Ellis was interviewed in the pass holders bar before the Cas game and he said he was getting his protective boot off 1-2 weeks after and would be pushing to come back sooner than the docs/trainers predicted. PG quoted this week as saying another 3-4 weeks though.

Ellis will be used as a morale boost after a written off Easter, I fear.

If Easter is as bad as a lot of people are expecting I hope Gentle takes a leaf out of John Kears book.Forget the league and go all out to try and get to Wembley.Who knows we could still salvage something from this season

There's a way from not training to not playing though - same for us, of course, with Dobson and Burns. Sounds like you're just nursing him through. if he's not training, he's unlikely to have aggravated it.
Holdsworth is a bit more of a genuine dilemma - it doesn't sound like he's really been 'stood down', which to be fair would be a bit of an inflexible attitude, given the unusual circumstances.

I can't understand all the negativity and pessimism on this board.

We are not one game from relegation, we are looking at a winnable run of games which can take us into the top 4 or 5 and into a strong position.

What I can guarantee on Friday is that we will be out sung in the early stages by the Rovers fans and this will galvanize their team.

We have to do the same, though I doubt we will manage it as their is a distinct lack of passion and belief unless we get 20 - 30 points up in a game.

You are only as happy as you make your mind up to be...

Come on... BELIEVE...

i think we will see Shannon and holdsworth both play just got a gut feeling even if there 90% get um in there for Friday its a must to win IMO
wakey will be a very hard match getting better every year got a good team spirit there and a few faces who like to get one over on us. but all in all we should be taking 4 pts against these team with the players we have no matter what anything less would be disappointing

Absolutely right. We call ourselves supporters - so lets support. We need to make much more noise than our neighbours and remember the old saying that the longer a bad run has lasted, then the nearer to a good run you are. COYH!!!!!

When you look at Gentles home record since he became coach 32 pts out of a possible 38.Only dropping points to Wire,Saints and Wigan. I'd say i was more optimistic than pessimistic.
Lets be honest no-one would say rovers have the same quality as those three

If holdsworth is still getting side effects from the concussion he should be no where near the team.

Neither will play not in the 19

I'm sure in the past players not in the 19 have been included in the final 17 due to "injuries"

Tickle wasnt named in the 19 man squad against Warrington and I dont think Seymour was at Widnes either

Can't agree more Billy, most on here talk as if we have lost already. Thank God they're not playing for us!
It's true though, unless we're a good margin in front do our supporters start to come alive (oh for the Threpney stand again).
Come on you lot gt behind the lads they need us more than anything, don't allow the bandwaggoners from the dark side outshout us. Hull FC - the best supporters in RL - now prove it Beli3ve.

The players missing are a big blow, but to have any chance we have to play to the strengths of the squad we have available...therefore I for once hope we stick to '5 drives, 1 kick' Rugby, keep it tight and make it a battle of the forwards. If we defend well, on a cold & possibly wet pitch we should win.

Lots of energetic scooting would be good.

Take them on from the word go.Test Dobson to see if he has an injury plus close him down don't let him settle.Make Rovers make the mistakes.We can do it we have got players to carry out orders .Still say it's hard game to call .The team that want it most could take the game .

Amen!! The likes of O'Meley, Tickle, Galea, Watts, and Lynch can win this for us. Cut out the efficiency of Dobson and Burns by targeting them early on will even up the game. Holdsworth is a big miss, as is McDonnell, was looking forward to seeing him play, will be a great game.

Cas totally nullified rovers threat and would have won if webster hadn't got injured and rovers didn't get a few dodgy decisions from the ref. My concern is our lack of attacking capability

Looking the rovers 19, their isn't much to fear apart from Dobson.

Our pack is much better than theres.

They backs are very lightweight and poor in defence.

Hall and Eden are dangerous, but they are just as likely to give us a try, then score themselves.

I think we need to use our forwards and build up pressure, whenever we get a chance out a bomb up to Brown or Eden.

Make Dobson do as much tackling as possible and test his fitness out.

I am not saying we are going to win, as we aren't much good at the moment and have most of our creative players out, but we aren't exactly playing one of the top teams.

Bang on the money with that Dave . I would try and wind T.Burns up aswell , looks like he could pop at anytime

Wonder who we get doing the commentary for this game. We're normally the warm up for the Wigan v Saints game so we get Bill Arthur, wonder if it will be the other way round this year. Probably not, be too far for Stevo's Sam Tomkins induced ejaculate to travel!

It'll be the B team - Bill, Bazza and Tezza.

Eddie will be tucked up with his Lancashire chums drooling over Sam and chewing the fat with Shaun.

Not sure that's true tbh. At no stage in any game has Travis looked ready to 'pop.'

cannot believe i am looking forward to this Derby so much !!!!!
must be cause we have both been Crap !!!!

Come on u UUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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