once he gets an injury free season under his belt that they will come in with their big contract offers.
Would the captains arm band stop him going over there anyway with the money that they are handing out now a day?
(Dan Sarginson is supposedly on $500,000 a year which is almost £300,000 in UK money....Wow that is big money for such an average player)

I'm really looking forward to see how Sutty goes in the centre with a full off season to prepare,I would like to see Keith Senior come in and do some skills training with him as IMO he could be a great centre in a very similar mould to Keith

I agree that the squad looks far more balanced for 2018 than it has for a couple of years, there's also plenty of young players that are pushing for a chance to showcase their talents, I think that Dwyer could be a fantastic signing for us,he looked sensational in his cameo's for Wolves in his first season before he moved down the pecking order when he allegedly fell out with Tony Smith.

Oledski, JJR and Cameron Smith will most likely be on dual reg with Fev for 2018 but should be making a few first team outings at the Rhinos

All eyes will be on Richie Myler and if things don't go well then he will without a doubt be the scapegoat on here.
IMO i would also like to see Lilley and Myler given some games together at half back to see how they go together as a partneship

Brett Ferres could be a star player for us in 2018 if he can get a good off season and remain injury free, I certainly wouldn't write him off just yet

2018 is certainly going to be a bumpy ride at times but lets keep the faith in the club and the coach and we will hopefully grab a piece of silverware along the way

We have good depth in the pack and our back line looks very strong, but I think the uncertainty in the 1,6 and 7 positions could cause us problems, and I dont really have a problem if we treat this year as a transition year tbh

possible fullbacks: Walker, Golding, Sutcliffe (Moon at a push)
possible stand offs: Moon, Myler, Sutcliffe, Walker (Golding at a push)
possible scrum halves: Myler, Lilley (Walker at a push)

Cant be bothered to do the maths but that is a hell of a lot of possible combinations

I think we will probably start slow but finish 5th/6th, and hopefully we will still be in the CC when our combinations start working better towards the end of the year.

Keep the faith?

Nah, looking forward to the inevitable call for Mac’s head after a drab performance against Wakey on Boxing Day.

Pfft, keep the faith, tch.

I hope so.Ferres was class for hudds and England for a few years before joining us and i was really excited by him signing when he did but its hard to argue his stay with us so far has been underwhelming. He has the ability for sure and has no excuses from next feb being given a full pre season.

4 possible full backs X 5 stand offs X 3 scrum halves = 60 combinations.

Nice try but players cant play in multiple positions

..

31 numbers issued. Corey aston not among them. Walters and handley still there.

Singleton 10,cuthbertson 8 with galloway dropping down to 20.

Dissapointed but not suprised walker didnt get 1. Feel like he earned it with his performances on the field. Maybe its to prevent him from getting ahead of himself and thinking he's already made it, so can see the argument for keeping him in the 20's for now.

The moves are interesting, particularly as someone earlier posted that BMc says that numbering doesn't indicate the best starting 17. Singleton up into the prop shirts with Cuthbo at the expense of Galloway indicates that isn't right, but then he's left Delaney at 15.

1 Ashton Golding, 2 Tom Briscoe, 3 Kallum Watkins, 4 Liam Sutcliffe, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Joel Moon, 7 Richie Myler, 8 Adam Cuthbertson, 9 Matt Parcell, 10 Brad Singleton, 11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 12 Carl Ablett, 13 Stevie Ward, 14 Brad Dwyer, 15 Brett Delaney, 16 Anthony Mullally, 17 Mitch Garbutt, 18 Jimmy Keinhorst, 19 Brett Ferres, 20 Keith Galloway, 21 Nathaniel Peteru, 22 Ash Handley, 23 Jack Ormondroyd, 24 Jack Walker, 25 Jordan Lilley, 26 Harry Newman, 27 Cameron Smith, 28 Mikolaj Oledzki, 29 Joshua Jordan-Roberts, 30 Joshua Walters, 31 Alex Sutcliffe.

Expect that means that Aston has left the club & Walters is on his way out.

All numbers, contracts and positions in the thread that’s stickied.

I can see why they've promoted Singleton but why not just give him the number 8 shirt, seems pointless switching Cuthbertson's number.

The 10 shirt carrys some Kudos with it i guess they see it as just reward for Singo would be my guess.
Also i doubt shirt No's hold as much meaning to Aussies.

Except you've got the same sweet in several bags, and can't pick it twice (sounds like one of those convoluted draws for football tournaments).

I'm not going to attempt to work out the maths, so got a spreadsheet to do the work, and I make it 37 combinations

[urlhttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nLRqiko3kVPegp1PtVr0iY_E5bjQQksxDEDG0BvrKeg/edit?usp=sharing[/url

Oops.

7 with walker at full back
10 with golding at full back
10 with Sutcliffe at full back
10 with moon at full back


But this includes repeated combinations eg
1 Sutcliffe 6 moon 7 Lilley
1 moon 6 Sutcliffe 7 Lilley

I

We will finish top 4 easily and top two is we're we should be aiming, can honestly see us finishing top. Think McGuire grand final performance has clouded people's judgement on his and burrows form for last two years, McGuire was often found wanting in lots of games last year(understandably as he is at the end of his career) having a proper second hooker for impact and squad rotation will be miles better than having a past it burrow as back up we generally lost a lot when parcel did not start or was subbed.

Finishing top two for us has a psychological effect on the other contenders even the LLS winners just because of Leeds recent history

Anywere in top 4 at end of 8's is good because we can when it from anywere and every side knows it, nobody will want to play us and all other contenders will prefer it if we are no we're near the mix at the business end.