This is a difficult one.



I think the only certainties are:



Henry and Talau (if fit) - in the 3/4 line

Ratchford - in halves

Cashmere & LeuLuai (off the bench again) - two of be props

Adamson & Swain - back row

Alker - starting hooker



I would like to see someone else given a chance at hooker as we are seriously lacking any creativity from the play the ball. I know the Alker fans out there will disagree, but when he's on the pitch, not playing hooker, he has a habit of getting in the way at scrum half. Don't care whether it's Fitzy, J Smith, M Smith or Holdsworth, but we need something extra at hooker. Our play the ball has been painfully slow for too many years now.



Personally I'd like to see:



1) Henry - Pretty safe under high ball

2) McGilivary - earnt his place last year

3) Talau - When fit is one of the few true quality players we have

4) Tyrer - Tracked him fir long enough, so he must have something

5) Gibson - Lets hope he shows his early promise

6) Ratchford - Has to deal with the pressure of exectation this year

7) Matty Smith - did better than alright for Celtic last year

8 ) Cashmere - Glad to see we still have this guy

9) Alker - Think he needs replacing, but nobody else tackles like this guy and if we still need his defensive qualities then he has to play

10) Boyle - would like to go for LULU, but we'll need at least one of LULU/Ray on the pitch through out the game

11) Adamson - By far our best player last season, if he develops by the same extent this coming season we'll have one hell of player on our side

12) Swain - Would like to see a more creative 13, so he gets a move

13) Holdsworth - Not seen anything of this guy, but I want to believe he's not just here to make up the numbers



14) J. Smith - showed some class last year, if he can produce more consistantly the team will go well

15) Parker - really respect this guy, maybe he doesn't do anything special, but he's one hell of hardworking honest player with lots of experience.

16) Leuluai - at his best is our most destructive player

17) Sidlow - think he has more potential than Jewitt

Just noticed only one person has Littler in their first seventeen. I've always respected him, but he has never been SL quality, either in attack, doesn't know how to pass let alone when, or in defence, his flank has always leaked tries. That said it's hard not to like him, he's like the old chair that's been sat in your living room for a long time, you can't imagine a time without it and you would miss it were it gone.



What's the betting he'll be in the 17 next year?

Good point, Forgot about Henry

, Henry on the wing as imo he is a better winger than centre as when he played on the wing he certainly shoured up that side of the field.



But people some say henry actually played the whole season on the wrong side of the field from his natural position, so that would be talau centre henry wing



I thing its better having that balance as when we attack we can go both ways making other teams think a bit more

He will be in the 17 as Smc thinks he can cover positions in both the forwards and backs, i blow hot and cold with littler i feel we need a better quality of strike centre to move on he isnt a 2nd row, he is all effort but i want that bit of class with age he has lost that 1/2 yard that makes all the difference but the stats dont lie im sure he was 3rd top metre maker last season, he might have lost a yard but he's gained 2 in his head which is a real strainge thing to say about littler but he uses his head more with age so these days he's more of a plodder than a flyier

Well on the Super League website the top meter four are listed as Cashmere, LULU, Wilshire and Swain. Would agree with you that he shouldn't be covering the forwards though, as we have far better backrow forwards to pick from. When they have been fit we've generally had better centres too.

i stand corrected

, he's consistant n rarely injured that could be a reason he is in the 17 all the time

He has been high up in the past, but like you said in earlier post, he's starting to lose a yard of pace now. I've been openly critical of littler in the past, the problem now is that he's been such a loyal servant to the club you just can't leave him out. The club really has to move on though! Two more skillful and quicker centres are needed. We don't seem to have a great deal of luck keeping centres fit, McGuinness, Moule and now Talau. So I think he'll get his chance, just not in the pack.

Didn't realise you were picking the team this year.

Yeah me and shaun are close he rings me regular asking my advice unpaid like , he is looking for a assistant tho, get on the payroll, free tickets for you back in employment, how u fixed GT

?

From a neutral view :



1 Fitzpatrick

2 Gibson (Broughton if he signs)

3 Henry

4 Talau

5 McGilvray

6 J. Smith

7 Ratchford



8 Cashmere

9 Alker

10 Parker

11 Adamson

12 Swain

13 Holdsworth



14 M. Smith

15 Sidlow

16 Leuluai

17 Boyle



Reckon you need another prop, then Parker to second row, then Adamson on bench in place of Sidlow.

Most people will agree with you that we need another prop. Adamson on the other hand should be one of the first names on the team sheet!!

You almost convinced me that you knew what you were talking about ... until you posted the above.