I'd say that is looking a strong and balanced squad. Like you, I'd much prefer Kearney at 1 if we are happy with Briggs -which based on today most folk seem to b.

I'd start with Diskin - use Heath to open up the gaps once the initial war of attrition is out of the way - and not seen enough of Hargreaves yet to conclude whether he's a starter. But I'm sure he WILL be in time regardless.

I'd say its Platt or Walker to start at centre, and whichever one doesn't start is on the bench as your 17. But when you start listing who that leaves out, you start to realise what strength in depth we now have!

Most agreement on the forwards and halfss so always going to be the backs where the discussion is going to be. But what is good to see is that theres no dreams about an aussie superstar back coming in to save us all, just solid discussion of what we have got, signed up and ready to play. My few thoughts without having seen either games are the hooker issue is a real one, and wings - Ainscough may be fast and elusive in attack but defence? So its more horses for courses - as with a loose forward, one game you may want a Langley the next an Addy, depends who you are playing and therefore how you want to play.

I suspect you will be proved dead right there. You hope (and I expect) Potter will have the skill and judgment to decide which tweaks are needed for each match in turn. At least he should have the player pool to do that; last season it was pretty well the main 17 plus the academy, and heaven help us when injuries hit.

Anyone remember the "Mission Impossible" series from the late 1960s/early 1970s? Where, having been given the next Impossible Mission, Peter Graves went through his files on all his team members and selected the ones - taken together - most likely to get the job done? I can sort of see Potter doing the same! Although hopefully nothing will qualify as an "impossible mission"...

Kearney
Raynor
Walker/Platt (who shows up best in the next 2 friendlies)
Ah Van
Finigan
Briggs
Herbert
Lynch
Diskin
Scruton
Whitehead
Elima
Langley

L'Estrange
Hargreaves
Kopzcak
Sibbit

Kearney
Ah Van
Platt
Walker
Raynor
Briggs
Herbert
Scruton
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langely

Hargreaves
Koppy
Heath
Addy

Kearney
Raynor
Ah Van
Platt
Ainscough
Briggs
Herbert
Hargreaves
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langely

Scruton
Koppy
L'Estrange
Walker

The only difficult decision for me was either Ainscough or Finigan on the wing, Finigan looked the best in the two friendlies but I've gone with Ainscough and Finigan pressurising him for the wing spot. I've also gone with Hargreaves as a starter, his strengths are in defence as he's an absolute rock and I feel we need to be more solid at the start of games this year. I would much prefer to see Scruton coming on as impact and running at tired defences than his energy being used up in defence.

Wow how everyone has just decided to forget about Donaldson this season! I thought he was one of our best/most consistent performers last year until his injury!!

and Ewwenorfolk you can not be serious starting Finnigan ahead of the other people we have in the squad!

thing to remember with donaldson is he's coming back from a serious injury. We dont know yet just how much that will have effected his game. Think in short term addy has probably overtaken him in pecking order and its down to donno to catch up now.

Who would kick if ah van on bench :s

Kearney
Ah Van
Platt
Walker
Raynor
Briggs
Herbert
Scruton
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langley

L'estrange
Hargreaves
Sykes
Kopzcak

Ah Van before Ainscough at the start of the season because our first couple of games are really tough and I feel he would be targetted by the opposition.

Diskin to start because he is a calming influence at dummy half and I feel Heath is more effective running at tired defences.

Scruton starting before Hargreaves because he is our pack leader in defence. He often sets the pace of our defensive line and he loves to put a shot on!!

Sykes on the bence because he gives us plenty of options if we get an injury in the back line.

swap sykes for royston, who gives same cover as sykes plus more attacking threat, and I'd go along with that line up initially.

Herbert probably I'd guess.

I'd agree with that team apart from swapping around Diskin with Lestrange. I don't think there is any seniority implied from coming off the bench at hooker and would suit both players games and the end result

I would on what I've seen (and heard) so far we should go -

1. Kearney
2. Raynor
3. Ah Van
4. Walker
5. Ainscough
6. Briggs
7. Herbert
8. Lynch
9. Diskin
10. Scruton
11. Elima
12. Whitehead
13. Langley

14. Hargreaves
15. Platt
16. Kopczak
17. L'Estrange

Its a tough one in the , hooker and starting prop IMO

s Ah Van, Walker and Platt - difficult to choose between the 3 of them
Hookers - as per above prefer Disko to start and then bring on Lestrange
Props - I think Hargreaves to start then change to Scruton

Although does having the steadier hooker on with the steadier prop give us the dynamicism we might need to get those early contests wons - maybe Lestrange/Hargreaves with a Disko/Scruton change and vary it up during the game. The good things is all our props are good quality and so are the hookers

Kearney
Raynor
Ah van
Walker
Ainscough
Briggs
Herbert
Hargreaves
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langley

Scruton (impact prop) Kopczack, Le Estrange, Royston (utility back)

With: Donaldson, Platt, Halley, Sibbit, Burgess for initial cover.

I overlooked Addy and Sykes, half back/utility back cover?

Nobody has forgot about him, theyve just realised how consistently average he is. People are now starting to think, WTF was Macca and Phil Clarke on about with this guy. Not a patch on Addy or Whitehead.

consistantly average?? the guy was doing exceptionally well for an 18yr old in a v poor team until the injury. i thought he was out performing whitehead at the time and it is accepted that whitehead was poorer towards the end of the year.

Yes, consistently average. Exceptionally well is a massive overstatement of Donaldsons form before he was injured. Take exceptionally well and apply it to Elliot and then I would agree. He's a good lil tackler, I will give him that, but that is about it and until he shows us something more then he remains just an averagely talented kid despite what Macca, Medley, and Phil Clarke have convinced many of yous otherwise.

I hadn't really thought about starting with Hargreaves and using Scruton as an impact prop, but have to admit that does sound like a good combo all round. Which ever of; Platt / Ah Van / Walker get the 2 Centre births, I'll feel for the third as think all could do a VERY good job for us. FWIW, I'd go Ah Van & Platty, but this is only based on the fact that I have seen them two most. Tough call I think.................what a choice of riches we have this year vs last. Come on Milenium weekend

Thinking about it id have either raynor or ainscough to start till halley is back then id go

kearney
halley
walker
platt
ah van
briggs
herbert
hargreaves
diskin
lynch
elima
whitehead
langley

royston
lestrange
scruton
kopczak

langley/walker can go second row for subbing and royston can go to either wing with ah van moving to centre or loose with langers moving to second row.

If briggs/herbert gets injured kearney can slot in there and royston can go fb a player with such versality is massively important to have on bench.

your probably right, the guys who see him day in day out in comparison with whitehead have got in wrong. obv you have had the benefit of time since his injury and have spotted what most people didnt at the time- well done.

TBH I'd pick Raynor ahead of halley and maybe ainscough too if he can tighten his defence up. Much as I like royston dont think wing is one of his positions. more likely he'd go into the and either ah van stayed on wing or platt shifted their (as it was mentioned last week he was training there).

Whilst I think both Donno and Addy are potentially excellent players I would start with

Kearney
Ah Van
Platt
Walker
Raynor
Briggs
Herbert
Lynch
Diskin
Hargreaves
Elima
Sibbitt
Langley

Scruton
Kopczak
L'Estrange
Whitehead

I've gone for size and work rate in the starting pack. I've gone for Sibbitt as he's a big lad who tackles well and it's key we don't get bullied early on.
For the first time in years that would give us size and strike power from the bench and the opportunity to actually change the pattern of a game rather than just resting our best players. Would love see Elliot coming on after 20 and running in that left channel.
I'd have been happy to put Ainscough on either wing but opted for a defensively safer option to start with.