Akauola
Ashton
Austin
Charnley
Clark
Cooper
Currie
Doro
Hill
Hughes
Lineham
Longstaff
Mamo
Mulhern
Philbin
Ratchford
Thewlis
Whitehead
Williams
Widdop
Wrench

Good to see cooper and Philbin back in, I hope Kings injury isn't too serious. No Davis either this week so who will cover hooker whikst Clark and walker are still missing?

It will be an interesting team selection, cas need the win and have mcshane back. I don't see us having much zip around dummy half. Widdop and Williams need to be on the money, at least they may have a platform this week. I think we are up against it this Thursday.

As strong as we could go at the minute really. Interesting….

Absolutely.

If you start by eliminating players rather than picking the side, I think you would remove Whitehead because he is a bit young yet to debut, Doro because we have plenty of returning props, and Ashton because Ratchford is available after his half game rest. Then you are left with a toss up between Lineham and Thewlis. I am a big fan of the youngster but I think Lineham will get the nod as Thewlis has played a lot of rugby in the past couple of weeks.

I fancy Clark will fill in at hooker.

I think we may see Ratchford fill a similar role as last week, ideally to rest but to act as cover for Clark at dummy half.

I think it will be similar to last week, but with Currie getting a break, Wrench and Austin to go to the left side centre/back row.

Lineham… maybe. Thewlis hasn’t let anyone down though, so it’s a tough choice.

Ratchford covered hooker I think when he came on against Salford - maybe we will see Ratchford on the bench interchanging with Clark at 9. Depends whether he wants Ratch / Widdop / Williams playing together ahead of the play offs.

Would be sensible to play Lineham, just to give him some match fitness ahead of the play offs, as you mention, Charnley / Thewlis should be fine in that regard.

Wouldn't surprise me to see Currie given the week off, Austin to switch sides and Mulhern given some time off too. Price seems to favour resting rather than continuity.
Not the side i'd pick, but i'd expect:
Ashton
Lineham
Wrench
Mamo
Charnley
Williams
Widdop
Hill
Clark (J)
Cooper
Hughes
Austin
Doro

Ratchford
Sita
Philbin
Longstaff

Thewlis
Lineham
Wrench
Mamo
Charnley
Williams
Widdop
Cooper
Ratchford
Philbin
Longstaff
Austin
Hughes

Hill
Akuola
Ashton
J clark

I'd go with that and let mulhern have a rest or Austin at loose and Hughes in 2nd row. Depends who is carrying knocks I suppose.

A tough assignment, but that's what we need anyway, with the playoffs following on, even if we have some first choice players missing. The performance is more important than what's on the scoreboard at full time.

Playoffs could start a week early for us though, if we win then Cas are out. HullKR and Leeds (given their injuries) have to be viewed as easier fixtures, so Price may view it best to put Cas out now and face the losers of the Leeds KR.

Or, if we were to lose, it would make sure the Leeds vs KR game is a battle royal for that last play off spot… let them fight it out while we have a 24 hour head start on recovery with key players being rested again.

I'd have thewlis at fullback rather than ashton

I would too, but Price favoured Ashton at FB last week, so assume we'll see the same again if Ratchford is to be used elsewhere.

Personally if Thewlis is seen as our future full back, he should play there whenever possible.

Exactly, it baffled me.

I think we have seen enough this year to know you'd get the better performance from each of them, the other way around

I feel bad for matt Davis, I knew on Saturday something bad had happened by the way he was holding his arm, like he'd been bitten by a snake or something.

Yes, I was sat near him when he came off, he seemed to say straight away the bicep had come away from the tendon. Shame for him, he’s come on really well, might give an opportunity to Longstaff in the playoffs?

Sad to say but Thewlis is much better at ball control & safer at the back & Ashton is no doubt a better winger than Thewlis.
Strange selection by Mr Price.

Hilly, Philly and Coopy are back which is good news. Devastating for “Nuggety” Matt Davis. (I’m going to keep using it till it catches on).

if i may, a friends of mine coined the term 'squat people' upon matt davis arrival, usually shouted whenever he or philbin are running the ball in.

i want to say there was someone else as well, but whoever it was evades me.

I agree with you about Thewlis` position long term is fullback.

It looks like Price has decided that Thewlis will play left wing for us for the rest of this season (Unless he changes his mind about Lineham) and that is why he is leaving him on the wing?

oli holmes missing the rest of the season, with a neck injury.

now i'm getting a bit worried, this seems extremely jinxy.

3 new signings all injured, 2 very serious ones.. disappointing to say the least



Looks like we will have no option but to keep hold of Clark & Ashton as Harrison and Minikin will miss a fair chunk of next season.

Next up Powell(y) pulls a face,the wind changes and it sticks like that forever (or maybe that already happened?).

It’s a sign that we shouldn’t let Hill and Mamo go!

Would of happily kept them both out of all the others leaving..

Pity that Benjamin Jullien isn't still with us, as he could have been nougaty.