Know its early but im excited already.

For me;

1. Sam
2. Charnley
3. Joel
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Finch
7. Deacon
8. Mossop
9. Leuluai
10. Lima
11. Hock
12. Hoffman
13. O'Loughlin
---------------------
14. Cross
15. Farrell
16. Hansen
17. Prescott

Sam
Charnley
Joel
Carmont
Richards
Finch
Deacon
Mossop
Leuluai
Lima
Hoffman
Hansen
O'Loughlin

McIlorum
Hock
Coley
Cross

That Bench is possibly the best in the league. Leave Hock until about 20-25 minutes in when any real weaknesses have been identified and send him on to cause real havoc.

Not with only one hooker, and Prescott's doubtful. Put McIlorum in instead of Farrell, and Coley for Preccy and it's about right.

Clearly this, anything else and I will be gobsmacked

I'm on holiday in Wales all week until Saturday morning..

Never have I wanted a holiday to be over as quickly!
Like a kid at Xmas!

Like the look of your starting 13 very strong, but best bench in the league.

The way Hock played on Friday makes you wonder about starting him but I think he'll be best used from the bench in this type of game. I expect Cross to now play after having a run out on Friday and you'd guess Liam Farrell will make way for Hoffman.

CM Punks team is more then likely what we'll go with.

Coley cross and hock, that a very strong bench.

Cross impressed me on Friday and provided some good go forward off the bench. I can see now why madge signed him. Great depth considering Fielden and Preccy are not available.

No place for faz or marsh for me.

Sam
Charnley
Joel
Carmont
Pat
Finch
Deacon
Mossop
Leuluai
Lima
Hock
Hoffman
Lockers

McIlorum
Coley
Cross
Hansen


Hock played so well last week I think he deserves to start. Faz just misses out due to Hock's resurgence & Hansen being dropped to the bench. Mossop & Lima our two best props who will lead from the front from the begining.

Beware what you wish for.
Just joking. I think we will win.
However, when we had Noble I remember wishing the time would pass quickly in the week leading up to the semi-finals and then being let down with a big bump.

I know, I know...
But whatever the result it should be a fantastic match so win, loose or draw (do we go extra-time?) it should be worth it!

It is early, bit too early in the morning for me

cant wait for this game, going to have to hunt a bar down in magaluff to show the game though, surely one can have it on, all the same, with our performances in recent weeks bar wakefield, I am confident we can turn them over. I also agree with CM Punk on team, would be happy with that.

Sam
Charnley
Joel
Carmont
Richards
Finch
Deacon
Mossop
Leuluai
Lima
Hoffman
Hansen
O'Loughlin

McIlorum
Hock
Coley
Cross

Has to be and will be this team.

It's going to be one hell of a match and one,i think, we might just snatch. (fingers crossed)

I'd go with that 17 but start MCIlorum at 9 and Leuluai at 7 with Deacon on the bench.
Reasoning, I'd let Mickey Mac have a go at Monaghan just like he did Cunningham in last years Grand Final.

No Coley and only one hooker - glad you're not picking the team.

Just reading an interview with Madge on the official site. Found this interesting:

"It was more precautionary with Stu, he is getting really close, it has been an injury he has been frustrated with over the last month and we didn't want to take a risk, he will be alright for next week."

Looks like Fielden will be in the mix for Saturday. Will be a gamble to throw him into such a high-intensity match after being out for so long IMO, but he's got to come back sooner or later

No way will Fielden play next week. Far too much of a risk in a big game.

Is Prescott fit for this one?

Coley, Lima and Mossop are shoe in's. But the other spot's between Cross and Prescott. Neither have had much game time over recent week's although Cross did play this week against Wakey. We don't really know how Prescott's going to hold up coming into such a physical contest first game back. I'd be inclined to go with Cross. He's at least fully fit and played the week before. Plus the guy's played in some huge matches in his career so far so this game shouldn't be anything he can't handle, and it would be nice to have his aggression out there.

I agree I would go with Cross. I think Madge has been quoted saying Prescott will be back at the end of the month. With our strength in depth we're not in a position to have to risk Fielden or Prescott, which is staggering when you consider our pack still looks so strong!

I agree, it's just an interesting thing for Madge to say. Probably just being mischevious to keep everyone guessing with his team selection

1. S.Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. J.Tomkins
4. Carmont
5. Richards
6. Finch
7. Deacon
8. Mossop
9. Leuluai
10. Coey
11. Hansen
12. Hoffman
13. O'Loughlin

14. McIlorum
15. Cross
16. Hock
17. Lima

If Prescott is 100% fit to play then I'd stick him straight in for the game against Wire. He's only missed a couple of weeks so if he'll be fresh and he's got more about him than Cross.
We do need aggression because that's something that's been lacking against Wire but Cross can be too aggressive and is liable to miss tackles. I just don't fancy having Monaghan exploiting that.
Hock is another worry. He's another aggressive player that will cause problems but I think smaller, quicker players could have a field day running at him out wide. His fitness has improved massively but he's still not up to scratch. It seems like it will be a straight choice between Hock and Farrell and that's not an easy choice.
As for playing Fielden, that would be a stupid risk. No one knows how he'd cope being thrown back into a game situation after such a long lay off.

x2

The same argument can be used for Morley, remember the O'Carroll incident.


Again, the same applies for Westwood, Anderson, Harrison and especially Solomona if selected, team selection and tactics will be critical on Saturday, we must trust Madge to get it right, he's not done to badly up to now.