The Hall/Monaghan battle takes a bit of a different twist now because Monaghan is usually at centre for Wire nowadays. Think he might have Gene Ormsby out on his wing and both are big guys so Hall is going to need some help, ideally good kick pressure so the accuracy of those ones to the corner are pretty disappointing. Instead of just going for the corner they'll be targeting about 10m in from touch and try and get them to land inbetween Hall and his inside defender so everyone needs to be switched on over there.

Also interesting as whilst Wire have a danger weapon on that side with kicks regarding Monaghan.....will they also be tempted to target the other side due to Briscoe's aforementioned iffy showings? I'm not sure they'll want to stray from Monaghan side with the kicks so that might be a blessing for Briscoe that he MIGHT not be too busy under the high ball. Also they've usually had Briers to do the damage with the boot, will what they have now step up to his level on the day.

Changed my mind...many seem to think Handley is worth the step up which means Moon can be given a stint at SO...at least both moves would add an unknown quantity to any Tony Smith scheming.

Hardaker
T.Briscoe after tons of pratice under the high ball this week.
Watkins
Handley
Hall
Moon
Sinfield player coach

Peacock alternative player coach
Aiton not entirely sure so maybe Robbie (Ward not Burrow)
Singleton
JJB
Ablett
Delaney as 3rd prop and def for god's sake don't play him second row inside Watkins

Walters
Burrow to effectively jump in at dummy half against tiring forwards later in each half.
Mulhern worth a shot as extra heavy weaponry
Kylie to give it all he's got left for short durations

Bentham is the ref for Saturday.

This makes all team selections irrelevant as Mr Warrington/Leeds Hater Bentham will make sure we lose yet another big game that he takes charge of!!!



Re Nantwich If Handley stood the smallest chance of playing this wknd he would have played last Friday night, Not make his debut in a CC semi final. I don't think Mulhern will have the opportunity to play this week having been sent off after the u19 brawl against the Dulls last Friday!!!

Yup I know....IF I was the coach right now then I appreciate the risk of playing Handley at this stage is probably too great unless I had strong respectful advice otherwise. However IMO it looks as though Handley should have been given his debut long before now when you consider the lacklustre recent performances by many of the senior squad. By now the kid might have played himself into a regular LC position with Moon commanding the SO position.

The debut certainly should have come in the Bradford match when you look at who actually did play centre !!!

OR ...is he indeed McDermott's surprise trump card to outfox his rival coach? Maybe McDermott is hiding his light behind the bushel and indeed has an IQ to rival the best

What? Like when he ridiculously played Jimmy Keinhorst in the CC final?

It remains to be seen whether Handley goes the same way as your previous sight-unseen favourites, Aston Wilson and Jamal Chisholm.

Ah...don't be so negative

With attacking kicks the attacker always has the advantage. The reciever knows what is planned and also has the benefit of momentum. The defending winger has to go from a standing start, with uncertainty of the kick type (if there even is a kick), and also come away with the ball. Anything else and the attack wins. If the attacker knocks on, its still a good set outcome so there is little to lose.

I used to use the catchy coaching mantra "Kicks kause Kaos" but realised the initials had other connotations, so changed to "CCC"

Mine was.. Pace = Position = Pressure = Points.

Kicks Force Chaos?

That reminds me. It's lunchtime.

and pace wasnt just about foot speed.... but also speed of thought and action.

Achurch, Singleton.

Presuming Achurch dropped and Singleton injured. Kirke surley won't play.

Ward and Kirke will probably drop out of the 19 come match day. Can't afford errors or sloppy mis tackles.

Achurch dropped, explains his tweet on Tuesday. He can have no complaints too. Kirke probably has been given benefit of the doubt given he was just as poor.

Hardaker
Hall, Moon, Watkins, Briscoe
McGuire, Sinfield.
Leuluai, Burrow, Peacock,
Ablett, JJB,
Delaney

Kirke, Walters, Bailey, Aiton


We need a fast start, that is why I'd start Burrow. Id have Walters over Ward too. Although McGuire is dire at the moment McGuire has been there and done it and warrants selection over Sutcliffe. Experience is massive on Saturday, and we need a big bench so no room for a back there.

It's the other way round. Achurch injured according to Peter Smith. No mention of Singleton, who must be wondering why he's been left out of the squad. (Although we have seen before that the named 19 doesn't necessarily mean anything.)

The thought of Kirke against Wire again, after last time out against them.....isn't a pleasant thought.

How the hell does Kirke manage a squad place.
He was probably the worse player on the pitch next to McGuire.
I can understand the logic of keeping McGuire in for this game on experience alone.
But Kirke should be left out for Singleton without doubt.

Achurch dropped a couple of balls, but he was far better than Kirke in the match, producing a big defensive stint still. Singleton's face really doesn't fit with this coach at all. He was superb last week first half.

I would drop Walters and Sutcliffe, and go with the ones above them on the list.

Lets have Aiton doing a stint at hooker and at hooker only.

The reality is we're crap in the front row.
We have 6 props.
Two are very decent, but old.
One is handy but young and a bit lightweight
One is a pudding.
One has fallen out with the coach and is mostly a pudding also.
And the final one is crocked for a full season.

So we have 2 props and 2 youngsters, 1 of whom is injured.
Our biggest problem in my opinion.

As for the team, I'd go:

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. McGuire
8. Bailey
9. Aiton
10. Peacock
11. Ablett
12. JJB
13. Delaney

14. Burrow
15. Leuluai
16. Walters
17. Ward

Not so much crap, but no depth at all as you point out.JP and kylie are fine and when playing we can usually match any set.beyond that the step down in quality is very steep I agree.

As far as the game is concerned I would go with the obvious 13 with Aiton,Bailey,Achurch and Ward on the bench.

Kirke and Bailey will have to be on bench otherwise we are not big enough , Aiton or Burrow will be one of the others and god help us with the other who will probably be Ward