Squad announced

1. Grix
2. George
3. Cudjoe
4. Wardle
5. McGillvary
6. Brough (C)
7. Robinson
8. Crabtree
9. Lunt
10. Kopczak
11. Ferres
12. O'Donnell
13. Faiumu
15. Patrick
16. Chan
18.Murphy
19. Cording
21. Ferguson
29. Fielden

Murphy and Cording to miss out for me

No Mullally or Fairbank, will probably play for Batley this weekend

1. Grix
2. George
3. Cudjoe
4. Wardle
5. McGillvary
6. Brough (C)
7. Robinson
8. Crabtree
9. Lunt
10. Kopczak
11. Ferres
12. O'Donnell
13. Faiumu



15. Patrick
16. Chan

21. Ferguson
29. Fielden

If that is the line up that is a pretty powerful pack

grix

mcgillvary
cudjoe
wardle
george

lunt
crabtree
kopczak
ferres
odonnell
chan

bench
faiumu
fielden
patrick
ferguson


think above will be the team...and what a strong team! with taai to come and also lawrence.

ferguson takes up the spot lawrence left behind.

shame we are playing saints!!!! who look just as strong.

not won there since 1978



and think its 28-5 to saints in the head to head.

If the pre-season is owt to go by it will be Fooey run on 9,Lunt from the bench.

Cording or Ferguson,does it matter,whoever they pick of those two needs to have a strong game,are they capable?

Grix

McGillvary Cudjoe Wardle George

Brough Robinson

O'Donnell
Ferguson Ferres
Crabtree Faiumu Fielden


Lunt
Kopczak
Patrick
Chan

I have more confidence in this side for game one than I did with game one last season and very much looking forward to game day.

UTG.

always thought faiumu would start us off but not sure now, lunt started v widnes

anyway ive just done lunt for first try at 40/1 and also last try 40/1

and ferres at anytime 3/1

as for cording and ferguson, think of the two ferguson will go better and he is capable but just not seen him on form for a long time now.

this is why lawrence will be a miss

Fergy is definately capable, he has had some cracking games for us, Leeds away in his first season stands out in my memory. He has though not always been consistent. If he plays to his potential he will do just fine.

Just wondering why can't Lunt do 80 minutes at hooker,he has the reputation of possessing super human fitness levels.Fooey is better as an interchange 13 imo coming on and playing like a prop,side stepping up the middle,guess for him though the firmer playing surface is preferred,though they say no rain Saturday.

Sooner they can get Fairbank up to full fitness the better it will be for our chances,as he surpasses both Cording & Ferguson for mine.

Don't think it matters who we send out,if you listen to those who know the game,plus those who think they do,we are just going in as lambs to the slaughter tomorrow,and it's St Helens setting off now all the way to the trophies.

Not so sure myself,there are questions over certain St Helens players,if our coaches can get the self belief into our lads tomorrow,I reckon we are quite capable of causing an upset.

40/1Lunt looks good but if we score first is another matter (can see him being a much lower price next week even if he does not score v Saints)

Last always has a chance if he is on towards the end.

Also Eorl seems to like a TV try so 50/1 1st try has to be worth a few pennies and 6/1 anytime has a chance.

yes lunt could do a big stint..like you say he is supposed to be very fit but think grix has taken that mantle off him now!

dont see so much of the faiumu sidestep anymore, his groin must of had enough of it with all the injuries its caused him, guess thats one down fall of him playing hooker that we dont get the sidestep as much.

i wouldnt mind fairbank as the replacement for lawrence, both get through tons of work, needs to get back upto fitness first mind, this is where fergy is ahead.

yes crabtree is always a good outside bet for 1st try!

fielden 66/1

Well game day has finally arrived.All's left to say is - COYG,shock them all.

Too right

was surprised crabtree was on the bench but the enforcers fielden and kopzcak did the job from the off!

oh and ferres got me a try at 4/1



lunt nearly had the last try with 9mins left at 40's

Do like Crabtree off the bench and with his fitness , if needed , he then do last 60mins.
Fielden first is a solid enforcer in opening exchanges that are usually tight anyway - id rest him for Wigan now and give mullaly a go to show whats in his locker.

always liked crabtree off the bench too..will be interesting if this is andersons new plan but poss its just the side he picked to counter saints with puletua on bench

wouldnt mind seeing mullally too....if any of the props have a knock throw him in

In 2009 we had five out and out props in Mason, Griffin, Crabtree, Jackson and for the majority of the season Scullthorpe. They were steadily rotated all season with one of the five resting one week, unless injuries forced a change.

I'd like to see Baloo do something similar, introducing Mullally into games and resting big game players like Crabtree and Fielden every now and then.

Wouldn't rest Eorl. If he can do 80 minutes in a match, he can play 40-60 every week. Plus he gives the fans a boost when he comes on.

Agree and doubt Eorl wants to miss any games as a top season and hes in the World Cup squad an average one probably not....for us a win win situation as one of our most comitted players will be putting it all in to get where he wants and hopefully if others follow his lead there are exciting times ahead.