Our Spine Ranked

Massively inconsistent yet got to a final? Ironically but the world's best 7 Sneyd above us says it all🙄

Not going to lose any sleep over what the Hull Mail think

Truth is Escare has to earn his place. He’s been class at times but not for a few years (but we have options to replace him, our Sarge there and the spine automatically moves up a few places). Tui is brill but not in every game. Brown is class but will miss games. Ackers has shown flashes of excellence but is unproven at the top level.

As things stand we only have Atkin to cover at half back (Escare at a push) and we have no real cover at hooker - Aspey isn’t a permanent member of the squad yet and Atkin, Addy and Burke are the only other options (none of them are proper hookers).

I don’t think we should be complacent about our spine choices and losing Evalds and Lussick means we’re weaker than last 2 years.

How many of the other teams would swap their four for our four? From Hull down in that list it’s a mixed bag

*But* it’s only Wigan and Saints that I would swap our four with their four (maybe Warrington but I’d rather have Tui than Austin and Brown is better value for money than Whiddop). I’d swap some of our four for some of the others and I’m sure others would with some of ours. I’d argue we’re stronger than KR and Wakefield on paper and on a par with catalans, Cas and Leeds. I’d put Huddersfield above all of them and us

Depending on recruitment, our strength next year will be our three quarters and back row. Providing our spine can give them the opportunities then I’m confident we’ll go well but it’s a lot of pressure on a relatively light spine

In an ideal world we would be picking up a starting prop, a specialist half back and an interchange hooker. Realism however and we know that with out budget we need to have several Burke, Addy, Atkin and Kear type players that can comfortably play in 3-4 positions. Without a consistant and prolific youth structure in place ala Wigan and Leeds we will always be in the signing market and looking at a major restructure every 2-3 years.

I think loose forwards are generally extra props in the modern game. It's a shame because the dynamic roaming loose was always great to see. Usually one of the most talented players on the pitch. I think it's one example of the modern game losing something for the worse imo.

While I think that our spine is solid, Brown worries me slightly in that he's getting on and his body was battered again last year. I really think we need a ready rotation player for him, but the obvious problem is that he's our organiser and we need someone else to fit into that role when the inevitable comes. Escare for Evalds isn't a bad replacement, although they are different types of players so can see our play style changing to reflect this. I have no worries over our wing and three quarters. Certainly our strongest areas and as good as any in SL. I'm not overly worried about the hooker position. Would be nice to bolster it with Levi or similar, but I think if we have to use what we've got they'll do a job. Will be interesting to see how Tui gets on under different management. I have a sneaky suspicion that Watson made him play a deliberate set style, after all, look at the difference in his play for Tonga under Woolf. He was obviously coached to his strong points rather than to fit into a certain style. If Marshall can bring that out in Tui again he may be like a new signing in itself.

 Yes the backs higher up would be an interesting idea and a conundrum. (good word that!)