Looking at the early season results it seems that Widnes, Hull and Salford have all strengthened and kicked on this year. Hull appear to have recruited well, Salford have a decent coach and Koukash has stepped back to let him sort the squad out. At the bottom, Wakey and HKR look favourites for the middle 8's atm.
Compared to last year it therefore looks to be an even more competitive league and away trips to Hull, Widnes and Salford could be tough. That means every point will be important if your team is to get into the top four at the end of the season, and there will be few easy games. Looking at the back of the programme for the HKR match last week I noticed we have a squad of 33 (admittedly including Morgan Smith and Harvey Livett) whilst HKR had only 27. So I wonder whether lady luck will play an important role this year and the teams with the smallest number of injuries will do best. Certainly the teams with the largest squads and strength in depth must be favoured - that should mean us plus the usual suspects.

Hull looked really strong v. Catalan. I think them and Wire will be near top.

It all depends on who gets injured. I won a few bob when saints played Salford just on the back of the James Roby injury. We have cover for a number of places because of Gidley but I think Wigan will struggle without mad Mickey. Leeds look light in pivot positions 1,6,7 and 9 especially with Mcguire out for a spell. Huddersfield have lost Robinson and Grix for a while. If any of the big teams loose players in any of those positions for any length of time it could be open season for the likes of widnes. Hull. Catalan and us.
But if Wigan get Tompkins and Mickey Mac back by July then they could ramp up at the back end of the season in the super 8. I am waiting for somebody to sign mitchel pearce for a season and that could put the cat amongst the pigeons. I think injuries to key players will be a big factor in deciding positions for the super 8's

Squad depth is important, and I think we should be able to cope better than most if injuries start to bite. But injuries, or avoiding them, to certain players is going to be crucial this year. Widnes have started well, but take Kevin Brown out of that team for any length of time and I can't see them troubling the top four places. Saints without Roby and/or Walmsley will be a completely different 'animal' and it will be interesting to see how wigan get on without their thug. For us I believe that keeping Gidley fit is absolutely vital for any run at silverware.

I think wrapping Gidley up in cotton wool in selective games rather than luck in or his ability to keep fitness every week is more vital.

When Ratch is fit I'd have him on the bench and then bring him on for Gidley late in the game or in spells.
If something did happen to Gidley, a fit Ratch will be at 6, whether we like it or not.

I think Gidley will move to full back when ratch is fit. His experience and understanding of the game is better suited to organising our defence from the back and then he can still play a huge part of the attacking structures. He should also get less traffic which should keep him fresh for the attacking sets. When our forwards are peeling off a tackle they will be looking to him to see which side to join in the line. I get the impression that ratch, Penny and Russell haveb been pointing their arm but without much conviction. I am sure I saw Harrison running back holding both arms out as if to say where do you want me on one occasion last year.
I don't think Gidley at full back will mean he will be less involved in the attacking plays.
I wouldn't be surprised to see ratchford defending as a right edge halfback but attacking like a running full back with Gidley at full back for defensive sets and then dropping in at 6 when we are in attack.

Good read that DDI

When Ratchford is fully fit I'd still leave Gidley at 6.

I'm certain that Gidley would be an excellent attacking and defensive fullback, but in my mind if you leave him at 6 then you get an excellent standoff PLUS you get a creative scrumhalf without the pressure to drive the attacking line on Sandow's shoulders.

The balance between Gidley & Sandow (from what I've seen so far), isn't something i think that we should mess with.

Ratchford to centre or even have him as a specialist bench player (like Burrow used to be) to run at tiring defences?