So... keeping it grounded in some form of reality, signings wise, what would you like the team to look like next season?

1 - Johnny Lomax
2 - Ade Gardner / Jamie Foster / Gary Wheeler
3 - Matt Gidley
4 - Sia Soliola / Gary Wheeler
5 - Francis Meli
6 - Leon Pryce
7 - Kyle Eastmond
8 - James Graham (c)
9 - Scott Moore
10 - Luke Bailey
11 - Tony Puletua
12 - Paul Wellens
13 - Jon Wilkin

14 - Maurie Fa'asavalu
15 - Paul Clough
16 - James Roby
17 - Flannery / Ashurst / Dixon / Macgennis / Foster / Wheeler / Ellis etc

There are some very tricky choices there for me. The biggie is the backs. We desperately need an injection of pace into the back line, but putting too many kids in would weaken it too much. I would be happy replacing one of Meli and Ade with Foster. The kid will be 18/19 at this point and in need of the kind of season Wheeler has had; throw him in for a percentage of the games and see how he goes.

Wello from FB into the pack is a no brainer. If we start with Wello as our FB next season we may as well resign ourselves to no pots.

Every fan knows we need to bring in another big prop, and hopefully the rumours of Luke Bailey will be correct. It does leave us with an abundance of options for the subs bench then, especially if we move Wello to the pack. Could there be some truth in more players leaving at the end of the season? As it stands at the moment we'd have:

Chris Flannery
Tony Puletua
Jon Wilkin
Paul Wellens
Matty Ashurst
Andrew Dixon
Paul Clough
Shaun Macgennis
Bryn Hargreaves
and possibly KC all fighting for 2/3 spots.

What say you?

What would your team be for playoffs?

Will potter try to freshen it up with maybe longy and Kyle halfbacks?

Pryce moving to centre/fullback/loose?

Or will he stick with what we been playing with?

Wello
lomax
gidly
soliolia
meli
pryce
eastmond

graham
KC/Moore
bailey
flanno
tony p
wilkin

roby
maurie
clough
bryn

we would have dixon, ashurst, wheeler all fighting for places.

That's how I see us going next year. Weak in back row I think.

1 - Johnny Lomax
2 - Gary Wheeler
3 - Matt Gidley
4 - Sia Soliola
5 - Francis Meli
6 - Leon Pryce
7 - Kyle Eastmond
8 - James Graham (vc)
9 - Scott Moore/James Roby
10 - New Prop
11 - Tony Puletua
12 - Paul Wellens (c)
13 - Jon Wilkin

14 - Maurie Fa'asavalu
15 - Paul Clough
16 - James Roby/ Scott Moore
17 - Flannery / Ashurst / Dixon / Macgennis / Foster / Wheeler / Ellis etc

I'd go with that and that's a good 17. The 4th bench spot would be hard to pick. Tony P though would have to do some time at prop during the 80 mins as only one recognised prop is on the bench.

Sadly now I think we have to go with what we've got. I don't think we'll win anything this season so anything that we did win would be a bonus for me.

Interesting to note that Gardner appears to be the odd man out in the backs.

Tell you something though, it was tricky enough to make that team up, christ knows how Potter is feeling at the moment. Having to bin or move the older pro's and blood the weaker kids.

I really hope the fans back him the kids.

Serious question.

What makes you think that Wellens would make a good backrow forward?

IMO His lack of pace would be even more exposed as would his tackling by quick halfbacks

1 - Paul Wellens / Johnny Lomax
2 - Ade Gardner
3 - Matt Gidley
4 - Sia Soliola
5 - Francis Meli
6 - Kyle Eastmond / Gary Wheeler
7 - Scott Moore / Kyle Eastmond
8 - James Graham (c)
9 - Roby / Scott Moore
10 - New Prop
11 - Tony Puletua
12 - Jon Wilkin
13 - Leon Pryce

14 - Maurie Fa'asavalu
15 - Paul Clough
16 - KC
17 - A back from the rest


I think this is a reasonable shout for next year.

Wello is a tricky one, not sure anyone thought we may need to replace him at fullback as quickly as we may have to. Its is part down to natural deterioration in his game but also a much stronger emphasis on pace and creativity from the fullback position.

He can still do a good job.

I`m not as convinced that he can make a go of it at second row ( and we have many cueing for those spots) or centre.

The same way that KC is suggested as a prop next year.

I would like to see moore given a go at 7 as well with pryce moving to 13 permenantly.

Oh no you've just reminded me we have Chris "Striving to be Mediocre" Flannery for another year.

There is no way Lomax will replace Wello for next season. Potter hasn't got the balls to do it.

We'll just go with the same old same old (seriously the team hasn't changed in 4 years) with kids replacing those retiring.

Very weak all round compared to Leeds and even Warrington for next season.

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Meli

Leon/Wheeler
Kyle

Jammer
Moore
New Prop/Hargreaves
Tony
Flannery
Wilkin

Wellens isnt going to get taken and put into the pack due to his lack of speed as brought up by Rogues, speed isnt essential in the back row but id say TP is quicker than Wellens.

I would perhaps rotate Leon into the back row aswell and bring Wheeler in to give him chances that he has earned over the few games he has played.

Flannery will continue to do the job in his quiet manner and Wilkin has to become more involved like he was on Friday night.

Bailey is rumoured to come in and he would bring plenty of go forward if he can stay fit.

Luke Bailey?

Yep, thats the rumour
Gold Coast Titans Prop Foward

Wello has a good set of hands,can pass off both hands. Doesn't miss much in defence and is strong as an ox. Added to the good inside lines he runs he'd go well in the back row. Granted he isn't the quickest but Super Frodo O Laughlin isn't Usain Bolt is he??



Sooner have donk playing fullback than at 13!

some very tough decisions, we are over run in the back row and i wont be surprised if we release some. Wello will probably stay at fb with lomax, wheeler and ellis filling in a variety of back positions. If kc stays i think he could be an interchange prop. I think the squad may be stronger next year than this!

leeds have a really strong squad next year, more depth anjd eastwood.

I'll be very surprised if Wellens moves roles next season, even though I do feel we need pace in the backline particularly at Centre and at Full Back.

I imagine the team will be:

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Meli
Pryce
Eastmond
Graham
Moore
New prop (Luke Bailey?)
Puletua
Wilkin
Flannery

SUBS:

Roby
Fa'asavalu
Hargreaves
Clough

Lomax, Wheeler, Smith?, Ashurst, Dixon, Frodsham, McGennis etc in reserve.

Cunningham may get a new deal and if he does, that could mean Moore sharing the duties at 9 and at 7.

What's the likelihood of Keiron Cunningham still playing next season? There's been alot of talk, but if he is still with you, will that mean Moore loaned out again, or Roby moved to the pack?

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Meli
Pryce
Eastmond
Graham
Cunningham/Moore
New Prop (?)
Flannery
Clough
Wilkin

Roby
Fa'asavalu
Puletua
Hargreaves

I'd prefer to see Puletua used from the bench, as he is capable of coming on and changing a game and making a massive impact. Then we would have Roby, Fas and TP all able to come onto the field and make a massive impact and change a game. Also, TP is able to cover back row and front row so would give us options, saying that Roby and Hargreaves can both cover back row if was needed also. Although, depending on opposition, i would swap Hargreaves for some of the kids, depending on what we need coming off the bench.

We are going to have the same problem as this season, were we have no quality in depth in the squad, as it is just filled with kids, so if we get a few injuries to the 17 and we will struggle, just like this season. We need to be looking to bring in a few players, to give us some quality in depth, IMO.

He's not slow compared to most second rowers though, he's just not quick enough at full back anymore, especially with the more structured defences we are seeing this year.

Lets say wellens moved into the secondrow, who then is gooing to look after meli and gardener like he does

When is Mr Average's contract up.

End of next year.

The thing with Flanno is that it would take us 3 years to realise he'd left.

Anony mouse.

Is that the same wellens who couldn't run down carvell over 80 meters!! Infact carvell run away from wellens!! I recon Ablett, Ali, jjb, kirke and Eastwood are all quicker than wellens!!

Paul Wellens is the white Usain Bolt. He just positions himself so well he never has to use the speed. He didn't chase Carvell because he spotted the obvious knock on.