Thompson starting at prop does not lay a sufficient platform for a good start.

Agreed - he should not start . After 12/ 15 minutes , he is gassed . Time to start with King and if we need , bring Thompson off the bench .

Is Holroyd injured?

What impact off the bench would Thompson offer tho? At least King offers some injection off the bench but he is being underused. He came on at Wakey and made a nice break but nobody had any energy to go with him.

You want your subs to come on and improve the team. Thompson is solid but would he offer anything off the bench?

If it were me I'd be seeking an early release for Thompson; I doubt he's on much salary but it's another quota spot and for me he is Championship level at this stage in his career.

Yep, that combo of leeming and Dwyer in those positions really affects things. Not that kruis has done bad in the halves but he's the better distributor from dh and we lose Dwyer's impact from the bench

Not a lot of alternatives tho unfortunately.

Incredible when you think that Gale, Lui and Myler have been on the pitch at the same time for a grand total of 15 mins. The pack have done very well to give us a chance of winning games more often than not, but without both Oledski and Tetavano it's going to be a tough ask to compete with Hull, Saints and KR. That said, I'm sure they are also carrying injuries.

Myler
T Briscoe, Newman, Broadbent, Handley
Lui, O'Connor
King, Leeming, Prior
Walters, Martin
Smith

Dwyer, Holroyd (?)/Wallace, Thompson/Gannon, Donaldson

I might even be tempted to put Edwards on the bench for this one, he can play back row and might offer more zip than Donaldson if needed, whilst giving us cover for injury in the back line.

Any recommendations for pubs/bars/food places in Newcastle?

Also, what was the outcome of Tetevano's appeal last night?

Dismissed. Still three games.

3 match ban upheld

Briscoe
Newman
Handley
Lui
Leeming
Prior
Martin
Dwyer
Myler
Smith
Holroyd
Vuniyayawa
Thompson
Sutcliffe
Walters
Briscoe
Donaldson
O’Connor
Broadbent
Hall
Gannon

Myler
Briscoe Newman Briscoe Handley
Lui Leeming
Thompson Dwyer Prior
Martin Gannon
Smith

O’Connor Vuniyayawa Donaldson Holroyd

Hall Broadbent Sutcliffe Walters

Broadbent for Luke Briscoe is what I'd go with

Myler
Briscoe T
Newman
Broadbent
Hanley
Lui
Leeming
Holroyd
O’Connor
Prior
Martin
Gannon
Smith

Dwyer
King
Sutcliffe
Donaldson

Going to need some industry down the middle to control their pack, distribution wise O’Connor certainly no worse than Dwyer. Likewise we’re not going to win the game down the middle and some more dynamism and a passing game from Broadbent adds more than Luke B. Pointless bringing Sutcliffe back to not play, and pretty unfair on him.

Interesting that Sutcliffe didn't even make the 21-man squad for Fev's game at Oldham which was six days before this game.

My understanding of the loan systen this year is that the end-of-season deadline (which passed several weeks ago) doesn't apply to U19s or to players with a salary cap value of less than £40k. I'm guessing Sutcliffe would fit into this latter category perhaps? If so he'd be eligible to return to Fev on loan, which would make his recall less contentious if he doesn't play on Saturday.

Ellery would be wasted on the wing Seth.

Doubt it, he still going, and he's still going!

Yeah but Seth has put him on the left wing.

Elementary mistake.

He took the ball at first receiver with two men outside him, then ran towards the wing after beating 2 men.

Big game today in Suntelens bid for a treble.

Seen us serve up some real garbage at Magic, hoping for better today but who knows.

hope springs eternal prob fitter an faster than most of our squad