Agree with G1 regarding Ward. And agree with the poster above who's name I have somehow forgot in the time its taken me to click 'reply' regarding Sutcliffe.



That is all.

While I know there's a significant difference in terms of intensity and opposition between the opposition in the last two games and what can be expected in the SL regular rounds, there has appeared to be more pace and urgency around the team with McGuire and Sutcliffe running things.



It's to be hoped that urgency doesn't disappear when the reins go back to the captain.

I would agree with that, but I also think that is also down to another couple of changes. The ability of having a big forward who can hit the line and move a pass on, very much like in the James Graham mould, and an actual attacking running backrower in Stevie Ward.



As you said, the opposition needs to be taken into account, but regardless of that these are two things which were missing previously against whatever opposition. This has given much more options to the half back pairing.

now that we're half way through the season what do you all think is our best 17 and the side that would play in a cc final or gf if all were fit for selection?



have any of you changed your initial views to your pre season selections?



stevie ward must surely be the first name on the team sheet,he always wins the collision in attack and is making some mammoth defensive stints

paul aiton has also looked very good for us at 9 after his injuries/illness last season



my side would be

1:hardaker

2:briscoe

3:watkins

4:moon

5:hall

6:sinfield

7:mcguire

8:cuthbertson

9:aiton

10:peacock

11:s ward

12:ablett

13:delaney

14:sutcliffe

15:jjb

16:singleton

17:achurch/leuluai

Hardaker

Briscoe

Watkins

Moon

Hall

Sinfield

McGuire

Cuthbertson

Aiton

Peacock

Ward

Ablett

Delaney



Sutcliffe

JJB

Singleton

Achurch



Would be interesting to see Sutcliffe at 6 with Sinfield at loose and see how things go in some league games, that would throw up an issue of who drops to the bench between Ablett or Delaney (as like you Ward is a certain starter ATM)

Hardaker

Briscoe

Watkins

Moon

Hall

Sutcliffe

Mcguire

JP

Aiton

Cuthbo

Ward

Delaney

Sinfield



Ablett

Singleton

Jjb

Achurch



Sinfield was very good yesterday but thus far this season Sutty has the 6 shirt on merit and i disagree with him getting dropped let's not forget when the pack has laid the platform Sutcliffe has done plenty of damage.

True if we'd have gone with Sutcliffe at 6 yesterday and Sinfield 13 we'd have still been successful really going by how the game went. News from the McDermott post match press conference is that Delaney picked up a hamstring injury and he didn't sound confident about it. If JJB is missing still I don't see who else to put at 13 ATM other than Sinfield (Singleton did against Saints but is needed for a better prop rotation on the bench). So for the next few weeks we could see Sinfield at loose with Sutcliffe at 6.

WRT to Stevie Ward, I'm convinced. An injury free off season has clearly benefited the lad. Superb start to the season and thoroughly merited place in the 13.

If Delaney is going to miss some time, I'd be interested to see Achurch get some more game time either starting at loose or in the second row with Ablett at 13.



In terms of "best" side, if I had a game to win tomorrow and everyone was fit it would be:



Hardaker, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Peacock, Aiton, Cuthbertson, Ward, Ablett, Delaney. Reps: Sutcliffe, Singleton, JJB, Achurch

I think it will help Sutty more to stay at 6 even if Sinfield plays it worked for years with Mags & Burrow at 6/7.

Either way neither of em are effective behind a beaten pack.

Achurch at prop doesn't work for me so i agree get him back in the SR wrt Ablett apart from yesterday i think he's been off his usual standards more often than not this year his hand injury may be part of that but i hope he kicks on.

Ablett was due a dip at some point. He's been a consistent performer over the last few years and those standards were always going to drop at some time.



Won't happen now because the likes of Ward, Sutcliffe and Cam Smith are coming through, but I would have been interested to see how his career would have developed had Sinfield not been here.



Having watched him as a kid coming through the Academy, he had all the ability to play as a pivot 13 but ended up having to play as a wide running second row instead.