I think I would use the Huddersfield game to put what I thought our best 17 on the pitch would be. Its difficult with a couple more players to come in and a couple injured , but the basis of the team should in my view contain the 17 squad players to represent the club in the 8s.
Is it in the best interest of the club to play players who have already signed for a new club next season and can they remain 100% focused and up for the fight. Im not convinced they can, however Im not sure how many players are involved .

One things for sure we can expect plenty of departures at the end of the season and another re building exercise. I have faith in Mr Smiths ability but sometimes injuries can go against you and I see Locke as a massive loss and not easily overcome.
A first rate display showing guts, and team work against Hudds would certainly be welcomed .

Funny you should say that, I thought Mullally along with Walker was the only forward that looked be fully committed yesterday.

In all fairness I don't think that would work because as far as I am aware we couldn't even put 13 on the pitch who are signed for next season. Also some of those who have signed are not that good in my opinion.

Plus I only think the coach is contracted to the end of the season, so he is most likely to be looking to pastures new.

Add into the mix that we don't even have a ground for next season.


So short termism is the key

Not really been looking at it that way but when you do, what a mess we are in.

It's all about short term right now.
Of course Carter should be looking further down the line but Smith and the players need to look at how to keep us in Super League.

I've already said elsewhere he needs to know what his best team is but the Cas and Huddersfield games are still pre-season games for us. He tried out a big pack this week which worked well in terms of go forward. He didn't consider having to put a forward in the backs when Locke got injured but he didn't have to. He now knows how that works for us and what to consider about it in the middle 8s.
Ali won't play a full game through the middle 8s I'm sure but if he needs to build fitness and find his form, then just play him now. If it affects the result (I'm not saying he did) then so be it.

It's all about the 8s

Jowitt
Johnstone
L Smith
Arundel
Lyne
Godinet
Miller
Anderson
Sio
Simon
Ashurst
Washbrook
Malloy

McShane
Walker
Scruton
Mulally

Totally agree and I am also hoping when the chips are down and we start playing games ' for real' we may see a different team
attitude and aptitude.

Think Malloy will make way, Ali to S/R or bench and Washbrook back to his best position at Loose forward. Then that's about as good as it gets.

In Jowitt, Johnstone and Lyne there's some speed in the back line. Jowitt will give everything for Wakefield with his effort and involvement being in sharp contrast to what we've seen from Tansey. Whilst inexperienced at SL level he's been playing Full Back all his life and is a class act.

Washbrook does his best work playing on the edges and so should play in an outside chanel which means playing him in the Second Row. His defence in the middle chanel would be missed if it wasn't for the presence of Sio who is a prolific tackler.

I said on another thread that Ali Lauitiiti is now an expensive luxury that, in a playing sense, we can't afford anymore. Of course he's still capable of a bit of magic but it's now few and far between and is offset somewhat by the errors that inevitably follow attempted off the cuff plays.

The big starting pack and huge bench is needed to give our average at best halfbacks something to play behind. Having Scruton, Walker and Mullally coming off the bench should mean we don't get the normal dip that teams experience when their starting props get interchanged.

The weakness in my proposed team is there's no replacement halves or threequarters, Sio can switch to centre if necessary but unless we carry T Smith there's no other option at half back.

Just my thoughts

I'm happy with the team but with no Kirmond and then not including Ryan, we have no one that can just step in to cover the backs during a game.
That cost us at the weekend. I'm have Ryan in that teams somewhere.

agree on Ryan, for me he should be in the 17. Offers the versatiliy you mention but also is an attacking threat. He gets through plenty of work, makes few errors and gives us an attacking threat out wide, he is our leading forward this year in terms on tackle busts (and 3rd overall) and clean breaks. For me i'd have him on the bench at least.

This would be my final starting 17 for middle 8's

Hall
Johnstone
L Smith
Arundel
Lyne or Riley
Godniet
Miller
Kavanagh (Feel that Scruton has been inconsistent this year)
Sio
Anderson
Ashurst
Ryan
Washbrook

Bench

Simon
Big Ali
McShane
Walker or Mulally

Kind of put the kybosh on that idea.

Indeed

I know we can not make long term plans but players already signed for new clubs are in my view less likely to put a full shift in.Players still on our books but out of contract may be inclined to either put themselves in the shop window or play for a contract. Its a bloody mess to be honest and can be distracting.

I know we can not make long term plans but players already signed for new clubs are in my view less likely to put a full shift in.Players still on our books but out of contract may be inclined to either put themselves in the shop window or play for a contract. Its a bloody mess to be honest and can be distracting.

Based on their performances and BS bringing in late recruits I think the 17 for the Middle 8s should be....

Jowitt
Johnstone
Arundel
L.Smith
Lynne or Tupou (dependant on Hudds performance if he plays?)
Godinet
Miller
Scruton
Sio
Anderson
Ashurst
Washbrook
Simon (Start with 3 props need as much go forward as possible)

Subs. Mullally, Lauitiiti, Walker, McShane

I would agree, though Kavanagh should be bracketed with Mullaly and Molloy also in that group
Of course Smith has to be on the edge of the team too depending on Godinet's fitness.
Lyne hasn't played wing all season and I seem to remember him having some stinkers there. Not sure what I'd do with him as he is a threat when he gets it right.

Really ??????
Reece Lynne has now become a liability for me....on one of Cas' many rampaging runs down our right side, he got outpaced by Oliver Holmes FFS !!

He came to us with a reputation for being a speedster, but how many tries has he scorched down the pitch for ???? ...answers on a postage stamp please !!

Zippididoodah zippideeay - of course the lad has pace but we all have different perceptions of pace. If all the p's were together would there be too many p's? I don't think he can run.

So for Huddersfield and beyond I'd be looking at something like this:

Jowitt (should be given a chance as the only natural fullback we have)
Tupou
L Smith
Arundel
Johnstone

Hall (to be replaced by Godinet when fit)
Miller

Scruton
Sio
Anderson
Ashurst
Simon
Washbrook (I prefer Washy and Simon this way round, allowing Washbrook to defend in the middle and Simon to use his hard running further out)

Subs:
Mullally
Walker
Lauitiiti (I think if Ali is going to play he needs to come off the bench when defences are tiring for us to see the best of him)
McShane

Reserves:
Crowther
Kavanagh
Howarth
Annakin



I'd give Jowitt a game or two now and see how he goes, if he's struggling then we can look to put Hall back there if/when Godinet is fit again.

I think Lyne had pace, but has unfortunately lost it, be it as a result of injuries or bulking up too much. Oliver Holmes was pulling away from him at a rate on Sunday.

Based on MC's comments in the press release, Tupou has been brought in to add competition in the centre although i cant find any record of him playing there?

I noticed Craig Hall was out warming up on Sunday. Anybody any the wiser with regards what he is doing? I was told he was going to HKR or Fev, but the club was holding out, to see who the competition would be in the 8s. Now that is sorted, could we be seeing him shipped out? As much as his recent performances for us have been heartless to say the least. His height and pace could be put to use on the wing or am just clutching at straws??!

He would have been warming up as 18th man

He is no good to Fev their season is over and as for HKR, I think the signing deadline has passed.

Lets hope we can get him motivated because he could still be a useful member of the team. If he gets some form back he is as good as anything we have available at FB or wing.

No way should Hall be stand off. I'd rather play Smith but force the scrum half role to Miller and Smith stands slightly wider......or even left and right.
We should play Mullally as he is playing against his old team but I like Kavanagh to be honest. He works hard and we need that work rate in the middle.