Part of me wants us to rest players due to the CC next Saturday then a part of me wants them to play to try and keep some sort of momentum going within the squad.

As long as we beat them, I'm not bothered.

We know by now that having a week off can be far from beneficial.

We have been showing distinct signs of improvement in the last couple of games so to keep a balance between keeping the momentum going and giving game time to players we will need to prove firtness I would start against Bradford with the same side as last week with the exception of perhaps giving JP and Ablett a rest. If Delaney, Kirke, Bailey and Achurch are all fit then they should all get game time with Ward and Minchella rested (and I mean rested not dropped) So if we started with Singo Aiton and Kylie with Delaney Walters and JJB and a bench of Sutcliffe, Kirke, Bailey and Achurch this should be strong enough for Bradford.

Assuming all are fit for the Cup semi I would play Sinfield at LF and keep Burrow and Mags in the halves (if all goes well against Bradford). My starting pack would be JP, Aiton and Delaney in the front row with JJB and Ablett in the 2nd row and Sinfield at LF. The bench would be Kylie, Walters, Sutcliffe and one other prop from Singo, Kirke, and Bailey based on who performed best against Bradford. Achurch would have to be outstanding to displace any of the other backrowers for the semi.

Blimey they only have to play one game a week. Full strength from now to the end of the season. Champion players should be able to cope with the pressure, so in my opinion it isn't the time for chopping & changing. Win the next 10 games and we'll have a clean sweep this season, arguably the only team capable of achieving it.

Why?

Ablett's been one of our better players over the past few weeks, and arguably our most deadly player from 10m out.

He has showed no signs of needing a a whole weekend off.

Whilst Roby is the ref. James Child is one of the TJ's

Watch your mouth Zak!

Let's hope Chlid remembers his effing flag.

Ablett looked well out of sorts last week at Salford, his performance level has dropped over recent weeks. Whether that is a form or a fatigue thing who knows?

He's been playing ok the last few weeks and has scored some unlikely tries but to my eyes his performances have been a bit down on where they were earlier in the season. He's had a lot of rugby this year and could be a bit sharper. If there's one player who looks like he'll benefit from a week off it's him.

Wasn't he MOM against Cas?

either way, i would play pretty much a full team.8 days rest until the semi is plenty of time to recover.

Let`s hope he doesn`t bring his pink flag

He has been out stand out forward this season but he and JP looked tired last week and we need him and JP fresh for the semi. So that is why!

Ablett got a two week breather after kicking at Monaghan's head and he also recently missed the Wakey game so he's missed a few of the most recent games.

Sometimes a quiet game can just be as straight forward as an off day, it doesn't always have to be an indicator of a player being tired and needing a rest.

Have to disagree here. Ablett has been excellent but JP has not just been our stand out forward, he has been Superleague's standout forward.

Just check his stats:
Top metre maker in the competition, 9th highest tackler, 2nd best marker tackler, 3rd best off-loader.

As for last week; only JJB and Josh Walters came anywhere near JP's 36 tackles, only Rob Burrow came anywhere near his 146 metres and only Kallum matched his 3 offloads.

I agree, however that he did look tired. FWIW I think he always looks tired.

Yes you are quite right. JP is so consistently good that I was taking him for granted. So apart from JP, Ablett has put in consistent quality performances (for JP read Romans as in "what have the Romans done for us)"

Although we need a strong team out against Bradford I would not want to go into the semi without JP or Ablett.

I'd rest one of Peacock and Leuluai, probably Peacock. Simply because there might not be another opportunity to. There's only the Bradford & London games left in the season that you would class as "easier" games. I think we've got to take the opportunity to rest Peacock or Leuluai in at least one of them.

Leuluai has only just come back from injury so doesn't need resting. If Bailey and Delaney are fit you could look at resting Peacock.

Peacock and Ablett both rested as well as Watkins and Hall. Moon injured. Squad in full;

Zak Hardaker
Ben Jones-Bishop
Danny McGuire
Rob Burrow
Kylie Leuluai
Paul Aiton
Jamie Jones-Buchanan
Stevie Ward
Brett Delaney
Ryan Bailey
Ian Kirke
Mitch Achurch
Tom Briscoe
Liam Sutcliffe
Brad Singleton
Elliot Minchella
Josh Walters
Robbie Ward
Ash Handley

Says Peacock (back) and Ablett (elbow) are the reasons they miss out.

I'd go

Hardaker
Briscoe (probably see him moved over to the left wing though)
Handley
Sutcliffe
BJB
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Aiton
Singleton
JJB
Walters
Delaney

R.Ward
Bailey
Kirke
Achurch

Handley and Sutcliffe in the centres then, presumably? Unless the ill-fated experiment with trying to turn Ward into one is to continue.

Could always put Kirke at centre.


Didn`t he start off there when in he was at York?
Then again maybe not.
Stick to Sutcliffe and Handley.

Surprised we're resting so many backs. If the 19 stays the same:

Hardaker/BJB

Briscoe
Sutcliffe
Hardaker/BJB
Handley

McGuire
Burrow

Leuluai
Aiton
Singleton
Delaney
Achurch
JJB

Kirke
Bailey
S.Ward
Walters

Thought Handley was a fullback/winger? If he's ok at centre then yes put him there with BJB on the wing so Zak can stay fullback.

1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
15. Delaney
28. Walters
20. Briscoe
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. Aiton
17. Kirke
11. Jones-Buchanan
19. Achurch
21. Sutcliffe

14. Ward S
16. Bailey
23. Singleton
26. Minchella

Anyone else have a sinking feeling that this could backfire on us?
It smacks of Tony Smith-like tinkering, it cost us then, it's cost the wolves too this season.
Watkins has looked below par though recently.
I'd put Zak in the centres with Handley at full back.