yes i'm with gas light, apart from swapping David faiumu for finnigan (based on last seasons form!)

luke robinson is by far the best SH at the club, grix's untested at SL level imo (considering he played on the wing at wakey), Mcnally is another possibillity but i'd keep him as cover and play him in minor cc games etc. my problem lies with the lack of tries scored by centres & think their the positions up for grabs for utility players etc to break into the team.

Aye, I dont see Finnigan in the XVII when everyone's fit. Brown has recruited Drew so you'd have to think Drew is either going to be on the bench and coming in at 7/9 during a game or starting at one of those positions with someone else coming in. Then depending on who else is playing in one of those positions then there will be a choice of Faiumu, Robbo, Lunt on there with Brown most likely although saying that Grix will also be vying for the 6 spot.



You'd have to think the full back position is Brett's with Leroy covering for any injury and being on the wing in the meantime with Dodgy, McGilvary, Aspers being other alternatives and Lawrence at a push for the other wing spot. I'd really prefer to see lawrence at centre though as he will develop better that way. We have lots of permutations in pretty much all the positions apart from prop.

I think if Drew stays fit for the majority of the games we will finish 2nd because his short kicking game is something we have missed and when him and Fooey finish at the end of the season i think that,s when Robbo will convert to hooker .

This is the third and final year of Robbo's deal. I wouldn't be surprised if he left TBH.

For me this would be our strongest squad:



1-B Hodgson

2-Cudjoe

3- Lawrence

4- Fatz

5-D Hodgson

6-Brown

7-Robbo

8-Mason

9-Lunty

10-Fa-alogo

11- Gilmour

12- Wild

13- Raleigh



14- Jammer

15- Grix

16- Griffin

17- Crabtree



IMO we have better players than Drew at the club and if our half backs get injured during a game Grix can slot in a 6, 7, 9 or 13

B Hodgson

Cudjoe

Lawrence

Whatuira

Hodgson D

Brown

Grix/Robinson

Mason

Drew

Griffin

Gilmour

Faalongo

Wild





Crabtree

Raleigh

Lunt

Faiumu/Kirmond

I like the look of stella's.



There is no right or wrong answer though which is good. In the past the best XIII has been sewn up, never mind the XVII. Now even that is uncertain.

Stella, spot on, I would go with that.

It's a decent headache for NB to have with the squad we have now. I'd like to see Drew, Lunt, Faiumu and Grix in the squad somewhere but that's probably not possible until midway through the season when injuries will occur more frequently. I'd like to see someone playing at 13 with a bit of creative flair rather than just another 2nd rower which is where Grix might get a chance to establish himself a certain position instead of a versatility player. Looking at the squad we have now I doubt we'll see Aspinwall playing 2nd row again for the club and his only chance of an appearance will be if we have injuries on the wing.

Couldn't agree more Ponner. Just looking at the various options suggested what stands out is the strength and flexibility of the squad. Here's to another great season whichever combination takes to the field.