Kinnell, mate! Snap!

To good not to be playing SL.

MacDonal was 3rd top metre making full back in league prior to injury, also was 2nd top tackle buster!!
If you look at some highlights for this yr, Shannon was a major factor in loads of our best attack n tries, in as much as starting them. Shauls a support based player n finisher, still needs to work on his link play.
Shannon still for me. Gonna be plenty of opportunities for both. Shaul can get plenty of game time whilst serving his apprenticeship as it were. A little like roosters have this yr!

I think still go with Shannon for the start of the season and get Shaul game time somewhere on Dual reg so we can bring him back whenever we want/need.

For the time being though Shannon has the spot for me, he's better linking into the line in attack, and he takes a lot more balls on the full than Shaul does because his positioning is better.

I'm sure by the end of next season Shaul will have progressed enough to really be considered our number one.

For me Shaul needs to keep playing for us, Will only get better playing super league level every week . Mcdonnell can go on the wing if needed

gentle is mates with McDonnell's dad. No chance of shaul being 1st choice

Yes, agree with that. McDonnell has been a very good signing for us. Would have made a difference at Wembley.

Shaul is a fantastic prospect though and has to be at the club, not on loan somewhere. As for the wings, well that'll be between Lineham, Crookes and ( tbc) Biggs next season.

Tough decisions for Gentle.

Shaul was very good last night. Positional play on kicks was outstanding for a young experienced lad. He didn't even give Catalans a chance to score from one of their kicks through. Other than the obvious mess up between him and Crookes he dealt with anything that came his way.
Superb try also!

As it stands with no other signings and a fully fit squad my back line would be.

McDonnell
Shaul
Yeaman
Crooks
Lineham

He threw out some absolutely terrible passes as well. He did some brilliant things too, but needs to work a little more on the basics. Whether that's best achieved by playing SL or NL, I can't decide.

McDonnell also only scored 2 tries and had 5 try assists in his 19 SL games, which IMO is a pretty poor return for a full back.

By comparison, Shaul has scored 6 tries in only 7 SL games and averages significantly more metres per carry than McDonnell.

McDonnell has been one of our better players this year, but it's a no brainer for me. Jamie Shaul has already shown that he could be a very special player for us. He's 21 and at a critical stage in his development as a player. In order to fulfil his potential he needs to be playing regular SL, and if that means shifting McDonnell to the wing, or elsewhere (the stand) then so be it.

We've seen the progress Crooks and Lineham have made this year with regular game time. Shaul will do likewise, and bearing in mind where he's at already then that could be pretty exciting for the club.

The kid plays with passion and for the team not just his pay packet. That the sort of players you need. Shaul for me

Gets a tougher call every game, Shaul is continually improving. Looks so much more assured now.

I think it could come down to when McDonnell regains fitness. If he misses the start of next season I think he might not get the fullback spot back.

The other thing to consider is that they're both OOC next season IIRC, so there's a big decision to be made and if we're looking at Shaul long-term it could be damaging to send him elsewhere all year.

I'm sure they said on Sky last night during the game that shaul had signed a new 2 year contract?

he signed it in may, normally it would be 2 years to run on from the end of the current season, so he should be signed up till the end of 2015

Would rather waste a cap place then a very promising youngster who is already up to it.
McDonnell for utility player for me, with Whiting getting a starting loose forward berth in his testimonial year.

What positions has McDonnell played before and how effective was he?

McDonnell had the second best stats of any FB in the league when he got injured IIRC.

Difficult decision to be sure. Shannon is the more complete player and better as an additional attacking link, but Shaul gets better every game and has natural pace and agility. Shaul will finish more moves but McDonnell will help create more.

Easy to make a case for either to be first choice. Glad it's not my decision!

Interchange full back on the bench. It's the future.

Shaul has done superbly well but Mcdonnell to start next season,he is the more complete full-back and Shaul to step in for 2015...if he is still here as he may spit his dummy.

Rooster have the next super star fullback learning his trade on the wing behind minicello. Would be perfect for us to do same, whilst also covering the full back role itself.
Still has much to iron out n tweak in his game. Being a support player won't carry you over a full season. He is without doubt the future though!

Minicello learned the same way as do many fullback by starting on the wing.

Shaul's place to lose now IMO

Very tough indeed. I'm undecided at the minute.

Shannon's the best attacking FB we've had since Prekkie.

Shaul is not quite ready to challenge full-time but there's no denying he has taken his chances with both hands. Particularly as Horne got back to fitness.

He's not the next Tomkins, but theres a bit of the magic there. He just needs to stop the dumbass passing.

Then again, more than one older-headed player was guilty of feckery last night.

They'll both be injured all season, and Horne will play there

That's the Norm