[quote="Hullrealist":16q1btko]Hardaker out for about 6 weeks. Ashworth is being sick and they think it’s to do with do with his HIA. From the main man JC[/quote:16q1btko] Hardaker is a big loss to be missing 6 weeks. hope for Ashworths sake its just a simple sickness bug and not anything related to his head.

14K sold for this game, amazing support once again from the black and white army.

[quote="Yippee try yay":198a470e]14K sold for this game, amazing support once again from the black and white army.[/quote:198a470e] Amazing. Can you imagine the crowds if we actually played well at home for a few games in a row!

Just hope we can at least compete, Wigan will be smarting after last week, and baring Havard and O Neil they are full strength.

Moy Barron Chamberlin Rapana Martin Cust Sezer Ese Ese Balmforth Aydin Lane Fash Asiata Sao Salabio Kirby Hutchinson

[quote="RockNRolla":t3m0cp48]Moy Barron Chamberlin Rapana Martin Cust Sezer Ese Ese Balmforth Aydin Lane Fash Asiata Sao Salabio Kirby Hutchinson[/quote:t3m0cp48] Hell, weak bench. This one could get ugly which is disappointing in front of a big crowd (again)

[quote="RockNRolla":1xspfxpn]Moy Barron Chamberlin Rapana Martin Cust Sezer Ese Ese Balmforth Aydin Lane Fash Asiata Sao Salabio Kirby Hutchinson[/quote:1xspfxpn] You wouldn't have Briscoe in ?

Moy Barron Rapana Briscoe Martin Cust Seizer Ese Balmforth Aydin Lane Chamberlain Asiata Subs Soa Sabalio Fash Kirby

All lower tier seating now sold out apart from W12 in the NW corner and N3.

Rapana Martin Chamberlain Briscoe Barron Cust Sezer Ese Ese Balmforth Aydin Lane Fash Asiata Ashworth Sao Salaibo Hutchinson

So disappointed to have so many absent for our first home game, a big crowd and the champions coming to town. It will take a monumental performance to wrestle the two points, hope with the resources we have available, some squad strengthening is imminent. After a great start, we seem to be instantly up against it.

[quote="Riderofthepalehorse":37jvtv95]So disappointed to have so many absent for our first home game, a big crowd and the champions coming to town. It will take a monumental performance to wrestle the two points, hope with the resources we have available, some squad strengthening is imminent. After a great start, we seem to be instantly up against it.[/quote:37jvtv95] really good post sums up what we are all thinking. COYH!!!

The win in France gives us an opportunity to enjoy the occasion tomorrow night. Let's get behind whoever takes to the field, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the big crowd, and give everyone a night to remember.

[quote="Faithful One":nr2bslr3]The win in France gives us an opportunity to enjoy the occasion tomorrow night. Let's get behind whoever takes to the field, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the big crowd, and give everyone a night to remember.[/quote:nr2bslr3] Yup, I was always going with the hope of a win but not expecting one, which was pretty much how I viewed last Friday. Whilst I don’t expect us to be challenging for silverware I have renewed optimism that we will at least show promising signs and not see the collapses we’ve seen all too often the past few years. I’ll gladly settle for another positive performance to back up last Fridays regardless of the result. Even with the players missing for tomorrow I’m still actually looking forward to taking my seat tomorrow night which is night & day from how I felt last season when it just filled me with dread. Onward and upwards

[quote="Faithful One":2ckruzks]The win in France gives us an opportunity to enjoy the occasion tomorrow night. Let's get behind whoever takes to the field, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the big crowd, and give everyone a night to remember.[/quote:2ckruzks] Absolutely this, it’s a free hit nobody expects us to win. No expectations except to see a few old faces, sing a few songs and have a good laugh. I think whatever happens we’ll just eventually be out muscled, but the hope to cling to is that there’s still some fire power still in the side. I’d go with Moy starting and Rapana in the centres. If we get a bit of luck and get the first try it will be bouncing.

If we turn up with the same attitude to show the effort we gave last week, then we'll stand a good chance. You can't beat Wigan if your effort levels are below par. Some bad losses for us on the injury front this week (More than we'd like, but pretty normal for us) But it gives some others a chance and gives us a look at the strength of our squad. Results aren't that massive at this stage, it's about getting up to speed and getting some continuity and confidence going. But getting that early win takes a bit of pressure off us results wise at this stage

[quote="Cuddleclub":q2248f8n]That’s alright then as long as other teams have got injuries we don’t need to access why they keep happening [/quote:q2248f8n] We have concussions because of head high tackles and other injuries because it’s a tough fast athletic contact sport. Last season perhaps we were hard hit because of poor conditioning. Possibly the older players are more injury prone and recover slower. The question is a bit like why do boxers get black eyes?

On team selection, I'm torn if which way I'd go. Either keep it as same as possible to last week, just plug the gaps with players for those positions we have lost OR have a bit of a reshuffle which could disrupt the side more... I think I'd rather go with the first option. Put chamberlain in place of hardaker, bring Moy on the beach incase plan A doesn't work and then maybe reshuffle later.

I'd have definitely taken 1/2 from the first two games, so bit of a free hit, hopefully given them a real tough game and if we play really well and they are a bit off, we have a chance. Games so far have either been a bit of a shock or alot closer than people predicted (except salford last week)

This game is more about the performance than the result. With the same side as last week I think we go in with a chance of an upset, now not so much but we absolutely can't roll over and get a drubbing in front of a big crowd. At worst, we need people to go home disappointed but entertained, not disillusioned again. I wonder if baldy is sneaking in on a kids for a quid ticket to break his recent FC duck?

I would've been quietly confident with the same side as last week but Hardaker, Bourouh and Cartwright are significant losses. We still have experience in Rapana, Sezer and Asiata but it's hard to see a win. Hopefully a spirited performance, improved discipline and no injuries and we move on to a winnable game next weekend.

The issue with big attendances like we are going to get tonight, and the injuries we have, is that a lot of the bandwagon jumpers are fickle, and if we do lose by 12-16 points which I am expecting, will they see it as a defeat as always, or see the differences the club are trying to make

hard to see a loss as anything but a defeat TBH

[quote="Irregs#16":1ajudbwe]The issue with big attendances like we are going to get tonight, and the injuries we have, is that a lot of the bandwagon jumpers are fickle, and if we do lose by 12-16 points which I am expecting, will they see it as a defeat as always, or see the differences the club are trying to make[/quote:1ajudbwe] True. We had the same situation in 2022 for the first home against St Helens.(the Luke Gale tripping one) There was a ticket offer and we got a decent crowd. I was sat next to a fella who said he hadn't attended a game for a few years and was only there because of the offer. Of course it was another dreadful performance and he left early saying he won't be back in a hurry. A win is not out of the question but very unlikely. I just hope the new/returning fans realise this. What we need is not necessarily a win but to create an atmosphere and a performance which will lure them back.

Hopefully a few high bombs in the swirling wind, may give us a chance as the ball could go anywhere