Purtell was given the number 2 jersey, with Lulia at 3, and Chev retaining 4, so there may be an indication there that Potter sees him as a winger, although I know he played both friendlies at centre, that may be just because Lulia has been out, and Potter would get lynched if he threw Platt or Sykes a starting centre role in pre season. Any one following the NRL would tell you Purts is best suited to the wing.

Ah my bad, you're right. I thought he'd given Purtell 3 or 4, not sure where I got that from!

his try scoring rate is similar for wing and centre, but the implication of his high number of intercepts is that he comes out the line, which is less risky close to the touchline than in the centre of the field. Was it anyone in particular doing all the mishandling or was it general?

FB: Kearney
RW: Ainscough
RC: Purtell
LC: Lulia
LW: Kear
SO: Sammut
SH: Gale
PR: Scruton
HK: L'estrange
FR: Kopczak
SR: Walker
SR: Sibbit
LF: Donaldson

Replacements:
Burgess
Joseph
Hargreaves
Diskin

I made the same comment in the game thread. Purtell looked too exposed at centre as we saw for the Yeaman score and numerous breaks down his flank.

Walker got my MOM yesterday - he was an absolute monster in defence for us at times. Donaldson also deserves a special mention for the work rate he put in during his 50+ minutes out there on the field.

Can think of at least one poster who won't like that comment

Our probably starting 17 :

-------------------Bosc---------------------

Greenshields - Duport - Sa (or Escaré) - Millard

---------------Pryce - Dureau---------------

-------------------Baitieri--------------------

Anderson - Menzies (or Sa, if Menzies is injured)

----------Casty - Henderson - Ferriol----------

Subs : Paea, Fakir, Raguin, Fisher.

Who's your kicker? Bosc or Dereau?

It all depends on injuries. Still annoyed from yesterday. If there is ANY positive to come form yesterday is that they might be hurting a little bit and be pumped up for the game. But what worries me is we had this last year, lose lose, humilated, superb win, lose, humilated, superb win.

We have to be fired up every single game. Not just for Leeds or when we have taken a beating the week before. That was what was most alarming from the defeat yesterday, we don't seem able to morivate ourselves.

I know it's a new season and i was optimistic a week ago. But all the other teams have improved and we cannot afford a slow start. COYB!

Platt came up with an audacious pass on a powerplay 10m out from the Hull FC try line in the second half, which resulted in it being picked off by Manu who went 60m down field.

The next play the ball Hull FC try to Tom Briscoe.

The three stand outs from yesterday we're Crookes, Donaldson and Walker.

All three should be in the 17 for the visit of the Catalan Dragons on Sunday.

Hopefully Crookes can kick on and put pressure on Kear, Ainscough, Pryce.

Hope he takes his chance as we don't have that many backs coming through.

I echo your sentiments.

Didn't know he was that fast either!

He showed strength aswell when he pushed Radford away late in the second half.

He was certainly one of the positives from an otherwise poor display.

I think we've seen enough of Jeffries to suggest that he shouldn't be anyway near the starting 17 on Sunday (should the game beat the weather).

Well, people are saying Catalans are a bit injury ravaged but that looks decent to me

OK, they've got people out of position of the wings, but still a strong 17 there

If Purtell was up against Yeaman, then that means Walker was marking Tony Martin. Now, I wasn't at the game yesterday so I will give Chev the benefit of the doubt, and I honestly do hope his defence is better this season, but if we stick with him as a centre he'll be facing far tougher prospects than TM week in, week out. I will reserve judgement until I have seen him up against someone with a bit of attacking prowess.

Thats why I put Briggs/Sammut in the other thread.

Sammuts the better player, but we may need him at hooker if we don't have either captain on sunday.

Agree about Donno too, he's looking decent again. He'll have to keep it up though with Bateman and Addy behind him aswell.

I have to agree with Mick, Chev's tackling was spot on the majority of the time and crookes really did stand out with his try and handing off Radford! I thought joseph ran strongly as always so far and deserve atleast a year to add competition!

Purtell seemed to put a big effort in and stood his own but i would like to see him on the wing injuries permitting!

Whilst I liked the look of Purtell on the wing in the NRL, I hadn't seen him play centre before Sunday. I think he deserves a few more games to settle into our team before claiming he cannot be one of the 1st choice centres at the club. It's not like we have a queue of top class centres ready to replace him either!!

I concur with the last bit in the piece www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480

I concur with the last bit in the piece www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480

Only problem with that Mick is that I'm not convinced that our other options are an improvement. Sammut can certainly change a game bit he's just as inconsistent as BJ. Whilst I still think Briggs is long term solution his performances aren't warranting giving him a chance at the moment I'm afraid.

Best case scenario (all but O Brien, Elima, Olbison, Manase are passed fit to play) I'd line up as follows:

Kearney
Kear
Purtell/Walker
Lulia
Ainscough/Pryce/Purtell
Sammut
Gale
Kopczak
L'Estrange
Scruton
Langley
Hargreaves
Donaldson

Diskin
Burgess
Joseph
Bateman/Sibbit

Worst case scenario in which half our team is missing, I don't even want to think about

Kearney
Purtell
Pryce
Lulia
Kear
Sammut
Gale
Koppy
L'estrange
Scruton
Walker
Langley
Bateman

Hargreaves
Burgess
Diskin
Sibbit