Yet Liam Marshall, Matty Ashton and many others play on the left with 5 on their back. Many with 2. In a nutshell, it's not consistent but never mind.
As for McMeeken, I also think he'll start at prop, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll get number 8. Different coaches do it differently, but often they reward longer servants with 'starting' numbers, and give new signings a year in a higher number. That's the only reason I've got Atoni at 8 and Rodwell at 10, but I might well be wrong. I also hovered over Lino at number 7 for that reason but I have a feeling Olly Russell signed for us with promises that he'd get a starting shot at finally leading a team around. And I do think Walmsley will get 2 (or 5), but might be out of favour after a few games. That's one of the big questions this season, but I love that Mills and Powell have covered it.
Totally understandably, there's some good discussion above about what our starting 13 will be, but that might not necessarily be numbers 1-13. I think Hall will get 4, and Scott will get a subs number but might well be preferred when the season kicks off.
