So…

But if a rough ride for everyone at trinity recent weeks.

The coach, the players and the fans are all feeling it. There needs to be a win incoming and soon.

Saints look a little wobbly lately but they still have an excellent group of players and will be tough.

The reality is vs KR we were missing 9 x players from starting 17. Any team would struggle with that. That said there are things within control such as intensity in defence and improving ball retention. Two key areas that cost us vs KR really. Post yard metres from KR was simply unacceptable added to turning over the ball cheaply.

Only time we looked threatening with ball in hand was a 10 minute spell in second half when we upped the tempo and the ball went through plenty of hands to the edges.

So we move onto Saints…

Mash said that Bowden/Kalepi/Gaskell/Smith are 1/2 week away. Hood should also be back.

I wouldn’t play Gaskell at halfback or Full back. Mash seemed excited to have him back next week but he is just not a pivotal player and the best combination we have had this year is Smith/Lino. It’s clear Mash rates Gaskell but even he surely sees his limitations despite his effort. We need continuity at halfback and I think best we have is Smith/Lino. At least there’s points in that and the kicking looks more effective (Salford away).

Part of me thinks should we throw out a few rotation players and rest/prepare for an absolute must win vs Cas. We could have a lot of fresh bodies going into Cas (bearing in mind we have a short turn around d going into it again).

You want to win every game though so I just don’t know.

This will be a tough game. Thoughts?

Anything said about Jordy C?

Need to put out the strongest available 17 every match.

Was Morgan Smith injured this week? How many of the missing 9 may be returning?

Be surprised if more than 50 supporters went over there considering they’ve cancelled the coach.

That almost galvanizes me to go to be honest. It's too early into the season to have thrown the towel in
completely, however dire it is looking!

It's back on now. The club have just released an offer of £30 for a ticket and coach travel to Saints. Available in the club shop from Monday morning.

That's good news.

Nah they’d have to offer me more than that..

Interesting that the members free draw (tickets and transport for two people) on RWB Facebook has 68 entries so far. So we have a minimum (because some have already stated that they have made other arrangements so haven't entered) of 136 fans still interested in going across the Pennines and supporting the team on a Friday night, against the World Champs, surrounded by hostile scousers, whilst we are playing 5hit.

According to today's League Express we should have some bodies back for Friday....Smith, Crowther and Proctor should all be back



AND.....



...

possibly Gaskell too





Genuinely good news is that Kelepi and Bowden should both be back for next week's crucial clash with Cas though

Hood is also available this week

I wouldnt risk any of them no matter what team we have we aint gonna win lets focus on cas

Yep, was thinking the same myself

Technically yes but game day will be 12 days since his failed HIA so he’ll have had no full training sessions prior to the game. I’d be tempted to leave him until the week after.

I would play the reserves, save the better players for the Cas game. I cant see us beating Saints but if we don't beat Cas either then Mash has to go as that will be 0 from 8 and we will be a minimum of 2 wins behind anybody else and with a much worse points difference with a third of the season gone.

Personally think it's a dangerous game thinking about 'saving' players for Cas...

I wouldn't want us going into that game with potentially 5 or 6 players who've not played in a while..

I'd go to Saints with as strong a side as possible and 'manage' important players accordingly if things are going pair shaped...

You also have to bear in mind Saints have recent history of losing to the bottom team and though we all know they're an exceptional side at best I'd say they're some way off that this season so far....we all feared a cricket score at salford last week and we nearly nicked that!

Agree.
Stick the returning players on the bench and give a start to the likes of Dane etc.
Also, I must either
a) Want my head feeling at - or -
b) Need taking away by two men in white coats and transported away in a green van....
....As I am actually thinking about going to this on the supporters coach.....




Or possibly both a & b.........

It's in the blood. Always looking forward to next game. I'll certainly be there.

Well…. I would seriously consider resting a few and being selective against Saints (and I don’t usually agree with this).

Cas is a huge game and could put us off the bottom or adrift 4pts and even worse point difference. Cas have a 5 day turnaround to our 6. It may be a smart move to go in with some fresh bodies.

If it was me I'd be looking at something like..

Kay
Taufua
Langi
Lyne
Kershaw
Smith
Lino
Battye
Hood
Atoni
Ashurst
Hall
Crowther

Bowes
Eseh
Proctor
Butler

I know I said previous about going with as strong a team as possible but I think a rest for who I believe to be our two hardest workers in Pitts and Whitbread wouldn't do any harm....keep them two fresh for Cas...

Definitely want to see more of the Smith/Lino combination at halfback as thought they went well at Salford...

Langi isn't a stand off....might have got away with it for the odd game for Catalans but was surrounded by much better players...If I'm honest I've been a little underwhelmed by him so far...thought we were getting a quality player there but he's not shown anything so far...put him in at centre though up against Hurrell and ask him to show his worth...Hall has been very good last few weeks...has a real appetite for work...runs good lines...makes good metres and he did well in the 2nd row last season when asked to play there...

If Proctor has had doubts over fitness, this isn't the game to put him in. I'd save him.
Not sure if Hood and Smith are now fit. Anyone know?

Unfortunately i dont believe its as simple as that,im led to believe when a player player plays a sl game he has to be paid a certain salary which is significantly higher that what any reserve player gets

Proctor has to play IMO...he's looked at times to struggle with the pace of the game and match fitness so to put him in at Cas cold will be a big error for me...get him some gametime...a couple of 20 minute stints in the back row should bring him on nicely for Cas...

Applegarth said in his post match interview the other night that had that game been on Sunday instead of Friday Crowther, Smith and Proctor would all have been ok to play...just the short turnaround came too quick....so another 5 days on come game day Friday all three should be in contention....Hood will be available after the HIA kept him out...just whether or not he's over that...

I would go with this for saints….

Butterworth
Taufua
Langi
Lyne
Lineham
Smith
Gaskell
Battye
Hood
Butler
Ashurst
Pitts
Crowther

Forber
Atoni
Eseh
Law

I’d rest … Kay, Kershaw, Hall, Lino, Bowden, Whitbread, Bowes, Tanginoa, Proctor. These would all play vs Castleford and probably Hewitt.

That’s 10 fresh players vs Cas who are coming in off a short 5 day turnaround. The team vs saints also looks decent.

I would go with…

Kay
Taufua
Langi
Lynne
Kershaw
Smith
Lino
Butler
Bowes
Bowden
Ashurst
Hall
Crowther

Subs
Proctor
Battye
Tanginoa
Forber