Probably healthy to move on from the Grix topic. Was obvious from Grix's interview and the O'brien signing that there will be changes this week. While I'd wanted to keep JWH at fullback think after apparent lack of effectiveness in the halves last 2 weeks JWH will move there with Pickersgill to fullback. Really like Inman but can see him being sacrificed this week to allow O'Brien to play. I remember when he last played on loan that the speed and quality of service from dummy half was miles better allowing forwards to be much more effective..If it makes a difference can see club trying to keep him next season, although would really hope not at the expense of Inman.

I’d agree but thought Grix said he was keeping Wood in the halves ?

I have always Liked O’Brian. I hope he plays for us like he did back in 2017. If he does he will be a good replacement for Keyes. Does anyone know why Huddersfield aren’t playing him? Would he be a player to sign for us next season

Looks like a great acquisition and been brought in to provide a bit of game management and onfield communication which is something we’ve lacked , his interview seemed to suggest he was really keen in getting stuck in with us and I wouldn’t see it beyond the realms of possibilities if he signed for us ( I believe he recently signed a contract extension at Huddersfield but Oliver roberts did and look how that turned out) ultimately he wants to play regularly rugby so …

May be controversial but why not drop Brandon Moore for AOB? I'd argue that Inman and AOB offer more out of dummy half than Brandon

They do but with Grix making Moore captain its a tough spot for him. Another strange Grix decision as everyone can see Fairbank is the captain of the team and Moore's performances have dropped significantly after the appointment although to be fair to him the past few games he has been more like he used to be. AOB an absolutley quality signing though and interesting to see how it effects the decision about who partners Jouffrett in the halves.

Personally for me moving JWH to HB and Pickersgill to FB would have been my first choice but again Pickersgill not getting a look in even when on the bench and you hear people bemoaning tiredness from recent games against Saints and Toulouse but we can't be that tired when we can afford to go to France with an unused sub.

As for the game its tough to predict we are capable of getting a big win but just as easily coming up with a shock defeat. A loss and I suspect the board would take action and Grix's time would be up.

I would also agree 100% there's no way Inman should be Grix's latest undeserving scapegoat...
AOB a quality addition but you have to wonder where this is all unravelling.How many of us would think a 4th hooker was the solution ? Grix has hinted at further incomings,so I suppose it's a watch this space time..probably next up another fullback to keep Pickersgill company on the bench..

Adam is certainly a quality number nine so for me should start there on sunday with Tom on the bench sorry Brandon you try hard but we need more threat out of acting half. I would also out of need more than anything else put woody in the halfs with brandon at fullback and tangata taking the captains armband. As for the game we have had a mixed bag of results over there in recent games some very bad and some very good so it is a tough one to call. And Swinton have been picking up some much needed wins themselves but if we play to our potential we will get the win.

Listening to Grix's preview I wouldn't expect many changes from last week - backs look to pick themselves as Saltonstall still sounds doubtful, only change in forwards likely to be Kavangh in for Sutcliffe. No mention of Doro, don't know if he's still injured. Complimentary about Wood so I'd expect him to continue in the halves with Jouffret - real decision comes down to hooker - O'brien obviously plays so its which of Moore/Inman drops out. Really hope we don't try and accommodate all 3 playing Moore at loose forward - for me he's a hooker or nothing.

One thing I noticed is the statement ‘ I certainly won’t be rolling over ‘ that’s the words I want to hear from our coach .

21 man squad named with Maizen the surprise exclusion although you have to presume that both he and Doro are injured with the token inclusions of Oakley and Rawsthorne who will be 2 of the ones to miss out of the game day squad. That leaves one of Pickersgill, Inman, and Fleming to miss out as well with one of those being 18th man on the day. We really can't go with 4 hookers and with JWH able to cover in the halves I would imagine Pickersgill gets a bench spot especially after last week and in an unpopular choice it looks like Inman would be the favorite to miss out.

Rarely get any rationale behind selection - if Doro and Maizen injured why not say

There is no rationale behind selection,just a blame culture that often pinpoints the wrong culprits.

Grix comes across as a really rational bloke so I'm sure there will be logic behind his selections- even if not all supporters agree with them. My point was really just that it would shut down a lot of the speculation on forums like this if sometimes there was a bit more detail given, particularly about players not available because of injury . I accept that Grix is infinitely more qualified than I am to select the best team; even as a Grix supporter I won't always agree with those selections but would be good sometimes to get a better understanding of them.

He is very much a stats man which I very much get but just don't sign players like Springer or Doro and then be surprised when your computer data tells you that they are "lazy". Unfortunatley stats don't tell you the whole story and for me personally I would take a Springer or Doro low stats type player over a Dan Fleming/Will Maher type player who's stats look pretty good but offer very little when you actually watch them play.

I wonder what’s going through will Mahers head , playing for cas reserves today .

Well, well, well. Still the same old moaning minnies on here, I see! And greg, you must be knocking on 70, eh?

My twopenneth for what it's worth. There's trouble at t'mill methinks. Summat not quite right. Just imo. Picking an out and out fullback on the bench AND NOT PLAYING HIM was scandalous. At the end of the day there's no substitute for quality, as once so famously said by the great Howard Wilkinson, so no matter how "lazy" some players appear to be, like Doro, they can afford to be lazy cos natural quality beats hard work. IIRC Paul Newlove was the laziest (in training esp) but best centre ever to play for Britain.

Re Swinton. O'Brien will make a huge difference and we'll win by 30. At least we should, If not, I reckon Grix's days are numbered.You can't fault the directors for getting very good players in ..... O'Brien won't be cheap.

Am I right? I'm not wrong!

To be fair to Maher he hasn’t made any real impact on the pitch so I’m not surprised he doesn’t get picked.

Yeah I agree must be tough though on a personal level playing super league one minute then can’t get in a championship side and end up playing for cas reserves.

Yeesssssss Tony. Welcome back, not quite 70 yet but not a million miles off it either.

Wow, greg, it really is you isn't it? I can feel a lump in my throat! How I enjoyed our little "spats", those were the days, eh? Nothing changes though, your "worst Toulouse team in 10 years" inflict fev's first defeat in their own back yard. So a couple of

in that one. Swinton 12 Fax 42 tomoz, with O'Brien getting a brace. Try that for size, eh?

Where have you been all these years?



To be fair how different were the team that played us in Toulouse to the one that played Fev yesterday? Once Toulouse get back to full strength they will be a very good team and one of about 3 or 4 who on their day would be quite capable of turning Fev over in the final or semi final.

Ive said on here before that although Fev are not in a false position, they are a lot more vulnarable than the previous few years best teams and I can see why their fans may be having a bit of a melt down over last nights defeat and its going to be squeaky bum time for them in the play offs. As for us if we can make the playoffs and find some form I very much see us as been one of those teams that can go to Fev and turn them over as we have already seen.

It's a very very long story, greg. Very long indeed. One gets the feeling fev are wasting their time trying to become an established SL club ....... it goes against everything Super League set out to achieve with their "Framing the Future" plans in the 90s. A little village with a limited (aggressive) fan base and a pokey ground. Should Wigan suburb Leigh even be there? 2 teams from the same city (Hull), a French team and 3 other little towns with pokey grounds and small fan bases (Cas, Wakey and Salford). A bit of a dogs dinner if you ask me.

Spot on Tony and welcome back!

I have just seen that Eribe Doro is again not in the squad? Is he injured because if not, that just fully underlines how utterly wrong Grix is with his selection - the lad is class. Great that Adam O'Brien is back but having 4 hookers at a club is beyond ridiculous!

Do we put JWH at 6 at move Brandon P to FB although Brandon may feel huge pressure in that scenario. Grix hinted at playing Wood at HB but for me he is 100% a bit-part player, not a spine player that will bring consistent success by any stretch. All a bit if a mess tbh but let's hope something clicks. For me we should be begging a SL or fringe NRL team for a 7. Arguably the most important player on the field and we have ZERO true options.

Sorry to be gloomy but we won't get anywhere near a promo final with this approach and mindset. Batley spanked us in every single facet again underlining Grix's naivety (unless he has lost the dressing room as is the rumour).

Does anyone know how to disable these BLOODY annoying pop up videos by the way? Grrr.