WHO WILL PLAY

IN WHICH ROLE?

WARRINGTON Wolves fans are playing guessing games over the team's line-up for the start of the 2001 campaign.

The biggest talking points are the wing spots, the stand off jersey, the hooker role and the back row places.

Wolves coach Darryl Van de Velde appears to have so many options available to him in these positions and he admits this has been his aim.

Not only are the fans trying to work out who will be playing in what position, the players are doing the same.

Van de Velde said: "We need the players to understand that they will not be judged on what they did last year.

"Selection will be based on the effort they put into pre-season work.

"It is up to the players to earn their positions and then work hard to keep them."

The two latest captures from down under, Kevin Walters and Steve Georgallis, have caused the dilemma to grow among fans.

Both can play stand off, hooker or loose forward while Georgallis also has the ability to slip into the second row or scrum half roles.

Difficult

With Walters having gained four Grand Final successes with Brisbane Broncos as Allan Langer's half back partner during the 1990s it is difficult to comprehend him being brought 12,000 miles to play in any other position than stand off.

But surely Lee Briers has a stake in that shirt after his record-breaking 2000 term outside of Langer and specially on the back of his wonderful attacking displays for Wales in the World Cup.

Maybe Walters will be handed the hooking role to start off with. David Highton, if fit for the start of the season, will be hoping for first shout in this department though after Van de Velde said he had earned the No.9 job after his understudy years to Danny Farrar.

Georgallis played most of his year 2000 games with Wests-Tigers in the NRL in the middle of the front row so he will also have his eyes on the spot.

Initially Georgallis was going to be Briers' No.1 rival for the stand off shirt but with Walters now on board it is likely he has been pushed down the pecking order.

Maybe Georgallis or Walters will start the year at hooker with the other taking on the loose forward slot.

That would mean Tawera Nikau moving into the second row, which is not an alien role for the New Zealand Maoris skipper, with Jerome Guisset, Steve McCurrie, Dean Busby, Ian Knott, Paul Noone, Ian Sibbit and other Under 21s players scrapping it out for the remaining back row jersey.

One wing spot would appear to be in the hands of new boy Rob Smyth for starters. With ex-Wigan and London star Smyth also being a goal kicker it puts further pressure on Briers to be booking his place in the side for all-round ability. Gone are the days of being an automatic selection due to being a team's goal kicker.

The other flank man is very much up for debate but Alan Hunte is likely to be first choice. He is currently on loan to Welsh National Rugby Union side Pontypridd until February/March when he is due to return to Wilderspool.

But also waiting in the wings and turning up the heat on Smyth and Hunte are young guns Jamie Stenhouse, Will Cowell, David Alstead and Great Britain Academy star Steve Maden, all of whom would have had a run out for the Wolves against Salford City Reds on Boxing Day.

Van de Velde does not appear to be short of options in any position.

Lee Penny has competition at full back from Hunte, Cowell and Alstead.

First choice centres Toa Kohe-Love and David Kidwell have Ian Sibbit, Stenhouse, Hunte and Maden breathing down their necks.

Even the legendary Alf Langer is not safe as both Briers and Georgallis can move into the scrum half role while Under 21s player Garry Hulse is chomping at the bit to give the role a try.

It would take a brave pundit to bet against Andrew Gee and Danny Nutley being shunted out of the first choice prop roles but Martin Masella, Paul Wood, Jerome Guisset, Gary Chambers and Ian Parry are all keen to push their claims.