You have a good pack for next year, not much else going for you!!

Galea for Pitts at least to start with and Tickle swap with Westerman and that would be my starter for the season. Tickle to cover prop when Westerman comes on.

Pitts played in the middle for us last season and will hopefully be moving to prop, I don't think Galea can play the 13 role that PG will want.



I don't want to see Tickle playing in the middle at all, Whiting and Ellis could share it.

Tickle is by far the best goal kicker at the club so needs to do 60+ minutes and has proven he can do that time and again. He's moved to prop before during games and we haven't lost anything much. I like Whiting at 13 and with your scenario including Pitts (who I hope has bulked up) I'd prefer back row Tickle/Ellis/Whiting starting with a bench of Pitts/Galea/O Meley/Heremaia.

Westerman should start in front of Galea.



I've no problem with the signing, he can read numbers as well as any half in SL but I don't think he's a starter. Good back up though.



Plenty of options in the backrow, Westerman should stick to the right, Tickle and Galea left or right, Ellis and Whiting left, right and centre.

1. McDonnell

2. Crookes

3. Arundel

4. Yeamo

5. Briscoe

6. Holdsworth

7. Seymour

8. Lynch

9. Houghton

10. Watts

11. Ellis

12. Tickle

13. Westerman



14. Ogre

15. Johnson

16. Whiting

17. Heremaia

Cant believe a few people not having Westerman in the 17

1 Shannon m

2 crooks

3 Arundel

4 yeaman

5 Briscoe

6 holdsworth

7 Seymour

8 lynch

9 heriamia

10 Pitts/Johnstone/Bowden/green

11Ellis

12 tickle

13 galea



14 Houghton

15 ogre

16 watts

17 whiting/westerman



This is one version of about four team combos I could come up with. I put this team because its got a bench capable of changing a game. Danny Houghton shouldn't be playing every minute every week imo. Aaron is a better passer so I'd like him starting and get us moving forward, and Danny particularly on dry tracks would be great coming on 20 in. Think in Aaron and Danny we have the best hooker interchange in the league. Later on could bring azza back on at loose and run with both 4a bit. Don't like watts or ogre starting just smashing in against opposition big men when they're fresh. Watts against a tiring defence with his offload could be game changing for us and if I was a tired defender can't imagine many players I'd least want running at me all fresh and fired up than ogre. Westy is a great runner out wide and has moments of excellence in him. And whiting can pop out a pass or kick and contribute attack wise but on a bad day can hold your team together.

This is a pretty strong squad. Hard choices for gentle to make.

It's certainly harder to pick the 17 for next season than previous seasons which is a good headache for Gentle to have.

Look, I appreciate that you're feeling pretty miserable about your bargain basement squad and zero chance of achieving anything of note for several years to come, but you're just making yourself look daft now.

I can. Ellis and Tickle self-select. Whiting may not have the talent of Westerman, but he wins hands down in attitude and engine. One back row bench spot. If fit, Galea has greater potential to turn a game in a shortish stint, arguably. It's not clear-cut, but I can see the case for him not being first choice.

That was my thinking with the exception of the possibility of Whiting not being as talented as Westerman which to me he clearly is.