The problem this year was that the spine of 1,6,7and 9 generally exhibited little to no creativity. Not changing personnel in these positions will produce the same result next year no matter how good the forwards and backs are.

Connor to 1 would introduce more creativity but we need much more from the rest of the spine and the current players in these positions are not the answer.

1,6,7,9 can only operate if your winning the forward battle and the ruck, since losing Watts we have looked poor up the middle and consistently lost the arm wrestle in the middle of the park. For me we are two quality props short

even a kr waller like myself ,has to say its a very strong starting 13 and they are certain to be top 5 or even better next year

Agreed but can’t see us changing Sneyd, Houghton or Kelly. Connor to FB would be biggest improvement for me and keeps him happy too. I’m not a big fan of Shaul unless the whole entire team is firing on all cylinders. We could also have two settled centres being Tui and Fonua. I certainly don’t think Tui should be moved he’s too damn good. Connor would offer plenty from FB

I must have missed something, I thought Connor wanted to play in the halves? Suggesting we drop Shaul will get us shot.

Creativity upgrades needed from shaul and Houghton massively agree

Houghtons distribution and attacking decision making for me is getting worse, probably because of the workload he puts on himself defending, I'm hoping this is resolved by having Johnstone on the bench to spell him.

And I must say we looked a lot more dangerous in attack from fullback with Wynne

Johnstone wont get a look in unless Houghton is injured
Shaul deserves the chance to see how he plays off some offloading forwards.If he continues the poor attacking form then i agree use Connor at Full back

That's my team aswell. Only thing I may change is which props/second rows start and which ones are on the bench. But that is the 17.

Only my opinion,and I know they are at different stages of their career,but I’m still struggling to put matongo in in front of ellis..

A quality prop short. Otherwise looks OK.

Make that two quality props
Only need an injuries to Taylor and Satae and we are back to Masi and Bowden with second rows stepping in
But Radford knows best

With Shaul as your number 1 you’ll never move to the next level, moving Connor to fullback would improve you but with Radford in charge you’ll be stuck trying to sneak into the top 5

The money for the 4th prop went on fonua

I can't disagree. I like Shaul, he has a lot of good qualities. 15-20 years ago he would have been one of the best full backs in the world. But the modern FB needs to be another pivot, and he doesn't have the skill set to be really top class.

But as you allude to, Shaul is only a very small part of our issues. I just don't have any confidence in Radford's coaching ability.

Sao, Brown and Bienek?

Even if the 2nd rowers mentioned could do a decent job in Ellis, Savelio and Fash at prop.

I doubt see a prop as a problem, I have bigger concerns that props

Have watched all matches Sao played for NZ Warriors in the NRL and he played at prop so no idea what he is like as a loose forward.

I can see sao playing prop and jones at 13. He's the type of player radford likes at LF

Well what travesty that would be

Agreed, out of the three I'd play Savelio there.

Have Ma'u, Jones and Griffin rotating out wide.

I don't see an issue with props at all. It's only the general downbeat feeling because of our form that suddenly players like Bowden, Matongo, Fash and Brown aren't deemed decent cover. I think all those 4 would find another SL team if they left us.

I sort of agree, but we are assuming Sao and Tevita will cut the mustard playing week in, week out in super league, they are in effect replacing Mickey P and Greeny, partnering Tag and Bowden. And as far as I know, regardless of all the expectations, they are not proven yet, don’t mean to be negative, just realistic.

I like Massi and the prospect Jack Brown, but another quality prop along the lines of Amor or Ikihifo, or the French lad at Wigan, who I presume will be surplus to requirements when Burgess arrives, would allow us more room to manoeuvre, if and when injuries strike.

I don't think Navarette is fit to lace Bowden's boots, and although Amor's ok - he's only average. I agree with you about Sao and Satae, the odds are that one of them will flourish, and one will disappoint. I personally much prefer younger fringe NRL players to veteran first teamers though.

I meant as back up, no probs with Josh.

Back up should be the likes of Masi and Brown, it's a salary cap sport, that's what Leeds and Saints do, look at the Wigan youngsters who have been given a chance recently.

I agree if they are good enough, the point was regarding an opinion we are a quality prop short, which we are.