Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:58 am  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

I prefer percy on the right, as I think it's his stronger side, and I still have question marks over the defensive frailty of a Percy - swift combo... To get Percy in (and if it's not this year it's next year) it means Turner simple has to move - and I still believe that he showed his utility value in the side at the end of last year.

Lomax
Makinson Percival Jones Swift
Burns Walsh
Amor Roby Masoe
LMS Thompson
Turner

Hohaia Vea Walmsley Richards

Would be my absolute prefered line up. Wilkin and Flanagan just don't have the size to play in the pack for me, and we saw how destructive that pack can be, as it single handed got us through the playoffs. Burns and Walsh working off that pack, feeding those outside backs would be devastating imo! Turner doesn't have to be involved as a playmaker, but I think he'd be great at working off the spine poking at gaps through the middle, and running support off the shoulders of the big guys (aka the role Wellens played for us for so many years) while Lomax works with Walsh and Burns to dictate play.

Not sure who'd be captain in that team though LMS or Walsh at a guess

Whilst I'm tahnkful to Turner for his efforts at first receiver last year, once we've got Walsh, Burns and Wilkin back, his playmaking days should be put on ice. After that, he's not a tough enough player to be a forwards' forward, so I'm quite befuddles by people continuing to pick him at 13.
It could result in a few cute plays, but would leave us short in the armwrestle. Ee have a raft of quality backrows vying for a spot, so leaving them out for Turner seems a nonsense to me.

You need to take one of WIlkin, Flash or Jones (or Walker) in the back row. These are the guys who get the high tackle count. I'd probably go for Jones, but they all have their advantages, Wilkin is obviously top of that pecking order with the coaches.
LMS is surely lined up for one of the other spots, which leaves a starting shirt and a bench spot left.
Vea was apparently underwhelming, whereas Greenwood excellend against Widnes.
Surely Wilkin will not get dropped from the 17?
Everyone is raving about Thompson at the moment, but I wonder whether he'll be used at prop as often as backrow?

While we all think that RIchards is our 4th choice prop and will be in our best 17, maybe we'll just use big back rows and spread the load?

Something like this

Amor Roby Masoe
LMS (back row cone front row)
Wilkin
Thompson (back row come front row)

Hohaia (interchange 9 and utility back)
Walmsley
Vea (back row come front row)
Greenwood (big back row) or Savelio (backrow come front row)

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 10:10 am  

Really hard to pick 17 from the squad we currently have and can imagine KC will have some nice headaches and a few players will be disappointed some weeks. I think overall, the squad is a lot stringer than last year, and I dont think there is a position which we are light of cover - which is good for injuries and also keeps players on top of their game or they will end up getting dropped.

For my first choice 17, I'd go with something like:
Lomax
Makinson
Percival
Turner
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Masoe
Roby
Amor
Wilkin
Thompson
LMS

Walmsley
Vea
Richards
Hohaia

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 10:56 am  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

Don't know if you were there yesterday mate but you'll be pleased to know Percy played right centre.

I wasn't at the game but I did hear I think all 3, Turner Jones and Percy, are SL quality centres at the moment, but Percy holds the most potential, and moving into the 3 position is the next step in his development.

Previously, I thought all 3 could be shoehorned in over Wilkin/ Flanagan, but with the news Greenwood and Savelio are going to really push for places, I'm not sure.

Nice headache to have!

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:01 am  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

I wasn't at the game but I did hear I think all 3, Turner Jones and Percy, are SL quality centres at the moment, but Percy holds the most potential, and moving into the 3 position is the next step in his development.

Previously, I thought all 3 could be shoehorned in over Wilkin/ Flanagan, but with the news Greenwood and Savelio are going to really push for places, I'm not sure.

Nice headache to have!

It's nice to have 3 people fighting for the 2 spots, as hopefully the competition will keep them all on their toes. Turner did OK at left centre yesterday and then in the 2nd half Jones and Swift looked good as well.

Personally I would start the season with Turner and Percival as 1st choice. I think Jones will be fighting it out with the likes of Richards, Flanagan, Greenwood,etc for a final bench spot.

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:18 pm  

The Yellow Giraffe wrote:

It's nice to have 3 people fighting for the 2 spots, as hopefully the competition will keep them all on their toes. Turner did OK at left centre yesterday and then in the 2nd half Jones and Swift looked good as well.

Personally I would start the season with Turner and Percival as 1st choice. I think Jones will be fighting it out with the likes of Richards, Flanagan, Greenwood,etc for a final bench spot.

At this point I can't see the point of keeping Jones on the bench. We have better second rowers waiting in the wings, and we don't need the utility with Hohaia.

Percival on the right and turner on the left could be good, depends on how the partnerships with Makinson and Swift work out

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 4:25 pm  

Is Luke Walsh going to be fit for the start of the season, yeah? For some reason, I thought we wouldn't be seeing him til late April/May.

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:21 pm  

Lomax
Makinson
Percy
Turner
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Jones
Thompson
Wilkin

Hohaia
Masoe
LMS
Vea

Re: Your strongest 17 to start 2015 : Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:25 pm  

The Reaper wrote: Is Luke Walsh going to be fit for the start of the season, yeah? For some reason, I thought we wouldn't be seeing him til late April/May. http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/117 ... on_return/ Luke Walsh should be ready for the first game of the season and he's looking good," Cunningham said.

The Reaper wrote: Is Luke Walsh going to be fit for the start of the season, yeah? For some reason, I thought we wouldn't be seeing him til late April/May. http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/117 ... on_return/ Luke Walsh should be ready for the first game of the season and he's looking good," Cunningham said.