So you are saying that Tickle and Houghton have been very indifferent this season.

Yes they have. Houghton has been outstanding at times, quiet on others and Tickle has been average but his goal kicking superb.

INS
sharp
fielden
louie mccarthy scarsbrook
a new young halfback

NEW CONTRACTS
calderwood ( 1 year deal gives us depth and options also for me still is 1 of the best english wingers and allows briscoe to centre)
kent( very good youngster should be given 2 year deal still very young)

LET GO
dowes - been a good servant maybe between him and radders a 1 year deal for 1 of them but not sure. but i would be looking at bringing in a couple of props to replace them.
radders - above
burnett - again with him been youngish maybe worth another year but isnt progressing and is a penalty machine, and with the young backrowers coming through the likes of cunno,crooks,green,kent id maybe let him go.
tuffour - hasnt been given an oppitunity and looks certain to go
cusack - overseas and brings nothing to the team, very average just an worse version of dowes and will be on a bit aswell.
hall - been told hes going anyway
from this we should still have quite abit of money left aswell

2 players who the England selectors have commented about



But apart from those Fitz, Orgre,Manu we have been owned...Then there's Moa

Assuming Fielden signs and Sharp but no one else then I would go with:-

Tansey
Briscoe
Yeaman
Whiting
Sharp
Horne
Long
Hame
Berrigan
Fielden
Tickle
Fitz
Washbrook

Moa
Ogre
Houghton
Manu

I think this side would give great balance in the forwards, lots of impact from the bench especially, POSSIBLY THE BEST BENCH IN SL. Plus it gives us the extra pivot at 13 in Washy. It means we would have to change our style a little and have less emphasis on playing around the ruck. We would lose some forward power playing a ball playing 13 but I think the benefits would be worth it. If Calderwood stays the I would be tempted to try Briscoe in the centres too. Whiting would be the one to make way as he is less of an attacking threat but Yeaman needs to raise the bar or he could be the one dropped.

thanks paul.. someone at last read the thread opening note

Strange then that Houghton's stats are better than those of Riddell, Buderus and Cunningham, and that he is the comp's 6th top tackler. If that's the definition of indifference then I'll take it, particularly when he's a homegrown 21 year old.

anyone know the situation with berro wether he counts on the non fed next year or not, i dint think he should as he was contracted before feb 08 but heard that he still might count so wondering wether anyone knows. if he dont then woudnt mind meli maybe to replace calderwood if not then i would keep calders for another year.

1. Tansey
2. Sharp
3. Whiting
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Long
8. New signing
9. Houghton
10. O'Meley
11. Tickle
12. Manu
13. Fitzgibbon

14. New signing
15. Moa
16. Lauaki
17. Berrigan

Briscoe Jack
Lyne
Turner
Nicklas
New signing
Burnett
Green
Cunningham
Crookes
Washbrook
New signing

Thanks sheldon

2 new signings to sit in the reserves, Sheldon?

My team would be the same as yours but in my ideal world I'd replace Tansey with a Specialist FB allowing Tansey to become either Interchange 9 with Houghton or Half Back cover.

Not to sit in the reserves but to be part of the squad, the first to be a half back and the second could be 3/4 or a forward.(or we could get 5?)

Like the look of that side.

Even with Berrigan at hooker? Surely not.

That would be the one reservation i'd have but i dont want to go on about Berro anymore. I've made my thoughts clear.

Apart from having the slowest centre partnership in the league you mean?

They dont see the ball anyway!

1. Tansey
M2. Sharp
3. Yeaman
4. Whiting
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Fieldan
9. Berrigan
10. Orgre
11.Tickle
12. Manu
13. Fitz (When fit though Washy is more then good enough to cover there)

Subs

Moa
lauaki
Houghton
Hargreaves

1. Tansey
2. Briscoe
3. Turner
4. Yeaman
5. Sharp
6. Berro
7. Long
8. Fielden
9. Houghton
10. O'Meley
11. Manu
12. Tickle
13. Fitz

14. Washy
15. Lauaki
16. Dowes
17. Moa

Tansey
Briscoe
Yeaman
Turner
Sharp
Horne
Long
Shrek
Berrigan
Fielden
Tickle
Manu
Fitz

Moa
Dowes
Houghton
Hame

Although we need a 6 or a 1 imo to push past the top 4.

Snap.

That would be mine also, I also believe the hooker role should be Berro to start and Houghton off the bench...If Berros form continues in the same vein as these last few matches we could well see the heights he hit in Aus for his final year

Had a rethink, back five would now be:-

Tansey
Lyne
Yeaman
Briscoe
Sharp

More pace and power.

like the look of that, id think after a good pre-season Reece wont be far off being a first choice