Who would you drop from this lot:
15 Roy Asotasi
4 Ryan Atkins
3 Chris Bridge
9 Daryl Clark
17 Ben Currie
21 Ben Evans
2 Rhys Evans
13 Ben Harrison
14 Micky Higham
8 Chris Hill
18 James Laithwaite
5 Joel Monaghan
7 Richie Myler
20 Gareth O’Brien
24 Kevin Penny
6 Stefan Ratchford
10 Ashton Sims
12 Ben Westwood
23 Gary Wheeler

I would go with:
Ratchford
Penny
Monas
Atkins
Evans
O Brien
Myler
Hill
Clark
Sims
Currie
Westwood
Harrison

Laithwaite
B Evans
Higham
Wheeler

I have assumed that Bridge is still not fully fit as he looked dead on his feet after a few mins against HKR.

I agree with this, Sims and Hill can both do massive stints so a bench space for a utility back isn't a bad idea.

Should be a great opener. Salford names an almost full strength side with only one first choice player missing out in Sau.

I must say that the look of your front row is what worries me from a Salford point of view. I think the game will hinge on who dominates through the middle as both teams have plenty out wide, and we're a decent hooker short of being a complete unit. We have a powerful pack too, certainly competitive, but I think Clarke and Higham will be the difference on Saturday. Hopefully I'll be wrong!

Should be a decent number coming over from us too.

Drop Asotasi, hasn't done a thing all season.

3 forwards & a hooker on the bench for me ( That's how Australia & S.O.O teams do it ) - it's the only way.
Big Roy has got to manage a bench spot, otherwise we should cut our losses now.
It Roy does perform to 60% of his pre-signing potential - then we would have a pack to fear
Here's hoping

Hurrah, Its back













Stefan Ratchford
Rhys Evans
Ryan Atkins
Kev Penny
Joel Monaghan
Kevin Penny
Richie Myler
Gareth O’Brien
Ashton Sims
Daryl Clark
Chris Hill
James Laithwaite
Ben Westwood
Ben Currie

Roy Asotasi
Gary Wheeler
Ben Harrison
Micky Higham


Chris Bridge
Ben Evans

1 Ratchford
2 Penny
3 Rhys
4 Wheeler
5 Joel
6 Bridge
7 GOB
8 Hill
9 Clark
10 Sims
11 Westwood
12 Laithwaite
13 Harrison

14 Asotasi
15 Myler
16 Ben Evans
17 Currie

I like the idea of a big bench set of players and would go with the following:

1 Ratchford
2 Penny
3 Atkins
4 Monaghan
5 Evans
6 O'Brien
7 Myler
8 Hill
9 Clark
10 Sims
11 Westwood
12 Laithwaite
13 Currie

14 Asotasi
15 Harrison
16 Ben Evans
17 Higham

I personally like the idea of Clark coming off the bench against a tiring pack!

Can't wait!!

I wonder if TS will use Sims as the Cowboys did? More often than not In the NRL games I watched last year, Ashton usually played a full 40 in the first and then the last 20 of the second.

My view is the opposite.
I see no reason why if the hooker is solid enough, and not a converted halfback, why he cannot be effective for 80 mins.
I'd prefer to have a utility back on the bench, the likes of Wheeler or Ratchford that can play anywhere and 3 big forwards.

I'd prefer Ratchford to be on the pitch rather than the bench against most if not all opposition and that includes games where Russell Wheeler and Bridge are available

I can't argue with you UR.
I guess the point was my real angle as opposed to the players we could utilise.
Having a quality player with the likes you mentioned would be an enormous advantage. Having Higham to swap with Clark adds no depth and doesn't cover all bases.

It's a case of wanting my cake and eat it.

i love ratchford.. but he really needs a position to call his own.

i think most people agree his best position is FB where his elusive running can cause so much damage.

Unless Russell falls out of favour, its another season of playing here there and everywhere again though i think... thats not a dig at Russell though, who is still learning and could be a brilliant FB for us this season.

nice problem to have i guess.

I still only see him as a winger md, and with Joel, Evans and Penny ahead of him, his only hope is fb.

I hope Penny has ironed out his early career mistakes and kept all the aspects that made him a lethal winger, I'm hoping a TS coached KP is a scary prospect.

Ratchford a winger? Deary me shoot me now

I think he meant Russell

Can i add that both Penny and O'Brien both have an admirable amount of determination and strong character.

I have no confidence in Myler & GOB
v
Farge, Chase and Dobson

The only footballers in our 17 is at FB and on the bench!!!!

Please don't let me be right.

The difference when Ratchford pushed up to the centre channel.

There was little from GOB and Myler in creativity until that point.

12-0 ht

Myler, Higham.

goals 2
Ratchford

60 mins

18-4
Atkins

goal Ratchford


Ben Jones - Bishop