Seems the logical choice (and it gets some cash off the cap).

That doesn't strike me as the most intelligent spine for a team. Powell is okay at hooker but not the most creative or dynamic and at times his passing is awful. Escare is a dangerous runner and a decent playmaker from fullback but he's had nothing like enough time at 7 to suggest whether he has the intelligence to read a game, the passing accuracy of the defensive strength to be used there. Add to that Williams still being a bit dodgy with his own decision making and Hardaker not being much of a playmaker and I'd question whether that line up would be smart enough for a top Super League side.

1-Hardaker
6-Williams
7-New scrum half
9-Powell
17-Escare/Ganson

That would be my choice. I don’t think for one minute we can lose Sam Tomkins passing/kicking game and his creativity and replace it with two runners in Hardaker and Escare.

You should have seen his performance in the halves for the reserves. He ran the show. Different calibre opposition, I grant, but it shows that he has what it takes to play in the halves.

I disagree with the verdict on Hardaker's handling, I think he has a superb handling game and would slot into our patterns easily.

Not just for the reserves, either, when the switcheroo has had him at #7 and Sam at #1 it’s seemed to work better than the other way around.