Liked the look of Rankin very much today, a promising start. Assuming Azza shares the hooking role with Houghton, what are people's thoughts so far on 2 from Miller, Rankin and Horne v Catalans?

Miller and Rankin is the future.....they have to have time to bed in...would play them together next 2games

Felt sorry for Rankin when he dropped the ball from kick off. But other then that it was his first game an he looks good.

Miller i feel has done well in the 2 friendlies so far an deserves his spot.

Catalans atm i'd play Rankin and Miller, Horne cover

Apart from that knock on, second half at start, rankin looked decent, while i thought miller wasn't in it TBH, thought his kicking game was sub par.

Miller kicking isn't great, he is a good runner and can play a good pass now and again. Sounds like Rankin can kick so I would leave to kicking to him and the hookers.

I'd start with Rankin and Miller against Rovers.

Rankin and Miller are the way forward, they've got to get as much game time together as possible before the start of the season.

Horne will get plenty of games, he can play in any position in the backs and cover the forwards if needed off the bench. As it stands this would be my 17 for the Catalan game.

Mcdonnell
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman
Talanoa
Rankin
Miller
Paea
Houghton
Green
Ellis
Whiting
Westerman

Heremia
Feka
Watts
Pitts

I don't rate miller at the moment. He may come good but is a long way off the quality we need. Haven't seen rankin so can't comment

If Horne is playing better than Miller at half back then he plays in front of Miller. Or vice-versa. It's not about 'who is the future' it's about who is in form. Seems like Rankin is the one who has taken his chance at this early stage but that's only after 40 mins of football.

Spot on.

I would hope that Rankin/Miller is the choice, but it has to be based on form, so if one or other isn't pulling up trees, then Horney, or A N Other slots in instead.

Its up to Radders to keep everyone happy and wanting to play.

its a concern,if miller does not step up to the plate this season,as he is the only natural no 7 we have.as much as horne and heremaia are decent players,neither are the organising scrum half we need.

I think Miller has ability, that is not in question. However I think he lacks the leadership needed for the role ( I accept he's onlly young and this comes with experiance). He needs to assert himself more during games, demand possesion and basically boss everyone around. I know it was only a friendly but I saw Harry Tyson-Wilson doing this last week against Doncaster while Miller didn't imo. It's a mindset as well with some players and Miller seems happy to cruise if allowed to do so.

Horne is currently still the best half back at the club and it will be him and Miller or Rankin.

I think you have to give miller/rankin a go against Rovers as they will have another week together in training...rankin has only been here a few weeks so you have to give them a chance together.
Then you have to look at form against Catalan

This thread really didn't have to go any further than this post.

We need consistency in the halves, a partnership that will be together for at least 22-23 games, hopefully 27. Horne can't do that anymore, but his professionalism will see him as the perfect cover for either.

Wow someone who can predict players fitness levels for the forthcoming season. Impressive.

Best half back in the league also in 2 years time!

So you don't think we've more chance of getting more games from Miller & Rankin than any partnership that includes Horne? I don't really get your problem, tbh.

Start with Miller and Rankin. If its not working after a few games try Horne.

Azza is better as interchange hooker IMO.

Even radford said pre season he wont get more than 15/16 games from horne, as he body struggles to recover from games due to his diabetes.

He sees him daily and after games, so he will know best.

I don't have a problem. Except with the idea that playing players with 'potential' is better than playing players who are in form. I very much doubt that Radford would let any of the halves continue playing if they're struggling for form if there is another player who can step in and then plays to a better standard. The idea is to win games with in-form players playing in the team. If the in-form players are also those that are young with potential then all well and good.

Trying to predict the fitness of players as you have done is just a bit daft in my opinion. Just ask those old timers Crooks and Lineham who were injured last season or Grandad Tuson who is crocked at the minute.

I suspect that if Horne is fit and playing better than Miller then Radford will play him in front of Miller. Same if he's playing better than Rankin. Or all the other combinations. Radford's boss wants him to win some games so he'd be daft not to. If the form combo for the season is Miller and Rankin then all the better.

Ridiculous to be chopping & changing halfbacks, pick two and stick with them. It's the only way we'll see any kind of success.

What a ridiculous post. I merely mentioned Horne's fitness, which even the coach has mentioned. What's Lineham, Crooks and Tuson got to do with having a consistent HB partnership? Which is what I was referring to.