Will be an interesting line up this year and wonder who we will be playing given Wakefield relegation. I’ll be surprised if any of our overseas signing are playing, plus Martin and Newman will be missing due to international appearances.

Myler; Edgell Roberts Simpson Handley; Sinfield Johnson; Oledzki Ackers Holroyd; Bentley Gannon; Smith.

Olpherts, O’Connor, McDonnell, Goudemand, Sangare, Donaldson, Hudson, Warren, Ruan, Nicholson-Watton, Smith, Lumb

Cas would be the preferred option I imagine if Wakey are deemed not up to scratch. They'd welcome the ££ no doubt and the McGuire angle would be somewhat newsworthy.

I'm not sure why we wouldn't still play them. We play other lower league teams pre-season.

The Boxing Day game is much too early to worry about putting a decent team out. While getting fans in helps financially, you don't want to risk a key player getting hurt.

Salford probably on a 10 year deal as part of the croft /Ackers signings.

If I remember rightly, we used to play Castleford on Boxing Day until they were relegated which then it became Wakefield

Wasn't the wakey fixture somehow tied into the Gaz Ellis deal?

A smattering of first teamers and a few trialists / academy products will be fine.

No one goes Boxing Day for a serious game of rugby.

A new signing or two would be most welcome

Yes i think you are correct on that one.

Not to be pedantic, but Trinity rather than Wildcats.

Why are we bothering, Wakey will have a poor squad to pick from so we will select a fringe team just to make the game competitive. Let the players spend Christmas with their families.

Gary likes the income from the gate. And the opportunity to sell a shirt with Santa Clause on the front.

I used to go with my dad and my brother every year to get out of the house for a couple of hours whilst mum entertained the rest of the family, but apart from that it wasn't much of an event anyway. Maybe they should allow the players to have a beer on Christmas day and sack the game off instead.

Brings in too much money for them to scrap it, it’s well attended for a friendly.

It's an event which pretty much pays for the Croft transfer fee on its own. I guess they could give the players involved the day off but what would you replace the revenue with?

A game on pretty much any other day between now and February? Would the gate have a significant reduction in numbers if it was played on Saturday 30th December instead?

The date has been a subject of contention with some players for years, with some forced to sacrifice christmas with their families in order to play in a meaningless friendly. It was even mentioned in a sour tone during Blake Austin's infamous podcast interview.

Blake Austin seemed to have a lot to say! Just seen he’s reluctantly off back to Australia, surprised he didn’t end up at Leigh or Salford

That's surprising. I thought he was settled over here. Any idea where he is going?

Obviously it would yes.

The games been happening for ever , it used to be on the bbc as well.
I haven’t bothered for ages but it does get you out of the house and let you have a bit of a shout .

I would imagine Wakey will have a half decent team out on BD and I`m looking forward to seeing Walmsley play for them.
I think he would go well in SL considering his size and his pace and surprised he hasn`t been picked up before.
We will play a nominal 5 or 6 fringe players and there will be a10,000 plus crowd there freezing their cobblers off.
Don`t we split the gate money with Wakefield?

Got the flyer through the letter box from HQ today, it says we will be playing a full strength team

The boss has to get a few quid back i would have thought

I'm taking full strength to mean we'll be fielding 13 in the starting line up..

Take it with a pinch of salt.
They've named "Strong" teams previously and by the time it gets round to the actual game they've all been pulled / rested or injured.

Squad announced:

1. Lachlan Miller

2 David Fusitu'a

5 Ash Handley

7 Matt Frawley

9 Andy Ackers

14 Jarrod O'Connor

15 Sam Lisone

16 James McDonnell

17 Justin Sangare

18 Mickael Goudemand

19 Derrell Olpherts

20 Morgan Gannon

21 Jack Sinfield

24 Luis Roberts

26 Corey Johnson

29 Alfie Edgell

30 Tom Nicholson-Watton

Jack Smith

Ned McCormack

Fergus McCormack

Ben Littlewood