Platt was given number 1 last year but played no games at fullback didn't he?
Fact is our squad has a few weaknesses so we can quibble about selections in a few areas. Take Jeffries at stand off, I'm certainly no fan but he is the incumbent. The onus is on Briggs and Sammut to put pressure on him and that's exactly what he needs as I think his performances get stale eithout pressure from others. I fully expect Sammut to figure off the bench at the very least.
In the backs we're short of a specialist centre, Purtell is rated by almost all that have seen him as a better winger than centre so it makes some sense to give him the number 2 jersey. The rumours about Platt and Sykes made it more likely Walker would get the other centre jersey. I think Walker is a much better second row but we are where we are with the squad we have. Ainscough still has a bit to prove though that's more down to him being unlucky with injury and being quite young and not really finding consistency yet in his career.