www.sporthull.co.uk/headlines/HU ... ticle.html Tough to pick a 17, i tried it was too hard, at one point I had Hall, Houghton, Moa, Burnett and Radford out if the 17, I kept changing my mind. Good position to be though.

www.sporthull.co.uk/headlines/HU ... ticle.html Tough to pick a 17, i tried it was too hard, at one point I had Hall, Houghton, Moa, Burnett and Radford out if the 17, I kept changing my mind. Good position to be though.

1 Tansey
2 T. Briscoe
3 Yeaman
4 Whiting
5 Calderwood
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Dowes
9 Berrigan
10 O'Meeley
11 Tickle
12 Manu
13 Fitzgibbon

14 Washbrook
15 Radford
16 Lauaki
17 Moa

I like your back-line for Saints: but not all opposition. I would play Whiting, and I would play him in the centre berth opposite Gidley. Usually I would much prefer Hall there although I would still like to see Whiting in the 17 if his form and the opposition is right. Saints are the only team against which I would play Whiting in the centres - anyone else and he should be a second-rower imho.

Has to be Yeaman and Whiting against Saints. I think Hall or Turner could be exposed against their centres. After that, it's up to the two of them to hang onto their places.

Yep I agree and would normally go with Hall but I think we need Whitings defence for the Saints game. I was really giving the team that I think will be used and not really the team I would go with. I'd have Washy at 13 and no Tickle or Radford.

Tickle I'd agree with leaving out, but I thought Radford had his best game in a Hull shirt against Rovers.

I'd agree that he played very well in that game. I just don't think he is one of our best 17 players. TBF Cusack isn't quite upto speed so maybe Radders in place of him ATM but I think Dowes has done enough to be ahead of him. It's good to have options based on form though.

That would be my team as well.

Starting 13 exactly how I would have it. Bench I would have Lauaki, Radford, Washbrook, Houghton. But I really can't see him starting without Yak in the 17.

Only issue with that is Berrigan having to play the full 80 after having no preseason games. Unless you would use Washbrook as cover but I am not a fan of him playing 9.

That would be mine too, Washy to cover 6,7,9 and 13. Think will choose there team for the opposition we play this year thats why Whiting and Yemo have to play in this game.

I would be happy with this team just see cusack playing though .

Me neither, which is why I would have Houghton in there instead of Moa. Dowes, O'Meley, Lauaki and Radford. But yet again another problem, as I said, where is Yak?!

I don't mind Washy covering at 9 for 15-20 mins as he also offers cover in other positions. Houghton had a good game yesterday but I'm still not convinced it's the best option for the team to have him in the bench.

All Washy will do is come on and do the same thing as Berro, may aswell leave him on tbh. The whole point of having a hooker on the bench is for him to come on and provide some spark out of dummy half as well as rest the starting hooker. Houghton does this job very well and whilst he has his faults he is only young and will improve with more gametime.

1. Tansey
2. Calderwood
3. Yeaman
4. Hall
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Dowes
9. Berrigan
10. Cusack
11. Radford
12. Tickle
13. Fitzgibbon

14. O'Meley
15. Moa
16. Houghton
17. Manu

thats pretty impressive lineup mate,agree about whiting hes done very well in both warm up games,agar has many headaches picking the team for saints cos we are going into the game with no injuries and that is very rare for us

after 2 friendlies we have no casualties going into the season great stuff.

cant wait for the saints game

Whiting
Calderwood
Turner
Yeaman
Briscoe
Tansey
Long
Cusack
Berrigan
O'Meley
Radford
Manu
Fitzgibbon

Moa
Lauaki
Houghton
Washbrook

I can't see any advantage in moving Tansey from fullback whatsoever, unless Long was injured.

Horne's performance in the derby was no better than any of last season's performances when he was struggling with his illness etc. and, for me, he is offering very little at SO. I hope he improves and gets back to his best but I was hoping to see a rejuvenated Horne after a full injury-free close season and, sadly, that was far from the case.

Tansey and probably Turner look like they could offer a lot more and that's why I've put Whiting to FB and Tansey to SO.

Tansey
Calderwood
Whiting
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Long
Dowes
Berrigan
Radford
Tickle
Manu
Fitzgibbon

Houghton
Luaki
Moa
Turner

This is a very tough team to pick and there are lots of permutations I'd be happy with. Last year you'd have picked the 17 fittest ones. Main questions are:
1. who to play at work-horse prop (I've dropped Cusack - not fit yet to my mind)
2. who to play at 4 (I've put Whiting in purely for his savvy - I'd go for Hall against any other SL team)
3. who to put in the 2nd row (between Burnett and Lauaki on the bench but I thought Lauaki looked ropey in defence and lacklustre in attack against Rovers and reports from the Sheffield game seem to support this)
4. who to play at loose man (I've gone for Fitz and not used Washy - I think we need tight defence and punishing attack).

I haven't picked a flair team but I think if we can knock their pack around we might open up some gaps for Horne and Tansey up the middle later on.

Tansey
Briscoe
Yeaman
Whiting
Calderwood
Horne
Long
Dowes
Berrigan
Radford
Manu
Tickle
Fitzgibbon

Houghton
Moa
O'Meley
Burnett

www.sporthull.co.uk/headlines/HU ... ticle.html great position for him to be in

www.sporthull.co.uk/headlines/HU ... ticle.html great position for him to be in

Really looking forward to this game, it will be my first away league match for over 20 years!!!!
First time at Stains as well!

Long may it continue.... I mean the lack of injuries.