Also in that 13, 10 of the players are Bradford products. And only one overseas player too.

maybe but can he kick?. given ah van looks likely to be our first choice kicker, I'd go with walker ah van being our first choice pairing. suspect platt could displace walker though.

That's probably my starting 13 as well. Although I'd maybe swap Platt for Sykes. Also, when Donaldson and Halley are fit that will add further competition for places.

You beat me too it, thats why I put him in instead of Walker. That and I missed the Fax game so haven't seen Walker play yet.







I know what you mean, thought I'd be different though! But also we have second rows that can pull stints as props, Langley and Elima aren't that much smaller than Hargreaves and are better players from what I know. Gives us more cover for different positions with Walker on the bench and then Addy able to move into the halves.

1. Kearney

2. Raynor

3. Ah Van

4. Platt

5. Ainscough

6. Briggs

7. Herbert

8. Lynch

9. L'Estrange

10. Hargreaves

11. Elima

12. Whitehead

13. Langley



14. Diskin

15. Scruton

16. Kopczak

17. Walker/Royston/Sibbitt (Take your pick)

Looks good to me Nothus. It will be interesting to see what Potter comes up with though.

I'd say that is looking a strong and balanced squad. Like you, I'd much prefer Kearney at 1 if we are happy with Briggs -which based on today most folk seem to b.



I'd start with Diskin - use Heath to open up the gaps once the initial war of attrition is out of the way - and not seen enough of Hargreaves yet to conclude whether he's a starter. But I'm sure he WILL be in time regardless.



I'd say its Platt or Walker to start at centre, and whichever one doesn't start is on the bench as your 17. But when you start listing who that leaves out, you start to realise what strength in depth we now have!

Most agreement on the forwards and halfss so always going to be the backs where the discussion is going to be. But what is good to see is that theres no dreams about an aussie superstar back coming in to save us all, just solid discussion of what we have got, signed up and ready to play. My few thoughts without having seen either games are the hooker issue is a real one, and wings - Ainscough may be fast and elusive in attack but defence? So its more horses for courses - as with a loose forward, one game you may want a Langley the next an Addy, depends who you are playing and therefore how you want to play.

I suspect you will be proved dead right there. You hope (and I expect) Potter will have the skill and judgment to decide which tweaks are needed for each match in turn. At least he should have the player pool to do that; last season it was pretty well the main 17 plus the academy, and heaven help us when injuries hit.



Anyone remember the "Mission Impossible" series from the late 1960s/early 1970s? Where, having been given the next Impossible Mission, Peter Graves went through his files on all his team members and selected the ones - taken together - most likely to get the job done? I can sort of see Potter doing the same! Although hopefully nothing will qualify as an "impossible mission"...

Kearney

Raynor

Walker/Platt (who shows up best in the next 2 friendlies)

Ah Van

Finigan

Briggs

Herbert

Lynch

Diskin

Scruton

Whitehead

Elima

Langley



L'Estrange

Hargreaves

Kopzcak

Sibbit

Kearney

Ah Van

Platt

Walker

Raynor

Briggs

Herbert

Scruton

Diskin

Lynch

Elima

Whitehead

Langely



Hargreaves

Koppy

Heath

Addy

Kearney

Raynor

Ah Van

Platt

Ainscough

Briggs

Herbert

Hargreaves

Diskin

Lynch

Elima

Whitehead

Langely



Scruton

Koppy

L'Estrange

Walker



The only difficult decision for me was either Ainscough or Finigan on the wing, Finigan looked the best in the two friendlies but I've gone with Ainscough and Finigan pressurising him for the wing spot. I've also gone with Hargreaves as a starter, his strengths are in defence as he's an absolute rock and I feel we need to be more solid at the start of games this year. I would much prefer to see Scruton coming on as impact and running at tired defences than his energy being used up in defence.