Seen as tho the Barrow board in this site is close to non-existant, i thought i would post on here just wondering how you guys are feeling about your match with us on thursday. For some odd reason, i am looking forward to this match as much as i was the final in blackpool. Maybe one reason is the fact we have home advantage and a fitter/stronger team. However with the buzz of the playoffs and the 'buisness end' of the season approaching, i really feel this game is of massive importance to both teams. Could be a crucial result. How you guys looking forward to this ? confident ?

A lot depends on the fitness of Iain Morrison and Richard Fletcher.. plus Toa went off injured against Fev so we could be without three key players.
We know how Barrow play and we need all our big forwards fit so I'm thinking that we might lose this one.

Who knows though...we are capable of beating anyone in this league (apart from Leigh seemingly).

Depends on what team we turn out. Cullen seems to be resting a couple of players each week so can't say how we'll do as I have no idea who will be playing. I would be very confident if we turn out a full team though.

Widnes by 40

cumbrian teams like to get 50

Deakin has Barrow playing the rugby we played when we came to yours and won convincingly. He has us doing the tough stuff up the middle but with the addition of using our wide players more consistently - something we failed to do in the NRC final. I wouldn't just be expecting a rough 'n' tough forward battle. Im sure Deakin and Clarky have watched the game numerous times together and will have a game plan much different to the one used in Blackpool. Should be a cracker of a game and will give us chance to see how the new lads fair against a quality side.

Nah... you'll try and knock our blocks off again but may have a modicum of success this time..

TBH not too sure what kind of side we'll put out. I think I am going, 7 seater mini bus haha. Happy days.

We should go into game as underdogs, taught them a lesson in Blackpool but in fairness we've had two slip ups on the road since then, although I suppose one pleasing aspect abou testerday would be that in the first half they only scored of our mistakes/indiscipline but it was there for the taking and once again we didn't look up to putting an away win, to bed.




Shame we decided not to use the quickest man in RL to our advantage though. Frigging hell



But we missed Morro once again, but can't keep using that as an excuse. Think we'll probably get beat by a margin of at least 10-20 points up there tbh.

Dont know if Richard Fletcher will be playing, spoke to him at Featherstone yesterday, he's seeing a specialist tomorrow re his shoulder injury

So its not just me who thinks we should utilise penny's speed more ie sneaky kicks early in the sets

I think everyone of the Widnes fans would agree with you... especially from scrums!!

Even if he didn't get to them it would cause concern for the opposition when they played against us and you could imagine teams sending players back to cover just in case we opted for the kick and chase.

I'm also a big advocate of having one of Flynn or Penny following a prop in on the first two tackles in case they get an offload. If there is a gap to exploit you want your fastest players in position rather than Smith or Duffy. Just an idea.

I think we'll get done by a hefty score.

Agreed, chariots always seemed to be in the right place at the right time

Indeed....[idrifts off to reminices[/i

Widnes to lose.

I'm not sure how this one will go. The NR Cup final was a funny event for Barrow - it was a real high point (first final for 26 years) but also the seasons low point playing-wise as we had to field a fair few injured and inexperienced players on the day. Because of that we didn't really do ourselves justice.

Home advantage with a full squad - I'd tip Barrow, but in this league who knows !!

Nah not buying that SRC, secretly you want to murder us good and proper so you can come on here afterwards tell us how Barra are fantastic.

Tough one to call. I just hope Cullen gives them a good roasting and Cassidy gives them a good beasting over the daft decisions, mistakes and indiscipline that cost us yesterday.

Really it depends on which Widnes team turns up and whether we field Fletcher and/or Morrison..

It's a game we should win if we turn up and play like we know we can but we've not travelled well all season and with a short turn around there's likely going to be some sore bodies going into the game and possibly another absentee in Toa....

I think Barrow will edge it , without most likely Fletcher and possibly Toa and Morrison we will missing our some of our key strenghts .

The Vicar

I think Toa weakens your team.

I hope he plays.

Of course I hope Barrow win and on paper we have a very good squad who are now playing well. If we hit the straps we would beat any team in this league. I'm sure Widnes, Fax, Haven and Fev fans would say the same thig though !

Should be a stonking atmosphere. Shame it's on Sky really, but the sport would be daft to turn down national media coverage - irrespective of when the match has to be played.

You seriously could not be more wrong.

Toa is solid as a rock in defence and still deceptively quick and good on his feet in attack. Has scored some very good tries this season and his composure in defence has seen many an attacking play snuffed out, particularly close to the line.

Do you not remember the try he scored in the final? That wasn't a one off for him.

Fair enough, you see a lot more of him than I do. However, I thought he had a quiet final and he had a nightmare at Craven Park in the NR Cup. He wasn't up to much in the league match at the Stobart either.

I'd much rather see Morrison missing. He'll probably prove me wrong on Thursday now I've said this !