Stu and his fellow coaches have inherited a squad without some of last season’s most influential players in Dan Boatman, Lee Maddison, Aaron Myers, Liam Checksfield and Rob Thorn with full back Liam Austwicke, the only summer "signing," now unavailable because of work commitments.
To make matters worse Sam Miller has been unable to play because of the knee ligament injury suffered in pre-season.
As a result we've seen six players in the back row in the two games played so far with additional shuffling in the front row and second row.
Fortunately, the lads who have come in have all done a decent job with the victory against YMCA earning a bonus point, and the second half at Malton and Norton could, and perhaps should, have yielded at least a losing bonus poiunt.
Several players already look like rising to the challenge this season with Alex Key (pictured) looking like a regular fixture in the front row, and Scott Butcher looking a new man on his switch to the back row. He missed last week's defeat and is still away.
Adam Coates sat out most of last week’s game and is now out with injury while a number of lads such as Adam Brown are away settling into their new universities. Fortunately, Ross Wood is available and will partner Andrew Rollins and Key in the front row.
Park arrive top the league courtesy of a win at Dinnington followed by victory in the Tyneside derby last week when they scored 50 points against newly promoted Northern.
West: Luke Mallinson, Ben Armstrong, Peter Youll, Gavin Painter, Will Hilditch, Zac Southern, Ryan Painter (captain), Ross Wood, Andrew Rollins, Alex Key, Michael Hogan, Jake Linighan, John Bunter, Andy Turner, Alex Barker.
Changes: Jordan Foulds, Matt Siddle, Scott Coull.
Percy Park: Toby Davison, Lome Faatau, Charles Greswold, Phil Morse, Seb Reece, Michael Grove, Oliver Gilmore, Joe Wafer, Jonny Dubois (capt), Marc Cook, Austin Phillips, Karl Thompson, Andrew McGrath, Josh Lake, Michael Langlands.
Changes: Jon Kidd, Kieran Sutherland , Leo Caulfield.