Here is my selection:


[iDavid Mead

Jodie Broughton, Brayden Williame, Fouad Yaha, Lewis Tierney;

Lucas Albert
Luke Walsh

Gregory Bird
Benjamin Garcia, Benjamin Jullien
Remi Casty, Michael McIlorum, Sam Moa[/i

[uInterchange[/u: [iJason Baitieri, Julien Bousquet, Antoni Maria, Paul Aiton[/i,

[uReserves[/u: [iMickael Simon, Thibault Margalet, Vincent Duport, Iain Thornley[/i


My controversial pick is Fouad Yaha in the centres. But I think that he could become a devastating centre, especially given his huge weight loss. That choice also gives the team great speed in the back three -- perhaps the most exciting back three in Super League.

My other debatable choice would be Antoni Maria on the bench ahead of Mickael Simon.

Any thoughts?

We'd need to sign McIlorum first but most of the I agree with.

The Gigot question will need answering at some point.

I think we need some pace out wide to really trouble the good teams and the odds place us at 50/1 And in the bottom four.

Yaha at centre is a no from me. Struggles to make defensive decisions at winger never mind centre which is even harder to defend at.

50/1 and 66/1 to win the title is a good price. I have whacked a tenner on at 66/1. We might have had a bad season but Mead and Mickey Mac are 2 of the best signings of anyone in super league and on paper we have a fantastic squad.

Anyway my team.

1. Mead
2. Tierney
3. Williame
4. Langi
5. Broughton
6. Walsh
7. Albert
8. Casty
9. Mickey Mac
10. Moa
11. Garcia
12. Julien
13. Bird
14. Baiteri
15. Bousquet
16. Simon
17. Aiton

Which for the first time in a long while leaves us with a lot of depth!

Middles: Maria, Simon, Margalet
2nd row: Anderson
Halves: Joufrett?? (Langi, Bird Gigot all options but the one position we are a little short, lets hope for no injuries to Walsh and Albert)
Hookers: Da Costa
Bentres/Wingers: Yaha, Thornley, Duport

And the other young players plus hopefully Gigot.

I am happy with our squad.

I think we need a way of playing as well.

The last couple of years we haven't really had a style of play.

I am not advocating a return to the off the cuff play we saw in the past, much as it would good to watch.

But if we are a battle for the top 8 we need to be economical and effective.

Less penalties and good completion would be a start.

Steve Mac will hopefully bring a more professional look to the team. Despite the criticisms he got while coaching England, he improved them in that respect massively.

Has Baitieri left? I would go Tierney Mead Thornley Williame Yaha Albert Walsh Casty Aiton Moa Anderson Julien Bird Plus Bousquet Margalet Maria and possibly Garcia,who though I do not think he is much good can cover a lot of positions.Our greatest need is for another half back

Hold up...

Mead not at full back? And I would argue that Garcia was one of our best last year

Been plenty rumours around Wigan that McIlorum is heading your way.
Anything your end as there's nothing official from the Wigan club as yet?

French forum suggests he will be announced later today. Looks like a done deal

It's done

A good player, hope it works out for him and your club.

Slightly concerned that you could see a starting thirteen akin to:

Mead; Broughton, Thornley, Williame, Tierney; Walsh, Langi; Moa, McIlorum, U N Autre; Anderson, Bird; Aiton

Not really what we ought to be about.

Forgot about Langi and now Mcilorum is also here.Team looks about the same as at this stage last year when we knew nothing about Gigot. U.N .Autre should ,I think ,be Julien .Half back situation worries me .

Julien Bousquet, I hope you mean. Best French player around at the moment.

Half back - I hope Lucas Albert is given more game time. More than Langi, certainly. He's the future.

Or Ben Julien?

Casty, Garcia, Bousquet and then probably Baiteri, Albert, Simon/Maria, Julien are likely to be in the top 17. There will be some frenchies in there. A lot of young french lads in the squad which hopefully in a couple of years will be around the top 17. Club has been woeful at retaining and bringing on youngsters but i get the feeling the club wants to change that.

The club numbers imply Mead,Broughton Thornley Wiliame Yaha Langi Walsh Casty Aiton Moa Anderson Garcia Bird Plus Bousquet Mcilorum Simon and Margalet.I am o.k. with most of that,but I do not rate Garcia and I had hoped that Albert would start.How much experience has Langi had at half back? Bousquet is our best prop ,but I like him to come on after 20 minutes. I am glad that Thornley ,who I do rate ,will be there .I suspect that Tierney will start most games.

Let me stop you there

same club numbers that once had Pryce and Taia as our starting centres !

They
Don't
Mean
Anything

our first choice lineup will be something like this - Loads of Australians a few Englishmen and maybe a Frenchman. Really what is the point. I'll be going to TO away games next year I would say

The point is that very few French players are good enough for superleague as the performance of the national team demonstrates.Our worst performances last year were when French players were given a chance. The first choice line up should include Casty Bousquet and Yaha.I would also use Margalet and either Simon or Maria in the interchange plus one French player to partner Anderson at second row

you didnt seem to mention garcia...

Garcia should be and will be in the run on side.