https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/doncaster-rlfc-confirm-2024-squad-numbers-for-championship-campaign-after-impressive-recruitment-drive Doncaster RLFC 2024 squad numbers 1. Elliot Hall 2. Tom Halliday 3. Brad Hey 4. Reece Lyne 5. Luke Briscoe 6. Ben Johnston 7. Connor Robinson 8. Keelan Foster 9. Greg Burns 10. Suaia Matagi 11. Sam Smeaton 12. Alex Sutcliffe 13. Loui McConnell 14. Alex Holdstock 15. Joe Lovodua 16. Pauli Pauli 17. Josh Guzdek 18. Jose Kenga 19. Craig Hall 20. Brad Knowles 21. Tyla Hepi 22. Misi Taulapapa 23. Jason Tali 24. Watson Boas 27. Brett Ferres

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/doncaster-rlfc-confirm-2024-squad-numbers-for-championship-campaign-after-impressive-recruitment-drive Doncaster RLFC 2024 squad numbers 1. Elliot Hall 2. Tom Halliday 3. Brad Hey 4. Reece Lyne 5. Luke Briscoe 6. Ben Johnston 7. Connor Robinson 8. Keelan Foster 9. Greg Burns 10. Suaia Matagi 11. Sam Smeaton 12. Alex Sutcliffe 13. Loui McConnell 14. Alex Holdstock 15. Joe Lovodua 16. Pauli Pauli 17. Josh Guzdek 18. Jose Kenga 19. Craig Hall 20. Brad Knowles 21. Tyla Hepi 22. Misi Taulapapa 23. Jason Tali 24. Watson Boas 27. Brett Ferres

Happy with the recruitment, Happy with the quality of the 13 that will start, but anyone else think the interchanges that will come on are not potential game changers? Kenga, Ferres, Holdstock will not put any fear into other teams.

I'm not reading too much into the squad numbers. Some of those outside the 1 to 13 must be starters for me.

I suspect it's going to be a difficult season for quite a few of the players we've retained. I hope I'm wrong but I believe some will get found out at this level. Some will improve and kick-on. Only time will tell.

With regards to the three players you mentioned, Kenga was good defensively in League One. His go forward was disaapointing at times for such a big man. He has something to prove at this higher level but has a good attitude. I'm sure he'll do his best.

Brett Ferres was reliable last season without being spectacular. His pace isn't what it was. That could be problematical.

Alex Holdstock seems small for a front-rower. He reminds me of Joe Philbin. Philbin always seems as though he's too small to do the job but battles hard and does better than I imagine. Alex Holdstock punches above his weight but the point he's got to prove is whether he can cope with the increased size and physicality in the Championship. He's young enough, so has his best days ahead of him.

I'd be staggered if those 3 mentioned were starters and my question was can you see any of those changing a game if needed?

I think Holdstoch can still become a genuinely good prop, I'd go with him ahead of Kenga and Forster who are more defensive. There are 4 props ahead of them all at the moment, in my eyes

I Think Craig Hall and Brad Knowles at the very least have to be in there and probably Tyla Hepi but I am aware he is coming back after a long injury lay off so I want to reserve judgement on that till the lad has had a chance to get out on the field and ease himself back in.

I'm currently less worried about Pauli Pauli on that front as I did a lot of reading on their forums around when we signed him and although he also spent a lot of time last season injured he did have a run of 5 games where his form impressed them enough for the fan base to be split on whether or not to retain him as a few felt he had underwhelmed them. However if I was reading it correctly it seems that run was the play offs when he came back from injury so if he can carry that into the start of the league we are golden.

The Craig Hall coming in does leave an interesting conundrum on who he replaces given his versatility and the quality of everyone there especially when the option exists to drop Brad Hey into the backrow either in the starting pack or from a Bench spot?

Speaking of Ferres pace I wonder if he would be converted into a prop where in theory this would be less of an issue? I also noticed we scored a few tries from his ball handling last year so with options flat to another forward or deep to halfback/ fullback this could be useful. Would only work if he could pose a big enough threat to the line with his running too to draw in opponents though.

Just out of curiosity who do we currently see as 1st choice 17?

Ferres doesn't hit the line hard and a number of times last season we saw knock on and errors with him trying to make a worldie offload and in this league the players will be way more savvy and aware of this, i was very surprised to see him go round again as this was the perfect time for him to join the backroom staff. Kenga was also a surprise as i saw him a perfect signing for a team like hunslet

My guess for the starting line up would be

1. E Hall
2. C Hall
3. Hey
4. Lyne
5. Briscoe
6. Johnston
7. Robinson
8. Matagi
9. Burns
10. Knowles
11. Smeaton
12. Sutcliffe
13. Lovodua

Subs Boas, Hepi, Pauli, McConnell

But there are plenty of those places I could switch around

I'm currently leaning towards

1. E Hall
2. Halliday
3. C Hall
4. Lyne
5. Briscoe
6. Johnston
7. Robinson
8. Matagi
9. Burns
10. Knowles
11. Smeaton
12. Sutcliffe
13. McConnell

Subs Lovodua, Hepi, Pauli, Hey

I'm sure it will all change after the first friendly though.

Jemmo and Adam's teams are quite near where I'd be.

The questions seem to be whether it's Tom or Brad Hey in the backs and whether Watson Boas gets a place on the bench. I'd be looking to get as many minutes as possible out of Lovodua so I'd definitely have him as a starter.

Both you guys have got Brad Knowles starting. I think that's a good move.

I just hope we can keep as many of the above fit as it looks like a decent team on paper.