With our latest signing we now have a good solid squad to deal with any injuies.
The only thing oncerning me is some big names going to be left out and will be hard to keep them happy. If Crocks comes which I hope people like washy kiny and maybe manu might not feature

Manu will feature very regularly, he is on the bench now because Bennett is playing well and were trying to utilise Manu's impact. If Crocker comes he will replace Bennett and manu will stay on the bench. Bennett shouldnt play week in week out, he needs time or he will burn out.

King may find his options limited, but washy will play his fair share of games i think. What were not able to do last year was rotate the squad, we can now, and competition will improve immensely which will benefit the team.

People will have to play well, and when that competitive culture arrives it will become the benchmark and the norm. With Cusack retiring and OOC players maybe leaving, those players that put it in this season will be rewarded next year i believe.

This season is starting to get interesting!!!

Who the fook is bennett?

I have a cold at the moment so that is how it sounds when i say it

Props will have to perform or they will be dropped and replaced. Also with Luauki being able to play backrow too it means Manu needs to be more consistent.

Gordon is the bloke who makes sure all contracts are signed, players are registered and visa applications processed

Isn't Lauaki a second rower purely?

His game is better suited to play prop. But I think he has played in the back row quite alot.

Pecking order of our props,

1- 4 Dowes Cusack Thackray Lauaki

5 Moa?

6 Maloney?

7 King?

Without injuries Kingy wont get a look in

No, plays both roles, depends on the playing personel he has around him.

I suppose with our back row there's no need for him, especially if Crocker arrives.

Do you seriously think that Moa and Maloney will be above Kingy in the pecking order????

Dreary me

Difficult to rank 5,6 and 7 equal 5th currently but im sure Sam Moa will have 5th outright once we see him.

Lets be honest its about time Paul King had competition isnt it, for too long he has been a shoe in with Carvell when fit!!
Competition will be good for him get some fire back into his belly!! make him think about what he is doing a tad more...
As for Manu as much as I would like to see him do his stuff every week the truth is that he is simply not reaching his potential at all and is performing in very small blocks, maybe all this competition will help him also??
given the choice of what we have coming, what I know of them and based upon current form from what I have seen thus far this season this is my first pick pack at present..
Prop : Cussack (our best player this year so far)
Hooker : Berrigan ( with this massive pack how can he not shine)
Prop : King ( start with king and ask him to hammer em for 20 mins)
2nd row : Radford ( playing best footie of his career at present)
2nd Row : burnett ( gotta keep him going as he is playing great footie)
Loose man : Danny Tickle ( close to best form of his life also)

replacements from
Dowes ( direct for Cussack)
Luaki ( For Radford and cause mayhem for 20 mins)
Moa ( for burnett so we dont burn the young un out)

Neither Thackery or Manu have shone so far so maybe Maloney will get a shout too

Definately too soon to say they are above him, but based on current evidence they shouldnt be below him either.

i hope it lifts his game, one awesome game in about 5 games isn't good enough, and he's done that inconsistent form the entire time he's been here IMO.

Our pack is looking awesome, assuming they all arrive.

Dowes
Berrigan
Cusack
Crocker
Radford
Tickle

Houghton
Thackray
Lauaki
Manu

King, Moa, Maloney, Burnett Washy, Whiting.

Washy might have something to say about that, as may Whiting!

Edited

Great competition for spaces, and if it allows certain players to be rested and rotated to keep fresh for our end of season push it can only be a good thing too.

Exactly, you need some skills to go with the biff.

Certainly Moa should be.

Try and find an FC fan that agrees with you

In that case they are all idiots.

Far be it from me defend Kingy but tell me how someone with 9 mins of first grade experience can be higher up the pecking order than someone with 10+ years first grade experience.

Pretty obvious for me that our props in order of selection will be

Cusack
Dowes
Lauaki
Thackray
King
Moa
Maloney

Personally would like to see washy getting the 13 spot and see us play more expansive rugby.

Playing 'an extra prop' at loose forward just cries out negativity.

Not knocking our first 2 performances tho