I'd disagree. The players who are playing so well now 'deserve' to keep the shirts until they are not playing so well or they pick up an injury.



Why will we need more tryscorers next week than we have in the previous two?

It's too early in the season to start resting players. We certainly don't want to risk any players carrying injuries, but providing everyone is fit then I'd go with our strongest squad.

First of all because I don't think this will be as easy a game as warrants resting key players (despite Crusaders being considered one of the 'weaker' teams this year). More importantly, though, we have a new team, new combinations, and players who are still working their way up to full match fitness. And the only way they are going to do this is by playing. IMO, we'll be better prepared for the Castleford and Wigan games in rounds 5 and 6 if we go in to this game at full strength.

this will be a harder game then people think but players like washy, moa, burnett and turner need game time and chance to prove why they deserve a chance in the team. now for example if washy came in for fitzy for me that woundt change anything becasue fitzy will always in the best 17 available when it comes to the big games but this game is ideal for some players to get game time to prove that they good enough when players get injured. but we cant make to many changes and disrupt the continuity in the team players like long, horne, tansey and berro all need to play to get more game time for there parternships but for me the changes i would make would be moa for radders, calderwood for hall if fit but if he int 100% fit then leave hall on the wing. they would be the deffo changes to me for this game wether agar gives chances to washy, burnett, turner i dont know. do we go with continuity or do players like washy ect deserve a chance to prove there worth with this been a ideal oppitunity id make a couple of changes

I agree we should not take this game lightly but if someone is carrying a slight knock then there is no point risking him when we have quality waiting to play. Also Houghton has been the least effective player so far and Washy deserves a shot.

I gotta admit I haven't been whitings biggest fan, but including the preseason games he has shown if deserves to be in team. His determination is 2nd to none and looks like he just gonna get better.. we shouldn't take any team lightly especially away from home but these boys are all part of a unit so maybe we need to rest 1 or 2 to freshen up a bit.. better they have a few games together incase injuries strike when we got the so called bigger teams.

If Berro is ready to play 80 i agree. I'm really conscious though that at this early stage in the season we should probably try to rotate Berro to over do him. (unless you are thinking we can use Washy at 9 as an interchange which i agree and think he can in that case)

Houghton for me is a waste of a bench spot; berrigan can play 80; and we're better when he's on the field. it's a no brainer. I think Horne has been more ineffective than anyone in the starting XIII; needs to up his game.

TBF Horne played very well at Saints and then the Hudds game was one where our halves both didnt really get into the game with it been a forward battle. I'm unsure Berro should play 80 as per my previous post too, think it may be too soon especially coming back from an operation. We should learn to not depend on him been on the pitch for 80 to keep him a bit fresh.

While in no way underestimating Crusaders we need to take every opportunity to get as many points on the board as possible. Wigan and Wire are already leaping ahead on the points-difference tally and that's worth an extra position on the league table.

Hudds great defence meant we were never going to do that on Friday, but we need to ensure we put the best team out to achieve that aim against other less proven teams.

Berro can't play the 80 yet, still getting his fitness back and even then not many hookers can do the 80 mins week in/out.

Horne has done well so far.

I see our U20's have a friendly game this week so hopefully a few fringe players can get a bit of match fitness.

Only changes I would make is washbrook in and moa . I would rather we got a good lead if possible and rest players later on . Rather than make 4-5 changes and risk a banana skin . This game may be more difficult then people think ,If we start resting players may send a message to the other players that it may be comfortable .Obvioulsy if players have a knock then fine but wouldn't want to see changes for the sake of it .

Is the policy "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" always the best policy?

What about 'prevention is better then cure'

The thing is, that at some point in the season, it will get 'broke', and it is about how and what we fix it with, that will matter. Having players on the side line for to long, and not up to speed, will make the 'fixing' that much harder.

When and vs who?

Thursday night away at York.

Fitzgibbon is in his own league because of how many tackles he makes and how good his technique is; I still think Moa's defence is superb though. He does his fair share of work as well as hitting hard. I don't recall him missing that many tackles, certainly not towards the back end of last season.


This is where I think a lot of people underestimate Moa too. He does a lot of graft whilst he's on the pitch and can do decent periods (two 15-20 minute spells is fine by me, providing the team has the right balance). People seem to forget the work Moa gets through because he's an impact player who makes good yards. He regularly goes looking for work and is always willing to put his hand up to take a second drive in during a set-of-six, that's good enough graft for me.

Not disputing what you say bud...Moa really impressed me in the Testimonial..however I believe Agar has made the right call so far, and the 3 mentioned have delivered (workhorses) which is what has been needed for the oppostition we have faced so far..however I believe Moa & Turner need to be brought on for what they offer against Crusaders, if any thing to gain match fitness..My point is so far Agar has called it right for the opposition we have faced and like you I think Moa should feature in the next match and Turner for the record

Do you know where abouts? Is it at the stadium or a reserve ground? Might go after work.

Personally I think now is a good time to rotate the forwards. Give Radders a proper rest and bring in Moa, I would even go so far as giving Fitzy a rest and bringing Washbrook as a direct replacement.
Whilst every respect must be shown to crusaders they've beaten a v.poor Salford side and if we can't beat the Crusaders now when they still haven't had as much time together as our squad has then we aren't as good as we think we are.
And if Calders is fit swap him for Hall.

defo give sam some game time,does horny seem to have lost a yard of pace? or was it the leg injury that agar said he picked up?

The "fringe" players need gametime. What happens if we do pick up injuries and the replacements haven't played any rugby for over a month? The biggest myth in sport is the old "if it aint broke dont fix it". The reason you have a squad is to keep players fresh and rotate them. Yes its important to keep the spine of the team together and playing regularly but the players in the "high impact" areas of the team need a rest to keep them fresh. As it happens I still maintain that the balance of the team is better with Moa in and only 2 of the 3 grafters anyway.

Agreed.

Only change I'd make is Moa in for Radford, no point risking playing him if not 100% fit after the knock he took same goes for any other players with niggles.

moa for radders, washy for houghton, calderwood for hall if fit

i agree on that Robbo, i think Washy & Moa should come in this week (For Radders & Houghton, push Dowes onto start), not sure on Turner yet though as that would mean dropping Whiting or Yeamo or Hall