Re Bull Mania - is Charnock with us for much longer?

I don't think leaving them out totally is the idea. But leaving Gaskell, Ferguson & Clough out should we play Huddersfield, and leaving Addy & Clark out should we play KR, makes sense. Also if we're playing in a game that directly affects those teams (i.e. If we beat Salford, it means Huddersfield can't qualify.... etc).

Other games there's no reason they can't play, as long as they are the best option at the time for the 17.




Week by week loan now, so until either we don't want him any more or Saints decide they want him back.

Week by week basis, but in all honesty, i can't see Saints taking him back.

Id like to keep hold of Charnock if Addy is to leave interchange him with Pitts in the #13 role

Charnock would be great to keep, even if Pryce and Chisholm are out first choice halves next season.

We've learned over recent years that just having two halves is not an option. Injuries will happen. If Keyes is considered a future prospect rather than a current option, then we need someone to cover the position that is better than Oscar Thomas. Charnock also comfortably covers hooker too, so he wouldn't be short of game time if he signed for us. It will likely just depend on whether Saints want him back or whether a club in a better position than us decides to make a play for his services.

I agree with every word. Who'd have thought we might actually be discussing the prospect of having a backup utility hooker/half that could actually put in a decent attacking kick?

I think if all these positive moves had happened a month sooner, we wouldn't be staring down the barrel of the ignominy of the Championship Shield. Something feels like it is clicking into place at last.

Id hope as he is with us on a rolling contract loan, he would like to see how he does next season, if he is going to be stuck on the sidelines at saints why not have a crack with us.

Well I don't think I know the players well enough to judge their honesty and integrity. Perhaps other on here do, but I would guess RS will have a fair idea along with the coaching staff. We should play our form 17 regardless IMO, if we start leaving players out who won't be here next year, we will have a pretty depleted squad to pick from.

Obviously if we don't make the top 4, we might gone down the route of planning for next year.

I personally am not questioning their honesty or integrity.
However it would not be human if something wasn't in the back of their mind when playing that game against their future club. I'm sure they wouldn't do anything deliberate. I'm totally sure they would give their all. But I'm not sure they could help having an unconscious thought about it being their future. I personally wouldn't put them in the situation unless we were desperate for a player in their position.

INOUT

Well I'm sure I read that he was off contract next year and, tbh, if it was a choice between him and Pryce then I'd pick Charnock. After all, I'd rather we had a player that has his career ahead of him instead of a player at the back end looking to coast on a nostalgic wave that has long since passed

Why would we sign Pryce? Big wage, one year older, and critically unless he came as a backup or utility (unlikely!) what a kick in the nuts for Chisholm. I can't see him being prepared to be the reserve in the Championship, looks to me like he could be a starter in SL

Pryce would have been alright if we hadnt found Chisholm i think but now.

Chisholm, Charnock, Thomas + Keyes looks like a good group to me

Well Chisholm has the seven shirt. If Gaskell leaves then we need a new 6...not sure anyone we have currently would be better than Pryce in the 6 shirt.

I was told Pryce was nailed on. Whether that's changed or not, I couldn't say, but the bloke who told me seemed pretty certain and he's rarely wrong.

I would assume Pryce & Chisholm would be the initial first choice. O'Brien and Charnock could share the hooking until one of the 4 was injured and then Lumb or Keyes comes in (with Charnock potentially moving into halves if need be).

Thomas making the brews.

If Charnock doesn't sign permanent (and there's nothing to suggest he will really), then even more so the Pryce/Chisholm combo would be first choice.

Why! Because he's a bloody good player still. Why Cant Chisholm and Pryce play together? We'd be mad not to sign him up.

Why the Oscar Thomas hatred?! He's done fine in recent games after being ed around at the beginning of the year and has actually been one to show some game management with good kicks, etc.

Haha "vexed". Pis sed please.

I disagree. I still say he's only looked half decent because all our other halfback options have been crap. Thomas is nowhere near good enough for anyone higher than Championship 1 IMO.

I think under Smith it won't be long before you hold your hands up and admit you were wrong!!

So, did the tea lady leave then?

Championship 1... Have a word!



Thomas is a young player who's been messed about by us. Moved from London. Told he would be FB until Lowes did his "jobs for mates" act with the signing of Mathers. He's been lumbered round from FB, to HB, to centre. Usually having a second-rower as his HB partner (look how poor Gaskell has looked having to do that)

Thomas looks like a young raw player. Because he is a young raw player. He's a decent backup player who can slot in at HB or FB. Smith will work on his weaknesses and he'l improve. I'd definitely be happy to keep him as back up.

I honestly think Thomas and Keyes could be our future half back pairing for a very long time.

You've got to remember that Thomas is still only 22, plenty of time to improve.

Thomas is weak defensively (hence why he swaps over with his centre when defending), his kicks are average, and his passing isn't good enough yet. His line running is pretty good, particularly in broken field. He has plenty to work on but I think he will be a useful player for us. I'd be getting him on the weights if I were Rohan, and getting him some kicking practise.

We'll see who ends up correct in time.

Personally I see him barely getting a look in and moving on due to a lack of game time. Largely because Smith will identify him as being a poor player who just does some fancy footwork every now and again.