I don't know. If we win, it doesn't guarantee we are out of the relegation dogfight this year, and if we lose it doesn't mean we couldn't still finish mid-table.

For me it's more about confidence and morale - for supporters and the club staff. I would be surprised if London don't bring their "A" game for this fixture, we need to make that irrelevant by playing really well.

If you use "must-win" in terms of keeping the fans on side with the team and coach, there might be something in that! We lose this I can imagine some booing.

Don't know about must win, not really into that nonsense. But it is definitely an unaccapetable to lose game, no question.

Garry Schoefield is going for London by 7

Walker
Briscoe
Hurrell
Handley
Lolohea
Myler
Cuthbertson
Parcell
Merrin
Ablett
Dwyer
Sutcliffe
Ferres
Peteru
Oledzki
Jones-Buchanan
Donaldson
Newman
Holroyd

From the 19 we should go for

Walker
Briscoe
Newman
Hurrell
Handley
Lolohea
Myler
Peteru
Parcell
Oldezki
Ferres
Ablett
Merrin

Subs

Cuthbertson
Dwyer
Donaldson
Holdroyd

But we all know that Sutcliffe will start in second row and JJB will probably get a bench spot.

Assuming he isn't injured, this is pretty telling for Singleton if he's been dropped for the second time this year.

You mean Mr “I will say anything controversial to get attention” what a surprise

Yes - I'm not convinced that Furner is impressed so far, but long season and all that...

Delighted to see Holroyd being considered now, maybe not the right game to play him (just in terms of the pressure) but absolutely right to get him into the first team environment and start to build for a few appearances.

Early decision on Newman to centre and whoever is going to defend inside him would be wise, hopefully they made that call and trained that way all week.

I don't see JJB and Ablett both playing, so the question is who else sits this one out. Including Holroyd (but not Merrin) we only have 4 props in the squad. I'd hope we play Merrin in the back row and Holroyd features. We need to switch some players out to send a message that what they've been producing isn't acceptable.

Singleton's stats were dreadful against Hull for an experienced front-rower and I haven't seen anything from him (from the TV games) that warrants his selection tbh.

Yes that's him he's carrying outside the editor's orders

Always been a bit underwhelmed with Singleton really, would he get in SL top 4 teams ? I think not

The constant chopping and changing by Furner probably isn't helping, a settled side is always better in the long run. I do understand why he is doing as we aren't where he wants us to be but I wonder if we had enough senior involvement in pre season?

There were very few games where we got anything like a first choice 17 out and given we had a new coach and the biggest overhaul of players for a longtime it never felt like he got a good enough look at everyone. I think the weekly rotation of players we are seeing now is, in part, his way of learning on the job.

Performance still not refelecting in selection, wonder how long it will take furner to relize some of these players arnt out of form, theyr just not very good

I've always thought Singo a bit too small to have a chance of being a top draw prop, however at end of 2017 he was playing really well, in particular the semi v Hull.

However, he was poor last week. He could not seem to get in sync with the pace of the game. He made barely any ground and in defence was either charging out trying to whack someone, he gave Ellis one in the chops or was slow off the line.
I agree he deserved to be left out after that display.

I think he's been pretty consistent with selections so far, aside from changes forced by injury.

In the backs I agree, but the backs aren't really the issue.

In the forwards I disagree. Merrin is being moved when he is clearly better in the back row. Singleton and Smith are starting one week then at fev the next. Who is our starting hooker? The pack isn't settled at all and that only compounds the weaknesses we have there.

If we lose this 1 at home reality might kick in. We are in a dog fight to stay up

We are not going to lose.

Think we will win comfortably but either way the R word will ensure that whatever it takes will be done to ensure we stay up,failure is not an option,the stadium rebuild must be paid for!

Walker
Briscoe
Newman
Hurrell
Handley

Lolohea
Myler

Cuthbertson
Parcell
Peteru
Ferres
Ablett
Merrin

Dwyer
Oledzki
Buchanan
Sutcliffe (begrudgenly)

The forwards have been disrupted by Ward's injury. There was always going to be some movement when other injured players returned. We'd all love to see Merrin in the back-row but Furner clearly feels he's sometimes needed to do a stint in the front row.

Smith came in as a way of re-organising to cover Walker's injury. He didn't take the opportunity well by putting in a poor defensive performance. Likewise Singleton's form has been poor.

The hooker issue has been impacted by Parcell's injury. Dwyer has shown better form but clearly there are doubts about his ability to play for 80 minutes.

None of this looks unreasonable to me - it's hardly change for the sake of change.

This again. Why do people keep coming up with this? his defensive performance whilst missing a couple of key tackles, far exceeded that of his team mates. He was top tackler in the game in question, and he did that from stand off, a position nobody else in the game makes the amount of tackles he did.

So if poor defensive performance was the reason for his ommission since, then that would highlight the problem the club are having, as not treating players consistently.

Part of the problem with relegation though. Clubs toward the bottom end have to make short term decisions rather than planning for 2-3 years time. A club like Leeds probably has the resources to manage but lots of clubs don’t and so forfeit medium to long term planning in favour of “must stay up” decisions.

Exactly, he mad 40 tackles playing at stand off!

Our problem at prop must now be solved by Sutcliffe too, that must be his positionicon_wink.gif