What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 11:57 am  

Signings of Stapleton and Ioane really adds competition for places.
So there are many issues to resolve in deciding the 13:
Full Back?
Halves?
Starting props?
Loose Forward?
For me I'd go:
Kear
Williams
Naiqama
Stapleton
Hellewell
Barthau
Leatherbarrow
Slyney
Cunningham
Thackray
Lovegrove
Garside
Battye
Subs:
Ioane
Bussey
Offerdahl
Ackers

It's not easy!

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 1:09 pm  

I think we've got one more new signing to confirm according to the press release yesterday. Really hoping it's an experienced half back, it needs to be.
But I'm really happy with that team. There's much more robustness and athleticism in that pack and some of those players are good at off loading.
Battye, Ioane, Offerdahl, Bussey. They're all big, quick and robust. Also pleased with Ackers coming in to complement Cunningham at the ruck to add a bit of speed.
Some nice signings there and a formidable, physical pack.

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 1:17 pm  

It's not looking to bad, hope we don't end up with last year's long term injuries scuppering the plans. Think the half back pairing will be the key behind a decent pack. Certainly at home pace on the fringes is going to be pretty important with the surface we are playing on.

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 2:12 pm  

The Daddy wrote:

I think we've got one more new signing to confirm according to the press release yesterday. Really hoping it's an experienced half back, it needs to be.
But I'm really happy with that team. There's much more robustness and athleticism in that pack and some of those players are good at off loading.
Battye, Ioane, Offerdahl, Bussey. They're all big, quick and robust. Also pleased with Ackers coming in to complement Cunningham at the ruck to add a bit of speed.
Some nice signings there and a formidable, physical pack.

Spot on.

Looking at the squad we do seem short in the backline.
Including Alex Walker we only have 10 specialist backs.
Compared to 18 forwards.

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 3:03 pm  

North London Gooner wrote:

Spot on.

Looking at the squad we do seem short in the backline.
Including Alex Walker we only have 10 specialist backs.
Compared to 18 forwards.

Alex Foster and Matty Garside would be comfortable in the centres

[brian2]

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 7:38 pm  

Agree re Garside

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 8:49 pm  

Has Harrison gone? Or was he that unmemorable?

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 8:54 pm  

Sarf Essex Taff wrote:

Has Harrison gone? Or was he that unmemorable?

No not gone at all, but who would you drop for him in the second row? I have also not included Macani which is a tough call

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 10:21 pm  

Ronniequin wrote:

No not gone at all, but who would you drop for him in the second row? I have also not included Macani which is a tough call

No one mentioned him, which I thought was odd. I don't think a large lump of the salary cap is going to be sitting on the sidelines.

Fwiw I would not pick six props/middle unit players in the 17. Two on the bench is enough.

If Illiess is not a first choice winger I would not have him on the bench either. I always thought that it made no sense having a winger as a sub. Restricts the choices too much

Re: What would be your run on side if everybody fit? : Mon Nov 09, 2015 10:28 pm  

Sarf Essex Taff wrote:

No one mentioned him, which I thought was odd. I don't think a large lump of the salary cap is going to be sitting on the sidelines.

Fwiw I would not pick six props/middle unit players in the 17. Two on the bench is enough.

If Illiess is not a first choice winger I would not have him on the bench either. I always thought that it made no sense having a winger as a sub. Restricts the choices too much

I agree with both points you make. You can't have a winger on the bench and you have to decide which 4 props from the six available you are going to choose if all are fit.

Tough but haven't had these situations for a very long time.