With Swinton Lions' squad numbers being announced and the first friendly game this weekend it seems a good time to start looking at the squad John Duffy has assembled for 2017. We start here with the squad numbers 1-5.
Jack looks likely to be first choice full-back after a season where the Lions had a few players fill the role with nobody really nailing down the spot as their own.
He started out with Wigan where he made a try-scoring Super League debut in a 22-30 defeat to Bradford in 2012. Lions team-mate Rhodri Lloyd also featured for the Cherry-and-Whites that day.
Unable to take the full-back position off Sam Tomkins, Murphy gained further experience with loans at Salford and South Wales in 2013. His debut for the Welsh side was a memorable victory over Rochdale in which he scored 14 points and won Man of the Match.
The following season Murphy moved to Workington where he became a very reliable player racking up more than 80 appearances over the past three years. Lions fans may remember he scored at Heywood Road last season though thankfully the home side won the game.
Fans' favourite Robbo retains his number 2 shirt for 2017.
Robinson made his professional debut for Oldham in 2011 in a heavy defeat to Steve McCormack's Lions who would go on to win the Championship One title. Aside from that tough start he had a good first year notching 8 tries from 19 appearances.
Injuries hampered the winger's progress the following season but Robinson got back on track with a spell at Oxford where he scored 11 tries in 17 appearances playing alongside future Lion Jimmy Rowland.
That good form earned a move to Rochdale for the 2014 season but it was after joining Swinton in 2015 that Robinson really made a name for himself. In the League One promotion campaign, Robinson was prolific playing outside the experienced Stuart Littler and ran in more than 20 tries including the Lions' final try of the dramatic final win over Keighley.
Last season didn't bring as many tries but Robinson's popularity continued to grow, his commitment never in doubt. One of the highlights of the memorable win at Mount Pleasant was Robinson dumping Batley centre Shaun Squires into touch.
Chris Hankinson signs from Barrow where he picked up two gongs at their 2016 presentation night.
Goal-kicking centre Hankinson started at Leigh where he made his debut alongside Matt Sarsfield in 2014.
With opportunities at LSV hard to come by, Hankinson went to Barrow for the 2015 season and it was during this year he caught John Duffy's eye as the Raiders thrashed Swinton 50-12 on a windy night in Cumbria. With 9 tries in 24 appearances Hankinson had found a settled position at Barrow who retained his services last season.
Again Hankinson continued to impress in 2016, finishing as joint-top try-scorer and kicking a century of goals. Pre-season could be a battle of the goal-kickers as current supremo Chris Atkin competes for the role with the new signing.
Welsh international Lloyd will wear number 4 for Swinton in 2017 which suggests he will be used as a regular centre. The versatile player has played in the second row and at loose forward in the past but maybe his strong running game is better suited to the backs.
Lloyd started at South Wales in 2011 where he impressed Wigan who signed him in 2012. After making his debut for the Warriors he found first team rugby hard to come by and spent much of the next three seasons on loan at Leigh, Widnes, London Broncos and South Wales.
In 2013 Lloyd featured for Wales in the Rugby League World Cup and continues as a mainstay of the Welsh side to this day. In the October last year Wales qualified for the 2017 World Cup in Australia.
It was in 2015 that the Welshman first joined Swinton on loan from Wigan. He played for the Lions in two spells bookending the season and finishing with a strong try-scoring performance in the play-off final at Widnes. Lloyd also spent time that season in Cumbria with Workington and Whitehaven.
At the end of the 2015 season Lloyd was released by Wigan allowing him to make the switch to the Lions permanent. His consistency and versatility make him a great option to have in the squad.
Matt Gardner returns to rugby league for 2017 after time playing rugby union 7s. Gardner is the brother of former St Helens star Ade and qualified to play 7s for Brazil because of their mother.
Gardner's league career is a long one and his experience in the backs is welcome following the retirement of Stuart Littler.
He has lots of Super League experience with London, Castleford and Huddersfield as well as successful spells at the top end of the Championship with Widnes and Leigh.
Lions fans will remember Matt from his last spell in rugby league in 2015 where he played a handful of games at Sedgley Park in the first half of the season. With Liam Marshall reportedly available on dual-registration from Wigan again, Gardner has serious competition for his place in the side.
Coming soon: Numbers 6-10
Stats from: http://www.loverugbyleague.com
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