Thanks Roopy,







That was pretty much my thinking too.

1. Gidley

2. Lineham

3. Evans

4. Atkins

5. Penny

6. Ratchford

7. Sandow

8. Hill

9. Clark

10. Simms

11. Hughes

12. Westwood

13. Westerman



14. Currie

15. Dodds

16. Bailey

17. Cox/Laithwaite/Dwyer



OR



1. Russell

2. Lineham

3. Ratchford

4. Atkins

5. Penny

6. Gidley

7. Sandow

8. Hill

9. Clark

10. Simms

11. Hughes

12. Westwood

13. Westerman



14. Currie

15. Dodds

16. Bailey

17. Cox/Laithwaite/Dwyer



No Ratchford at fullback this year as much as i like him as a player.

At fullback, Gidley can also do whole sets at dummy half in attack if you want too.

He actually got a 10/10 rating from RLW (one of only 2 players to ever get that) when he played a position Brian Smith called 'rover'. He basically played fullback in defence and hooker in attack for 80 minutes. He probably isn't fit enough to do that now - no one else is either.

Thanks for coming on the forum roopy. Just the sort of informed views we need.

Gidley himself says he plays best at fullback and I've always been of the opinion that he was signed to play there. Always has the option of being moved into the halves in the event that Ratchford is not available.

Absolutely Sandow to benefit. Gidley is a class act albeit one at the end of his career. When I heard you had signed Sandow I did laugh a bit because all accounts from the NRL point to him being more a burden than benefit.

The big question for me, if people are right in the assumption that Ratch wil play in the halves, is whether Ratch can provide the structure and tactical discipline that we need. Sandow and Ratch seem a bit too off-the-cuff as a partnership for me.



I may be wrong though and an extended period at halfback for Ratch may see this part of his game develop. Gidley can add some structure but his influence will be more limited from full back.

I think you'll find that he will get himself into dummy half and into the halves every chance he gets.

He isn't a fullback who stands around waiting for things to happen, and if he thinks someone needs to make something happen, he'll run in and call for the ball and try something.

I hope that's the case. Will be interesting to see how ot all comes together.

If Gidley can be as effective at fullback as Hodgson was then he will do for me. One thing for sure Ratch isn't a fullback.