First of all. I love the away kit we have this season. The one it’s modelled on was before my time (1992) and my grandad loved that one with the Vaux sponsorship. We always used to say it would be nice if they brought a modern one out. However he passed in November 2020 so unfortunately never got to see it. But for me, what a lovely kit!

Interesting choice for the squad numbers. I’m surprised Kear is number 1. Not that numbers are 100% solid to positions but it indicates that Kear will be first choice FB. After the back end of last season, I’m just not convinced that is our best option.

Ben Evans at 13 is also a solid choice for a LF, however I’d have loved to have seen Baldwinson there with Evans making the yards as a prop to come on for Walker (who has rightly been given the .

A choice which has caught my eye is the decision to give AJ Wallace the 24 shirt. We also signed Coby Nichol at the same time however he hasn’t been given a number. Seems to me that Kear must like what he sees with Wallace.

Squad Numbers (for those interested):

1. Elliot Kear
2. Matty Dawson-Jones
3. Rhys Evans
4. Kieran Gill
5. Ryan Millar
6. Declan Patton
7. Jordan Lilley
8. Anthony Walker
9. Thomas Doyle
10. Steve Crossley
11. Aaron Murphy
12. Sam Scott
13. Ben Evans
14. George Flanagan
15. Jordan Baldwinson
16. Ebon Scurr
17. Brad England
18. Samy Kibula
19. David Foggin-Johnston
20. Billy Jowitt
21. Elliot Hall
22. Joe Burton
23. Bradley Ho
24. AJ Wallace
27. Eldon Myers
29. Dan Fleming

I have some concerns about how strong we are at 6/7 and that important link to fullback. We’ll need Dec Patton to step into Brough shoes and organise the side alongside Lilley. How that combination works out will obviously be critical to how we do. Kear looked slow and predictable at fullback last season, we will have to hope he improves with a pre season of prep alongside his teammates. Obviously Hall is there competing as well, but I know little about him other than what we saw in our final game.

Looking at the squad, it looks capable of holding its own and competing for top 5 but short of quality required for promotion in my opinion. We’ve lost some real quality but probably look a bit more balanced overall across the squad. I believe we have a fairly favourable start to the season which might be needed to get some of these combinations working.

To be fair I think the only one we lost, who we'd have liked to have kept is Pickersgill. But I imagine Fev threw a decent bit of money at him. Brough retiring is a blow and as others have said, Patton could be crucial to how we get on this season. He has the ability to take the league by storm. But if he comes down thinking he's too good for the league, it will bite us and him big time as we all know how tough this league is.

I think we look stronger than last year. Gill, Patton should add quality. But it's our retention that's been crucial for us. Doyle, Scurr will only get better and a full pre-season for Walker (who JK said had already lost a stone) could be devasting for us.

Fev and Leigh should be top two and Halifax look third on paper. So top 4 should be aim for us. Consistently finishing top 4 each season and then pushing for top two is how we will get back. We don't have the resources to spend big, have a disaster of a season and rebuild heavily for the season after.

I think to be fair to Elliot Kear I doubt he was match fit - and certainly not 'match sharp - in the few games at the end of last season.

Remember he hadn't played in 2021 and hardly played in 2020 due to COVID, so he had barely played in two years. Let's see how he goes after a full pre-season. I think he's a class act at our level.

I don't disagree on Kear. He's a senior pro and deserves the shirt. There's a lot of changes in the back line and he looks a solid organising option. Similarly, him, Lilley, Patton, Doyle is the probably the most physical spine we've had in a while

On the pluses, if Walker has turned up fit enough to grab the number 8 shirt and do 2 x 20+ minutes spells then that is a massive positive. He's a quality player and that makes a top order starting front row.

On the negatives, disappointed to see Murphy in the 13 inside a new strike centre. Been a great pro, nothing but respect but...... highlights real cracks in the backrow, which won't be covered by loans or dual reg in my view.

On the outright weird, give Fleming, a regular starter last season a 2 year deal and then demote him to number 29? Below loanees and a host of players who haven't got 10 games between them, some of whom are utility backs who didn't exactly look the part in their few appearances. Similarly with Myers. All a bit odd.

Squad numbers can just be a personal choice

Taylor at Hull has taken 30, for his own reasons, nowt to do with pecking order

Well let’s hope he repays some of the faith placed in him by the coaching staff. The 2 year deal for Fleming was baffling to many supporters, however I would quite happily be proven wrong..over to you now Dan.

#29 is Fieldens number