No i dont know pal. If i had to guess i would think that it was just in his best interests, go and play in the chamionship and get his career started...Which has worked brilliantly for him so far. He was behind Holroyd and was unlikely to get much playing time here. Really hope he has another year of progress like his last one and we'r monitoring him closely.

Possibly but i still see him as a six.The warm up games should give us an indication as where Gaile Austin and Sezer fit in.

Sezer is one of the first names on the team sheet if he's fit isn't he, so it's then a duke out between Gale and Austin.

I just think because Sezer is that rare animal who can play the right hand side naturally, I expect Gale to start on the left at 7 still. Could be wrong.

I'm just wondering whether Austin is significantly better than Sutcliffe, rather than a bit better than Gale if that makes sense. Sutcliffe is very good on his day but for various reasons we haven't seen enough of those days.

There is still an outside chance Gale might seek an early release if he can find a 2 year deal somewhere and thinks he can play on, who knows?

Good problems to have compared with last season that's for sure.

Got to remember Gale is still on a marquee contract. Extremely unlikely that he would get a commensurate wage anywhere else for 2022. He's a terrific competitor and I really expect him to fight hard for a starting spot. Ultimately his body could let him down over the course of the season and certainly beyond that.

The club deliberately wants three half backs for 2022 as proper injury cover. Gale would really need to make a scene to get a release.

I agree he still can do a job for us at 7. When fit he's a good player still.

Would help both half backs if they got crisp and reliable service from the ruck of course.

Gale is still a very very good half. He’s a big asset to the team

Updated

1 Myler
2 Handley
3 Newman
4 Sutcliffe
5 Fusitu’a
6 Austin
7 Sezer
8 Oledzki
9 Leeming
10 Prior
11 Bentley
12 Martin
13 Tetevano

14 Holroyd
15 Dwyer
16 Mellor
17 Smith

Most of the side picks itself I think - I wouldn't be surprised to see Walker get ahead of Myler but it really depends on pre-season.

Mellor could make sense on the bench as cover at centre or back row, but I guess you could also put another middle in there such as Thompson or Mustapha and push Bentley or Martin out wide too. Mellor is under some pressure this year, with Gannon and Walters coming through too.

Anyway lots of options for Agar which is what he'll want. There will be a few noses out of joint for the first few games but fringe players will come into contention as soon as we get injuries.

Broadbent or Briscoe probably start at centre as Sutcliffe is not quite due back for season start.
Donaldson may get in over Smith, as I cannot see Smith and Mellor both being on the bench, and Donaldson plugs that middle role well, Smith make or break year break year, if he’s not a starter by now be never will be.

If that 1/6/7/9 clicks that is a really, really good side.

And it doesn't even have Gannon in there who I think will be in the England team within 24 months.

Bringing 2 new half backs into a side normally takes time, but Sezer and Austin are familiar with each other having played together for a number of years at Canberra, which should work in our favour.

I'm interested to hear where Gannon's skillset particularly lies. He seems to handle the physicality of SL without an issue, but where do you see him breaking through to the England set-up in the next couple of years?

The English backrow is arguably our weakest area, so I wouldn't be surprised if a few younger players forced their way into contention for the world cup

Nothing to do with the 17 but a documentary on Stevie Ward and concussion is on sky sports mix, channel 416 at 17.30 today

I'm not sure I agree about Smith. I think he has a key role in the team already. Not being a starter doesn't mean he hadn't made it, just that what he brings to the team is more suited a bit later in the game. Similar to the lines of Ali or Poaching who came off the bench a lot, because their skillset worked better once the dust has settled

Yeah totally agree. Cam is a key player for us both now and moving forward.

I hope Smith nails down a starting spot, because he adds a bit more dynamism to the pack and I like 2 strong props to come of the bench to keep up the intensity. I don't feel starting Mik Tet and Prior every week works, though happy to be proved wrong.

Agree 2 props to come off the bench giving the 2 starting props a rest is where I would go.
Smith with his ball playing skills gives us more options to compliment the halves FB and hooker.

What do the starting line ups for the other clubs look like?

I'd say we will be:

1 Welsby
2 Makinson
3 Hopoate
4 Percival
5 Grace
6 Lomax
7 Dodd
8 Walmsley
9 Roby
10 Lees
11 Matautia
12 Bachelor / Sironen
13 Knowles

14 Lussick
15 Paasi
16 LMS
17 Sironen / Bachelor

Probably not much debate across that - I guess the closest to maybe forcing their way into that 17 could be Amor (if we want another prop on the bench), Bell/Wingfield (if they have big pre-seasons) and Hurrell (if Hopoate underwhelms).

Hoping another off season for Dan Norman might see him edging closer to being another contender at prop.

If injury permits, we could be.

1 Jake

2 Darnell

3 Carlos

4 Griff

5 Swifty

6 Reynolds

7 Gale

8 Taylor

9 Houghton

10 Big Chris

11 Mau

12 Sav

13 Lane

Bench

Evans

Lovi

Ligi

Cator

starting line up for me:

Myler
Fusitua Newman Briscoe Handley
Austin Sezer
Oledzki Leeming Prior
Martin Mellor
Bentley

Dwyer Tetevano Holroyd Smith

Pretty much my pick but would have Smith at LF Bentley SR with Mellor on the bench