I don’t think Powell will get along with Charnley. I think if a reasonable bid comes in he could make way. Minikin is the obvious choice for that spot, should my suspicions be right.
Ashton getting a new deal signifies that Powell has a plan for him, Thewlis for me has been more consistent than Ashton this season and is heir apparent to Fullback in my mind, so maybe Ashton has first dibs on the left wing.
Is there scope for Brand to come in? I’ve not seen much of Leigh but appeared to finish the season as fullback. Minikin won’t make the start of the season so there is a vacant spot somewhere.
That leaves Ratchford and Thewlis in a battle for fullback, which is a case of when not if Ratchford is displaced. No room for sentiment, Ratch has been great for us, but these calls need making at the right time, not when it’s too late.
The forwards pick themselves really. There’s not a lot and not especially high quality. But you pick Cooper, then pad around him with Mulhearn, Butler, Doro, Clark, Hughes and Harrison once fit. Likely that Currie and Holmes will be second rows with Dobson and Longstaff for cover.