I said he played well but that was still dumb, it was also at a bad time and a bad place in the field to do it. Danny Houghton is a tackling machine, doesn't mean I rate him as a player.

Never a priority for Briers who played behind a dominant pack for most of the time and understandably vanished when he didn't. The right combination is the important thing in the halves. Be careful about criticising any halve playing to their strengths.

The trouble with many infringements at the tackle/play the ball is that too many ball carriers are being allowed to move forward off the mark with impunity. It is an offence to move off the mark. It is the same when a tackled player moves into a marker when regaining his/her feet in order to get a penalty.

I do like Walker. There is definitely something there. Always puts a shift in - impossible task playing behind the world's second best 9 every week. Loves the club too.

Yep - I agree with nearly all of that.

Tackled player moving off the mark has been a major bugbear of mine for years.

i've said this for a while now, up until they changed the ruling for players in the ruck last year, if you think about it, the ball carrier can do all manner of things, push, go limp, trap in, place the ball on people, push forward or or dive to the floor off the mark (see kevin naiqama), 9/10 they get a penalty, OR the ref balls at them, saying stop mucking about, it takes something very very specific and obvious for someone to be penalised when in posession.

Salford were "stealing yards" at every ptb in that second half. Trying to milk penalties at every opportunity, but not getting them, but still eeking 3 or 4 yards each time, as the tackled player got to his feet. Very sneaky

More fool us for not doing the same if the referee isn't going to penalise it like last night.

It is very frustrating when they're trying to clean up the ruck area that it's continually allowed to go on though I must admit. The other one that grinds my gears is the attacker playing the ball backwards and then walking forward to get in the defenders way. Both of these offences could be stopped really easily by the referee penalising the first of each offence and warning they will be penalised every time. If teams don't learn then they continually get punished.

Sean O’Loughlin has been stealing 5 yards at every ptb for years. Sometimes almost plays the ball from behind the markers. Must have a problem with his balance or something.......

Dont get it with dean? He can make the pass, but it's not a given a try is scored could the winger knock on ? Have the ball held up ? Be tackled into touch ? Step inside into a defender ?

maybe he didn't get a call and thought the pass not on everything looks easy on tv. It's also a catch 22 what your speaking of comes with game experience.

He played well against Wigan and again tonight. He could easily cover for austin should we need to rest him. I feel we could field one or two from last night in a game to rotate the squad and not worry about it affecting the scoreline. Somthing I would like to see us do more.

I think one of the best things I've seen as feedback about the game is on the Wigan board asking why we sign decent players as cover when we have that in the youth and reserves?

All good points and watching it back, they were not certain tries as I first thought.

That'll explain why his arms are also outstretched at head height when opponents are running at him

21 man squad out

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Davis, Patton, Walker, Robson and Thewlis included

I would guess, thewlis, Robson and patton will miss out for sure then one of walker or Davis to be on the bench. I can't see both of them making the match day 17 at matty Ashtons expense, otherwise there was no point resting Ashton on Tuesday. Some tough calls for Steve price this week.

Ratchford to loose forward, I suspect, with one of Davis, Patton, Walker, Robson and Thewlis getting a bench spot.

My guess would be Davis or Walker for that last bench spot, I'd probably lean towards Davis, Clark can do 80 minutes when needed and Davis can always do a shift there if required. Only other question is whether you start BMM in the back row or use him as an interchange prop. Going off the Saints team selection, Price seems to favour the latter right now.

Ratchford to loose is a bit of a wildcard, I can't see it if i'm honest, but understand the desire to have Ashton & Ratchford on the field for 80 minutes.

Ratch
Charnley
Gelling
King
Mamo
Auston
Widdop
Hill
Clark
Cooper
Currie
Hughes
J clark

Philbin
BMM
Davis
Ashton

From the previous games I thought BMM came on at second row and Hughes moved into the middle at 13

I agree with this, I think that's how price will line us up for this match. I can't see him really using King in the second row aside from covering injuries but i think it's the only way to allow us to fit Ashton and ratchford in to the starting 17. Ratchford would do fine at loose forward but better to have forwards there really.

I agree

That would be my team guess as well. It would be nice to reward Robson and Thewliss for last Tuesday, but there is a CC final spot up for grabs. And I don't think I would wan't to run down Ratchford's batteries by asking him to play BR because we have Wigan and Leeds coming up after this match.

Wigan, Leeds, possible Wembley, Catalan, Salford, squad will be tested during that time certainly.

Yes, its going to be a bit of a pressure cooker from here on in isn't it ? I don't want to annoy the gods, but with no injuries atm and some really good kids that can come into the team, we are in a fortunate position. Nobody would have wished for the Covid pandemic but the youngsters must be rubbing their hands in excitement at the thought of more matches in the first team.

If we do get through to the final (salford are a good team and will not be a walkover especially in tricky conditions) then I will be hoping Leeds get past Wigan. I know that sounds abvious because it's Wigan and we don't owe them any favours but it will result in us playing Leeds again with both teams likely to rest players before the final.
If Wigan beat Leeds then we will likely be playing a full strength Leeds side in the week leading up to the final.

Of the top 5 clubs competing for 4 places Catalans have the least number of matches to play (6) and by far the easiest run in (they only play us and Saints out of the top 5). Wigan don't have a game before the CC Final, we absolutely must beat them on 9th Oct. If Leeds were to beat them this weekend in the cup that would be the best result for us.