Lyne is banned and Gaskell took a knock

Yes it sure is but when you type out the possible team it’s one that could potentially surprise us.

Jowitt
TJ
Hall
Batchelor (done well there before)
Murphy
Walker
Lino
Arona
Hood
Battye
Ashurst
Pitts
Crowther

Kaye
Whitbread
Aydin
Adebeyi

That looks pretty good considering tbh. Batch in centre may help against big Catalan centres.

Catalan will try to bully us first 15-20 but like Saints if we stand up to them and play some rugby we may have a shot.

I was 50/50 with Lineham and Murphy purely because I think on a dry Catalan pitch Murphy could be a good weapon along with TJ for speed.

Get young Shaw some game time that lad is going to be a top player never backed off at Fax and scored. Yes he is young but unleash him for a stint with the French(ish)

For me, I'd go with this.

Jowett
Johnstone
Hall
Batchelor
Lineham
Walker
Lino
Battye
Hood
Arona
Ashurst
Pitts
Crowther

Kay
Whitbread
Ayden
Adebiyi

Same as mine other than Murphy/Lineham. I was torn between the two but I went with Murphy as I think we could utilise the speed on the edges with the boots of Lino and Walker at 6/7.

I'm guessing you are seeing the players who've not been fully vaccinated, or, WP has chalked this one off.

With the exception of Gaskell who we know is injured and Lynne, that makes six and I think six was the figure mentioned?

It is but you've egged it a bit with Tupou and Croft who are long-term injured.

That team is still capable, especially with a reduced Catalan pack, we have enough players to give it a go.

Oddly I'm more confident of a result here than had we been full strength, I tend to think experienced players chalk these games off subconsciously but kids and fringe players have nothing to lose, they have a puncher's chance.

admire your optimism, but can't see anything other than an embarrassment think 22 start is actually very generous

we lack our first and second choice stand off 3 of our 4 recognised centres, our pack is at best workmanlike and without big dave can't really see where we are going to make a break

Hope am wrong but can't see anything other than gallant losers by some margin

Cant see sid or sam playing as there playing for reserves tomorrow night

I’d like to see….

Jowitt
Johnstone
Hall
Batchelor
Lineham
Lino
Walker
Whitbread
Hood
Arona
Ashurst
Pitts
Crowther

Subs
Aydin
Battye
Kay
Shaw

Catalan, apart from Dudson and Bousquet look close to full strength.
Might have to watch from behind the settee !

Get lumped on Catalans. I wouldn't travel and take the 47 - 0 loss. Miller should never captain the side again. Best of luck to lads who we know will give 100 %.

Who are you trying to wind up?

Everyone, that's what he does

Would be madness to risk Lino imho.

It's not a case of being optimistic, the team we are sending is not too bad, I think you're doing them a disservice. Your strongest team on paper is not always your best as we have proved many times over the last 20 years.

It's not that I expect a victory, it's that I don't think this lineup will fair any worse than our 'full' team tbh and actually has more chance of surprising us.

Why

We've taken worse teams to Caralan.
We should give it our best shot aniseed what happens.

It's more about the drama queen fans who will say the season is over because we lost.

We do our best and then move on.

Listened to Willie on RL with JD. Fifita leg knock, was limping on Sunday v Hull. Miller injured in training on Monday. Gaskell elbow knock. Tanginoa low on confidence will play on Friday night. Was asked the question 'any players missing due to being unvaccinated' Willie said no.

No not really, I just looked at the 8 man list of injuries and thought taking out Topou who hasn't played for God knows how long along with Croft, and Mimms who hasn't played yet we could hardly say we're missing them, on the other hand the other 5 in the list who aren't playing for whatever reason is a massive loss and was not meant as a detriment to the ability of those selected to take they're place.

WP may be being a little economical with the truth shall we say.

Nice to see W P standing up for the players ,not like the last Coach who throw them under the bus ever chance he got .W P as said he would not play players who were not 100% .,not like the last Coach who played players when injured so turning a 2 week injury into a 5 match plus injury . Hearing things like this from the coach can and will stop a lot of poor gossip of the club .We do seam a club were the only thing you read and here about the club is negative .But one day I hope we will be able to turn round and say up yours

Definitely a loss I was just wondering if it was a vaccine issue, would appear not.

I'd put Liam K in the 3/4's and have Bowes on the bench as interchange hooker, Batch back in the forwards, Ayden or Syd missing out.

Watching the game on Trinity TV and TC said he looked in a great deal of pain as he walked off, which is a pity as I thought he was playing well.