This is the team I think will be selected for round 1 (don't forget though, the team that is named on the Tuesday very rarely is the one that runs out)
Gards
Mills
Pomeroy
Best
Williams
Graham
Carney
Gibbs
De Gois
Ross
Smith
Bukuya
Gallen
Fifita
Tagatese
Green
Robson
That leaves out an awful amount of players. Tupou for one and I may be wrong, he could be included. I just could not find a place for Taufua, Cordoba, Frizell (who is yet to fully impress me) or Townsend. Townsend I just don't know about. He has a good kicking game, good defender and organiser but he just doesn't run the ball enough for me and I don't think he is electrifying. I like what I see from Peachey but I think he has some issues regarding attitude and would not put him ahead of anyone else as yet until he proves himself.
The backline sort of picks itself as there isn't much depth there. I think Mills and Williams are the best wingers we have, Mills for his strength and speed and Williams for his experience and positioning. I know Pomeroy is not liked by many on here but he has the experience and probably should be given first crack. Not for long though. Best is sometimes a bit caught out as well and against the Tigers we really need these two to bring their A game.
For the halves, I would go with Graham at five-eighth and Carney at half back. You could play Carney at 6, 7 or 1 but first up I would play him at 7 to organise. If Graham doesn't step up then maybe we should have Carney at 6 with Townsend at 7. I would really like Kelly to be in their somewhere as well as he is electrifying and a crowd favourite but not until he proves his focus is 100%.
With the bench, Tagatese has to be there as well as Fifita. Admittedly they are two impact players that don't play a lot of game time so it is a risk. I like the suggestion earlier of playing Fifita with Gibbs in the starting line up against their old club, Flanaghan has to consider this surely. If you don't have Jon Green on your bench I think its a big mistake as he is a worker, he goes forward, he has premiership winning experience and is as tough as they come. I wouldn't mind if he even started the game. Robson is a controversial choice but in all the press I have read, Flanaghan likes his experience and likes him at hooker.
And there you have it. Plenty more depth this year in the forwards and the halves but the backs are certainly a worry. We have to contain the likes of Tuquiri, Lawrence, Reddy, Moltzen and of course Marshall and that will be no easy feat. There is no reason why we cannot win this game but we have to play at our best. Anything less and the Tigers will have us for breakfast. We have to be disciplined and not give away stupid penalties. The 50/50 calls will probably go against us here as the Tigers are a top four side but we have to overcome that with brutal defence and scintillating attack.
Looking forward to our first game and hopefully we will come away with a win.