I believe myself that you have got to have either Mellor or Powell as a sub if only for the following reason,when we play with 4 forwards on the bench we are stuck with no alternatives to Finch and Tommy in the halves.
This means that if Mcllorum does,nt do the full 80 we have to use Tommy as replacement hooker with Lockers going to standoff,which means we loose Lockers allround loose forward game and the creativity of a natural halfback.

Hudds pack is weakened by injury for this game, we will start with 4 forwards on the bench . This is wane's style.

Yeah i'd agree with that. I don't think we need four forwards on the bench as well but i'm not sure Wane will be thinking the same though.

Four forwards would work better due to the reduced substitutions, Our forwards may need spelling more however it's always nice to have a utility back. Tucson for me wouldn't get a shirt he belongs at London or elsewhere

I think we should win this by 20+ but you never know what can happen in the first few games of the season

I think Wane will go with 4 props ala Brian Noble at Bradford. Think we will look to dominate in the forwards this year.

Personally I would always have a back on the bench, even if it was a "hybrid".

Although not my ideal solution, we've got O'Loughlin in the pack and he can always revert to 6 or 3/4 at a push.

Yeah that's the thing. I really don't rate Lockers as a 6. It's not his fault, he is a 13- and a much improved one at that.

It's too much of an "easy" option. Having a dedicated back on the bench enables us to mix things up and try something different if things are not going well. Also provides cover for injuries.

I know we have TL, Lockers and the like but I would prefer an established back.

As I said though I don't think SW will go down that route. I think this years strategy will be blast them in the forwards, ensure dominance and then get the ball out to the backs once that platform is built.

The test of SW as a coach will be what to do when plan A doesn't work.

Thought Lauaki started well at Salford. True he dropped the ball a couple of times but he wasn't the only one to do that. He has size and isn't too slow.
Hame starting with Mossop with Lima and Spencer off the bench.
Farrell the other bench forward plus Mellor or Powell.
For game like Hudds, SW can go with two younger players provided they have plenty experience around them.

Mossop and Lima should be automatic starting props for at least the next two years and hopefully longer.

I have serious doubts about Lauaki but even if he does play to his potential, I feel he's best used as a substitute.

I agree. Lima is a workhorse forward who can play long minutes. He's the closest we have to someone like James Graham in my opinion. He's often the hardest working forward so he should be starting games. I don't see much about Lima that makes me thing he would offer impact off the bench, especially if Flower is the other prop on the bench.

Lauaki looks to be a typical impact player. He tends to drop off defensively if played for a long spell but he could be very handy coming off the bench. At the moment Mossop and Lauaki look like the players most likely to provide real punch up the middle so I don't think both should be starting.

we only have 3 available forwards also no kevin brown i would say with the problems we have its probs the best time to play you as could be still some rust but im not looking forward to this game as a giants fan i think a similar scoreline to last season could come

thats a shame

Any win, any how. I feel it's vital the team get off to a winning start. The last thing we need under a new regime is to lose our first couple of games, and for doubt to creep into the players minds, that now that Madge has left that the good times over and whatever success we've had has left with him.

hey up guys, does anyone know what stand we're in on sunday as we cant seem to find any information only admission details ?
Cheers

I'm worried about our options at #9.

Not a massive Mcilorum fan I have to say.

Tommy would be the best option but who would go to HB then?

How much are you being charged? Its £19 to sit behind the sticks and £20+(depending on what area) to sit on the sidelines.

If we have 4 forwards on the bench then Lockers would probably go to HB. I'd rather have Mellor/Powell on the bench to come on when Leuluai goes to hooker personally.

In the big games like Sunday is I think we'll probably go with Leuluai at 7 and McIlorum at 9 due to the experience that brings and thats fine by me but when some of the games come round you'd expect us to win (Widnes, Wakey, Salford etc) I really hope we give plenty of opportunites to guys like Russell and Mellor.

I'd love to see us play a few games with Russell at 1 and Sam back in at 6. They'd be electric on the same pitch and looking ahead 12 months I think the logical solution to Tommy leaving is to get Tomkins back in the halfs because it's easier to find a quality 1 then it is to find a quality 6 or 7 imo.

you're both in the north

blimey, season's not even started yet..your quick off the mark this year !!

and there's 8 of us coming actually

Can you let the club know please, they'll have to put another cone out for the 2nd car

oh hahahaha stop it you little buggers my sides are splitting

ive given my complimentarys tickets to 2 hudds supporting pals... thats 10 now