Just as a basic comparison, we've used 31 players this season (2012 we used 33!), St.Helens have only used 22 this season and reflects how few injuries they have had.

how many did we use in 2016 when we seemed to have a pretty settled team?

Radford and his young players are doing really well to have us sat in 5th place then I think you'll agree?

It's not just the number of players, it;s the length of absence, the numbers missing at the same time and the importance of thos individuals to the team.

talanoa, griffin, kelly, houghton, sneyd, westerman, all missing for months. No other team has lost it's starting halfs for so long this season

27, but it's not necessarily reflective, as I said it was a basic comparison compared to saints, you could bring players on for 10 minutes only which has happened a fair bit over the years. I think we had a fair few changes after the final in 2016 too, from a quick look 7 players did only 1330m/230ish caries between them; Pryce, Logan, Feka, Turgut, Abdull, Lancaster, Downs. I haven't looked up (again) how many appearances between them though I think I remarked upon it at season end or sometime after but it clearly wasn't many or much actual game time comparatively.

I think one of the biggest factors with performances this year is the constant change of lineup.
Due to injuries and suspensions we've barely, if at all, had the same 17 on the field in consecutive games. That lack of consistency has to have an impact on performances.

Absolutely agree, I think we have done fantastic to be 5th with the amount of injuries we have had this year.

Would be great to see our first choice 17 but that will have to wait until next year with Bowden out for the year.

It's pretty frustrating the injury issue isn't it, our relegation season in 16 we had blair and marsh as our half backs a lot of the time due to injuries - at least you have a decent back up system in place. The fortunate thing is, bar St's every team has had or is going through a similar experience. Really shows now how much of a squad game it is

Anyhow, do us a favour tonight. They play anything like last week you will put 30 on them - half backs are garbage and i don't think brough improves them that much

I’ll be amazed if there isn’t a reaction from them after last week.
We also need to up it from last week. Difficult with the ever changing line up and players being jabbed up.

The game is on sky sports mix also so if you haven’t got sky sports your in luck

Think them having Brough back might actually be an advantage for us with Jake. I'm pretty sure he will get under his skin during the game

Hakim Miloudi, Bureta Faraimo, Cameron Scott, Carlos Tuimavave, Jack Logan, Albert Kelly, Jake Connor, Mickey Paea, Danny Houghton, Scott Taylor, Dean Hadley, Mark Minichiello, Chris Green

Danny Washbrook, Masimbaashe Matongo, Brad Fash, Jack Downs.

My lord, how poor is that bench?

"That's as good as a 40/20 from Hull"

WTF is he talking about 40/20s for?? We kicked it on the 10 metre line....

how poor are we in the opposition 20.
Its an area we never improve on

Talk about milking a penalty by Brough.

Oh no..

First time in our 20 and they score.
Make a note Radford

Times like this that I remember the Hull supporters who said we'd be a better team with Kelly-Connor rather than having Sneyd at scrum half.

Passing speed is just so slow,and considering how slow we do actually pass it half of them aren't even that accurate. We also attack with a distinct lack of depth near the line.

clueless

Good try. Faraimo has been a great signing, fifteen tries in eighteen games and two of them he didn't make it to ten minutes.

jesus

I wish he was our coach

Danny Houghtons done bugger all so far, just gets it and passes it - needs to rediscover his scoot