Gardner will not be playing.

Someone who goes to the gym he works at told me this evening.

Swinton badly exposed our left hand defence with Rowe/pownall last week and Fev would ruthlessly exploit it.

We need to stiffen up in that channel so Asp or Maden for me with Rowe on Littler's wing if needs be.

Can't see Brierley starting at 7, think Beswick with his experience and creativity would be better suited for this one. Ryan to come on from the bench and score with his first touch

What's the point in having an out and out 7* sitting on the bench and moving 9's around. Get him played from the off and let's see what he's made of and how much of an impact he can have on a full 80.

*For the time being...

1. McNally
2. Maden
3. Littler
4. Aspinwall
5. Pownall
6. Ridyard
7. Beswick
8. Hopkins
9. Penkywicz
10. Parker
11. Briscoe
12. Thornley
13. Taylor

14.Brierley
15. Spencer
16. Ostick
17. Duffy

Not a bad team that but Nico would have to be in somewhere he always plays well

Aspinwall to Centre:
McNally to 7 / FB
Brierley to FB / 7
Penky 9
Beswick SR/LF

Job Done !!

Beswick should NEVER play SH !!

I'd pick a front row for 2 different halves of play too.

Once they level P.O road, teams will start to become more competative there !!

Sorry Snowy but Beswick is the best scrum half we have he revels playing in the role his creativity skill and guile are the best we have.

Agreed. Plus I can't see Paul messing up our patterns/plays, by moving McNally, Aspinwall or others to new (this season) positions. He's going to go for the minimum disruption (IMO)

Is it just me that really doesn't rate beswick at scrum half? IMO he is not the best at first receiver, he has good hands, but has all the hallmarks of a loose forward. He's a good option to run a move through every now and then, but feel we are very flat with him at 7. Good as an interchange 9, he makes good use of a quick ptb, feel he's best at 13 though. Too rigid with Bob at 7, fine if you fancy yourself in an arm wrestle of a game, but that's not how you beat fev!

No it is not just you.

I prefer Beswick at 9 or 13.

I also think Penky at scrum half would be good.

Tell me, what does it matter? Playing positions are not that rigid anymore. He could move between all three of those positions during a game. At the Swinton game a bloke behind me was saying he was useless. The bloke knew nowt. I love this where players wonder all over the place. Keeps you on your toes.

Ill go by what I say.

'Beswick IS NOT a 7 !!'

If our 7 is not going to take on the defences and run the lines, then we may as well give up. Beswick is a good distributor of a ball and an excellent tactician and tackler. That tells me he is a 9 or 13 !!

Brierly and McNally take on defences and make them think. No disrespect to Bob, but he aint going to crack any pots and score any 50 yarders is he? I have never seen him being on Ridyards shoulder to finalise a move.

Stevie Wonder can play first reciever !!

SH is a critical position which should not be toyed with. We had Briscoe at 7 last season, and it hardly did owt !!

Also, I would expect 1,6,7 and 13 to complement each other. If they cannot swap roles then we are doomed Ill tell thee ... DOOOOOMMMED !!

Sorry mate I disagree, I think a lot of fans would feel better if Riddy wore 7 and Beswick 6.

We play a very similar way to Leeds, they have Sinfield & McGuire, one organiser who can kick and defend and one player attacking the defence running with ball in hand and supporting breaks.

Leeds have Burrow injecting pace and flair, we have Brierley. Only difference is Burrow can play 9, but we switch Bob to 9 and have Brierley at 7.

Beswick is the best number 7 we have. he is the perfect partner to riddy. the team is better all round when we have riddy at 6 and beswick at 7. this also leaves penky free to play 9

I think your probably right,but until Brierley and Mcnally are tried there, then i think this will always be a good talking point.

its beswicks game management that is his most important attribute, he controls it and allows riddy more freedom. i dont think mcnally or brierley would be able to do this.

7. 6. 13. 17. 99 since when in the modern game do numbers or old fashioned positions matter first receiver is a monumental position in the modern game and Bob is the best we have (not seen enough of Coyle to judge as yet) In the modern play book first receiver is just that, the one who receives the ball from the acting half back. His passing and guile is the key to any team playing well.

I agree with you on brierley,i think (along with others) he's a crackin fullback in the making.
Mcnally was outstanding for haven in the halves before huddersfield got hold of him.I just think it might be interesting to have a look at him again in that position again.

When was the last time we had a 'proper' 7?

A 7 who could kick properly, in all areas of the field and actually control a game? (I've just thought of Jamie Ellis, I urge everybody to watch his 2nd try in the NRC final and just watch him throughout the clip. Masterful)

Beswick is not that. He's solid with a clever quick thinking brain with a good short kicking game. A ball playing 13 for me.

Am in total agreement with you, but there aren't many like that going round.

spot on Snowy, but Beswick/Ridyard is our best bet at Fev. Brierley is a 1, and a bloody good one. Nicho is also our best 9.

I take it Beswick at 7 worked then ?

Penky at 9 worked a lot less. He is devasting around the ruck but we need to use him right, Fev picked him all day and imo tired him out - Nicho is a far better defender then Penky on after 20mins or so each half.
We are far to easy to read when we are against a good coach,(Kear,Powell and Aston) and imo must play a couple of yards deeper to create some doubt and space.
We asked our pack to do all the attacking and all the defending - we were $hagged after 20 mins.

Daftest post of the year so far


Beswick is a loose forward Nico is the best hooker we have scrum half Briel Penky impact player when defenses are getting knackered it's not rocket science only the coaching staff think otherwise or the would,nt keep playing one of our best players out of position at 7 Young Brie should be at 7 he's got pace to open up defences he can create space out of nothing to get Riddy and the back line moving its mad that the coaching staff keep putting him on the bench and give him 10 mins here and there old saying if your good enough it does,nt matter how old you are 31 try's last season how many would he have had with more game time when Brie plays McNally and Riddy play better they compliment each other with there understanding of each others strengths and weaknesses