Ive got a feeling ablett will play hes not
Going to want to miss the GF, Also clarkson may not offer much in ways of attack but his defence is immense he gets through hell of alot of wrk

TBH I'd have a 50% Ali in a big game ahead of any one of Hauraki, Clarkson or Kirke, but the likelihood is that the GF 17 will be the same as last week's, and they've earnt it.

if no problems, why change a winning formula?

Ali would complement that winning formula....Kirke is just incidental.

Im not a Kirke fan but he has stepped up his work rate over the past month and he's a prop. Ali isnt made for that role. Against Saints we will need 4 props IMO. I would have Ali in the team though and honestly felt gutted for him on Friday. As I said last week, Hardaker would miss out for me and Delaney would move back to centre. Ali would then come in.

BTW, has there been any news on Watkins since Wembley? If he became fit id pick him and leave Ali out along with Hardaker

Prop - Barrie McDermott
Hooker - Matt Diskin
Prop - Andrian Morley
Second Row - Anthony Farrell
Second Row - Ali Lauititti
Loose Forward - Kevin Sinfield
Stand-off - Iestyn Harris
Scrum Half - Rob Burrows
Wing - Ryan Hall
Centre - Garry Schofield
Centre - Keith Senior
Wing - Francis Cummings
Full Back - My mum (il capitano and also head coach)

Even by your standards, that's a crazy selection call

Indeed, Delaney's defensive hits were superb on Friday - almost Westwood-esque! He's a must for the 2nd row, playing like a man possessed.

If (for whatever reason) Ablett doesn't play then surely he'll have to consider putting Smithy in. Other than that, much as I'd like to see Ali get in the 17, I don't see any point changing a winning line up. Whatever Hardaker lacks in defence he more than makes up for in offence - its great to have some genuine pace in the three-quarters again

No call as yet for the removal of Brent Webb THIS week. Interesting and fickle. Of course.

To be fair he only had 1 brain-fart against Wire, which compared to previous weeks (4 or 5 brain-farts on average) is a massive improvement

Still the best [size=50Kiwi[/size fullback in SL - by a mile

The only person who should make way for Ali is Hauraki. That is the player he is competing with for the position. You can't have both of them in the same 17. Personally, I am still yet to be impressed by Hauraki, and would prefer Ali getting the role.

On another note though, I though Ablett had been brought back too early on Friday night. I do hope he is allright for Saturday and improves massively, because he was all at sea at times on Friday defensively.

I think yer being harsh on Hauraki Gotcha he's improved along with the team since Wembley imo and Ali as an impact Prop could quite easily do that role and add his dynamic game to our offence plus ST's sh#8 themselves when they play against him.

I'm not been harsh, because I accept what you are saying that he has improved. But personally I just don't think that was too hard to do. He is nothing special, but hopefully after a year with us, next year may well prove to be a complete turnaround. He is certainly no Ali.

As I keep banging my head against the wall in frustration, Ali is not a impact prop, never has been, never will be, and is a complete waste for that role. He is a world beating wide running backrower on his day, the role Hauraki is supposed to play.

Hauraki does think that being marker is the same as resting.

Ali may NOT be an impact prop what i posted said he COULD do that role and has in the past so lets not go over old ground and he WOULD imo add more than Kirke in that role and he also has ST's panicking when he's around.

I'd say no to Ali. He didn't look fit enough in his last hit-out (Hudds?), although it would be fantastic for him to leave with another GF win under his belt. I've had few problems with Kirke, Clarkson or Hauraki in the play-offs so far.

What ! Even more than Smith to SO ?



I wouldn't really want to drop Delaney....Kirke is the target, but I [idid[/i want to convey how much I feel Ali should be given his 200th appearance swansong.

As Rhinoms has stated, he is [iat least[/i more than capable of emulating Kirke in the impact prop role (and that's an insult to his talent).

Hardaker has to stay. I'll apologise to BM on the other thread (when I find it), but I say well done to him for backing Hardaker when its counted the last two games. We need to have an attacking threat in the centres - Ablett/Delaney are solid but not much more. In any event the experience Hardaker will gain will be hugely important for him.

Just on Ablett, whilst watching the game I felt he was very nervous about physical contact with his head at times - both with and without the ball. Whilst understandable he needs to play with more conviction in the GF.

1) Brent Webb
23) Ben Jones-Bishop
27) Zak Hardaker
12) Carl Ablett
5) Ryan Hall
13) Kevin Sinfield (C)
6) Danny McGuire


Kylie Leuluai
9) Danny Buderus
10) Jamie Peacock
11) Jamie Jones-Buchanan
3) Brett Delaney
21) Chris Clarkson

7) Rob Burrow
14) Ali Lauiti'iti
16) Ryan Bailey
17) Ian Kirke

Pointless comment.

When he is playing badly, as he was earlier in the season then people want him out, and with reason.

When he is playing well he is still one of the best around so obviously people want him in the team.

Thats not being fickle thats just common sense.

Have you seen Hardakers tackling stats for the Warrington game, very impressive. 18 tackles made and not one missed. Considering this was a part of his game that some found worrying he was one of our best on Friday, the chase back to collar Briers could have been a defining moment. I think he'd be very unlucky to miss out after his input over the last two games. If he does miss out i'd rather Watkins came in as a straight swap rather than mess the team around to accommodate Lautiti.

Stick with a winning side for me. Ali's been great but I always feel he's playing on a knife-edge fitness-wise these days.

Yep - no room for sentiment if we are to win on Saturday.

I dunno, i think Ali's ball skills might come in useful against the Saints. Especially at the back end when theyare tiring

I was having a subtle dig at the posters who wanted him removing from the team in place of BJB from the wing to full back on the eve of the Wire game after Webb's performance against Giants.

Maybe that was too subtle for you to pick up on?

It screams fickle and being idiotic. To remove our regular full back from the team and then move a lad who has been doing a good job from his own spot. I don't argue with the fact that BJB is the natural evolution for the team. But the balance and continuity has to come in. No messing about with selection now, time for tinkering is over.

And how did Webb play? Well?

People making snap decisions - that is fickle.