Got a few out - no leeming, cudjoe, ikahifo, mcgilvary, symonds so 5 out of starting 17, with that and home advantage would be hoping for a win

Wonder if Danny Brough will be to drunk to be allowed on the team bus, if not he can always borrow the Hudds mini bus and drive himself to the match.

It's still a friendly so the subs don't matter.
I wouldn't actually rotate 9 until it's needed. I'd like to see how long Wood goes.
I'd start Fifita and then bring PP off the bench rather than have them on together.
Centre and wing all need rotating as it's not clear what the best option is.

Dont agree give the squad a run out no beed to extend someone in a friendly. Give them all a run blow the cobwebs off

I agree.. Over fatigued = More prone to picking up an injury.

I think we should be using this game to get a good feel for the rotation on game day, obviously with Randell out for the first 9 or 10 games we should be looking at the hooker role closely. I know Wood can play the full 80 at a push but its a demanding position, especially when it comes to defending down the middle. There are very few hookers out there that can be effective for the full 80.

It will be interesting to see the prop rotation when it comes to SL games, whether they will keep a steady punch with rotating Fifita and Pauli or go all out and try to blast teams away in 20 minute periods like Cas did last season with JSL and Moors.

So if like to see what a good rotation is by playing Wood longer so we know when he runs out of steam.
I take your point though it's going to be a long season for him if he doesn't 1st rests.

Pleased to see Crowther starting at 13

26 22 win

Real pre season game, errors galore, penalties galore!
The thing that disappointed me was three sets of six in the second half with no ending, no kick and no real idea. All to be worked on, now is the time to make mistakes. Huddersfield were better than I thought they would be , interesting work out.

It's only a friendly as they say. Thoughts:

- Last tackle plays still same as last season - scrappy and unorganised at times.
- Couple of soft tries. Seen too many middles crash over from short range.
- We have flair in attack and quality out wide.
- Hampshire looks a threat ball in hand. Like the look of him.
-Arundel must start in centre - definition of consistently good.
- Grix for his weaknesses in defence, has the class in attack.
- We have more strength in depth this year - we made a lot of changes but didn't look significantly weaker.
- Chris Annakin is still a fearless bast.

On holiday and listened to the game on Rhubarb Radio.
Couldn’t quite follow whar was happening, commentary needs to be a lot better but at least they were there. Good hit out for us but a fair bit to work on, seemed to give away penalties too much. At least we proved the bookies wrong again.

Chris Annakin got high tackled then got his face shoved into the grass for a good 30 seconds or so , three officials saw nothing, it was lucky there wasn’t a mass brawl afterwards...

It's a friendly means nothing, nothing that happened today has any relevance to the up and coming season. Fitness looked ok no serious injuries as far a I'm aware - job done.

Just do not 'get' the Arundel love in .
For me the definition of consistently slow.

I've always liked Arundel. Didn't see today but the wingers work better when he has the ball. They are our biggest strike force so we need Arundel to pull the trigger at the right time.

Know exactly what people are saying , but all the great centres have pace as well as the ability to create openings.Having pace means the opposition know they must stifle you .
The great Big Neil had sufficient pace to use the winger as a foil and consistently score 30 plus tries a season as well as making tries for his winger.

And yet Neil's critics called him a carthorse.
Arundel is quite deceptive near the line and scores plenty of tries.

See his assist for Grix today. See his try against Rhinos last season. Good hands, strong and makes the right decisions when to pass. Solid in defence. Pace is the only thing you can say against him and unfortunately not every player is quick.

Did you watch Neil Pop Tart?
I never saw him caught from behind.
We are talking about one of the greats of all time.

That's been the problem at this club for as long as I can remember - living in the past.

I'm 55 I can't remember Fox playing! Even if I could he was in his pomp 50 years ago!! A totally different game.

If Fox played now would he be the superstar now that he was then? Probably not, still be a top player as ability will always shine through but he wouldn't have the space now that he has then. He was of his moment so comparing him to today's players is simply wrong imho.

As for Arundal he's no modern day Fox but he's very much a player suited to the current squad and game. He is fit for purpose and creates for TJ. He,s better than Lyne imo.

Also not all great centres were fast, Gene Miles for one. He was no quicker than Arundal and he is not the only one.

There is no love in he's just a well liked player and rightly so.

I saw him play but not in his pomp.

The word I used was from a story from Neil himself.
I agree he was fast and powerful and deceptive too.

But the point I was making is that even the very very best have their critics.

Vasty
Its opinion because neither of us can say how Neil would play now but

1) his goal and points scoring would be even higher as there are more points for tries and he's kicking a lighter ball on a Tee.
2) he's a clever guy shown by playing in 50s 60s and 70s while the game changed around him. Only a season short of playing in the 80s too.
I saw him score 2 tries for Bradford against the Aussies in 78 when they were modernising the game and we were left behind. He wasn't.
3) Size and power is very much part of our game.
4) when you say he'd have less room. He played in an era when the defences were much closer, in muddy weather, when they could legally knock your head off and only 4 tackles.

So I reckon he's be a great in this era too. Probably playing in Oz.

Why do you do this? That's my whole point it's opinion that can't be proved. Arundal does a good job even if he isn't a Neil Fox and I suspect Neil Fox would be the first to say that.

Do what exactly?
I'm just giving reasons for my opinion.
I thought it would help make my point clear.
I guess not???

I don't see the centre role changing all that much over the seasons . Any good centres must be prepared to take a good thumping just before releasing the ball. In my view the best centres have always come from R L because they can time a pass better than R U centres. Neil Fox was a master in his day, Arundals more than adequate and certainly makes chances for his wing. I don't think Lynes that far behind him.
I have only seen one R U centre who i think would have made the grade in R L

considering we had 8 players out i was quite pleased with the result, could have almost snatched it in the end too!

good prep for when we return with our first team