My line up vs Hull would be Jowitt, Johnstone, Hall, Lyne, Lineham, Miller, Walker, Fifita, Hood, Battye, Tanginoa, Batchelor, Whitbread... interchange Bowes, Aydin, Arona, Ashurst

If Lino was fit he would replace Walker who would move to the bench in place of Ashurst

Agree in a couple years time im not knocking any of them but in regards forwards its a big physical step up yes you get the odd ones like oledski stepping up at a young age but not many

we are light at prop, Whitbread and Arona started today and got dominated, Tanginoa started in second row he was taken off after 30 minutes having carried the ball twice. He has to play prop - we want him carrying the ball, we want him involved, he is a handful. Pitts and Ashurst are our best defensive second rowers plus Pitts has a bit of football in him. I have no idea what role Gaskill was playing today he was stood behind play for the whole of the first half in a pocket behind first receiver and only got the ball on the occasional last play. Anyway think everyone just about agrees the Jowitt, Johnstone, Hall and Lyne all start, I would go with Davetanilalu on the other wing, he carries as well if not better than Lineman and is quicker. Miler at 6 , lino at 7 if fit, if not then Walker. Batty, Hood, Tanginoa, Pitts, Ashurst, Whitbread would be my starting pack. Fafita Arona, Batch and Kay would be my bench. If Lino plays then I put Walker to starting 13, drop Arona and put Whitbread on the bench. The team just looks so much stronger with Tanginoa at prop and gives us a back row then can really defend.

Surprised by the fans who are not impressed by Gaskell ,not been impressive at all .,By the look of it not one of the close season signings by Chester have bought anything to the team that we did not have .Been more impressed by the signings .we have bought in since he left .Just hope the fans give W P chance to put is own stamp on things

He's certainly powerful but doesn't have the same speed from a standing start as say, Johnstone.
Should be really useful at bringing the ball away from our line and extremely dangerous from 10/15 metres from the opposition line.

Mind you, he does look to have had a good Christmas and a bit heavier than last time he played.

His dive in at the corner, that was pulled back for dubious forward pass, was a good a finish as any lightweight winger.

Agree that was a top finish and inch perfect despite it getting pulled back. We just need to use Lineham in the correct situations. Also, Davetanivalu looks a real find to me. A few reserves game under his belt and there’s some real competition there for Lineham.

I didn't think he carried the ball that strongly to say how much he looks like he weighs these days

Davetanivalu has impressed me so far alebit the little rugby he has had and would like to see him given a chance as it's the only way he will really learn. Although some may argue we don't have that luxury.

Jowitt
Johnstone
Tupou
Lyne
Kershaw
Miller
Lino
Fifita
Kay
Arona
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Pitt’s

Hood
Battye
Whitbread
Batchelor

If this is for the first game, then unfortunately, Bill T and Kersh can't be considered.

Is Lino going to be fit too ??

I don’t know what player you’ve watched tbh. True on Sunday he didn’t carry the ball especially hard but did you expect him to, it was just a friendly. If you look at his career his ability to run the ball out has been first class, so why make such a blanket assessment on one game?

As for army Dave if you think he’s in the same class as TL then sorry but you’re way off.

This is what I hate about friendlies, it allows people to pursue minor issues about players based on half cock performances in meaningless games.

RL at the top level is all about inches and split seconds, you simply do not get those moments of commitment in such games from a team just wanting just a run-out.

To be honest had that been a real game we’d have won, as almost every bombed move would have been far better executed and far less experimentation would have taken place. Ditto I suspect our discipline would have been better.

The plusses are that e looked reasonably fit against a committed opposition, some work to do as there always is but no serious injuries. We should be playing Hull with a good level of fitness and hopefully organisation.

Why do we even attempt to make any kind of judgements on any player or the team in general in these games, a counterproductive waste of time IMHO.

Jowitt
Lineham
Lynne
Hall
Johnstone
Miller
Walker
Fifita
Hood
Battye
Batchelor
Tanginoa
Crowther

Subs
Whitbread
Arona
Pitt’s
Kay

I think Whitbread is needed most at prop. Think the pack need a chance to put things right after that weak Featherstone performance.
Walker is the form half back so should start at 7 and at 6 foot and 16 stone will be like another forward on the field.
Crowther offers size and physicality at 13 and is very strong defensively.
Batchelor gets the nod for me he seems bigger and stronger this year and looks our form second row so should be rewarded with starting the game in my opinion.
Lineham for his experience and finishing ability ahead of Davetanivalu who needs more RL game time in the reserves to test his defensive abilities.
Hall looks a quality signing and looks ready for SL.

Crowther is not a loss forward , more of a squad player

In defence of the pack let's not forget that they played 20 minutes down to 12 men against a team wanting a scalp so I wouldn't base much on what we saw on Sunday. I also have to mention the slope, I know it's the same for both teams except it isn't. It's a positive advantage to Fev who know exactly how to take advantage. It's not the reason Fev won, I thought they were really up for it as I expected but it does affect the opposition, especially pampered SL teams who are now used to playing on bowling greens.

Finally, there are a lot of positives about POR these days and I can accept the slope as quirky but those floodlights are totally unacceptable, the corners were actually dark. Even with a full set of bulbs, they would be poor but with a fair few broken they were very poor.

I always enjoy games at POR but the very poor floodlighting and the lack of a visible clock were two negatives. What was the pre match applause for? Meatloaf?

Would like to think the money that wakefield council has allocated to all 3 clubs that the floodlight problems will be addressed in due course , but regarding the ground and the players I think they have it Bob on down the lane .

I'd have JP in and Batch on the bench.

The pre-match applause was for Pete Dutton (aka "Pitchside Pete"icon_wink.gif , who was the match commentator for RoversTV for the last couple of years and previously commentated on Radio Leeds, sadly Pete passed away earlier this month after a long illness.

So would i but didn't he retire from playing at Hull KR?

Having seen the two friendlies : think backs pick themselves due to injuries

Forward s

Arona
Hood
Fifita
Ashurst
Batch
Pitts

Subs
Kaye
Whitbread
Tanginoa
Battye

Think personally tanginoa, whitbread have to prop purely to try and put out our biggest front row

Perhaps crowther should start in second row purely for his defence

e

To ease your worries slightly we (Hull) could be without 5 or 6 forwards for round one with Evans, Taylor and Cator definitely out and big doubts over Satae, Bowden and Mau.

First time I’ve been to Fev in 30 years, and got to say I was disappointed with the ground after all the sniping from them over last few seasons. I was expecting a much nicer experience but they’ve literally just thrown the stands up and it felt a bit of a dump to me.

Other than getting the number 13 shirt I don’t think Pitts has featured there in any of the friendlies. He may have briefly switched into the role but it would be a strange move indeed to not play him at 13 in any pre season games then stick him at 13 round one when he’s played second row last 2 seasons for us almost exclusively.

Don’t think Crowther would have the mobility to be sliding in defence consistently and he’s used to playing as a middle.

Regarding the Tanginoa to prop. His best position in SR for me but for Hull I would be tempted to throw him in at prop in place of Arona who has probably been the least effective prop in pre season.

Agree with Batch though he’s earned at least a spot on the bench vs hull.

I do think the only thing we are lacking is another prop with some punch and size. Maybe there’s someone worth a punt in the loan market. Dan Norman from saints maybe? Think he’s in his last year of his saints contract so maybe be worth a look. Certainly has the size.

1-jowitt
2-Johnstone
3-hall
4-lyne
5-lyneham
6-Miller
7-Lino
8-battye
9-hood
10-whitbread
11-tanginoa
12-Pitt’s
13-gaskill

14-arona
15-Walker
16-fifita
17-Kay
My reckoning is keep our two old work horses wrapped up until the heat goes out of the game ,fifita always does best against a tiring defence and Arona isn’t a spring chicken .Walker n kay can play most of back line between them ,so I’d be happy to see this team against hull .

I like the team but I think you can really only have one of Walker and Gaskell if Gaskell is in the pack