Is anybody else concerned that now having got the pitch looking an absolute picture the club is allowing Yorkshire Carnegie to play Romania at 5.30 as a precursor to our game?
The weather forecast for Friday is horrendous, heavy thundery rain from early morning continuing for most of the day.
I can only imagine the state of the pitch after that & then 80 minutes of scrums, line-outs & rolling mauls finishing about an hour before our game with Wigan.
Bl**dy marvellous.
Just when we need the pitch to be at it's absolute best to negate Wigan's spoiling tactics.

Athey normally do a good job on the pitch, nothing can be done about the weather sadly

No R.Ward or Lilly in the 19.

I really though ward would play this one.

:2qjvfacj

Not really sure it's the game to throw him back into the squad again. Wigan are a big side and very physical [read.

What a typical moan from an old fella that was Old Feller. So cliche

Delaney is in 19 so hopefully fit enough to play I'd say Walters and Keinhorst are the ones to drop out if everyone is fit but I think Keinhorst deserves a spot in the 17 tbh

Delaney is in 19 so hopefully fit enough to play I'd say Walters and Keinhorst are the ones to drop out if everyone is fit but I think Keinhorst deserves a spot in the 17 tbh

Burgess still out for Wigan so should be same as last week with possibility of Flower back.

Pretty sure Delaney will miss this with a Hamstring strain....wouldn't want to throw him back in and tear it....Delaney and Walters to drop

LOL or is it now haha.
Let's see who has the last laugh when we have to play on a quagmire churned up by a pointless game of RU.

I guess big doubts with Delaney who perhaps is named in the squad to give him a few days more to get fit because he is such an important member of the pack especially as we have lost JJB. If he makes it then Walters and Achurch to drop out. We need Keinhorst as backs cover and he could also do a job at 9.

hopefully we play well enough to mean Silverwoods not a factor but he could be the difference as usual

not sure keinhorst could play 9. sure sinfield could though with keinhorst left centre and moon moving to 6. I thought Robbie ward may have got a run out. if Delaney is fit i'd play him then rest him next week

why are people obsessed with silverwood? he missed a slight knock on last game. big deal. we've won lots of big games with him reffing before. if we play well it won't matter who is reffing

Too much upheaval to re jig our smooth running backs. Too big a game to risk RWard. Keinhorst has a good rugby brain and good hands so if Burrow were injured he could cover at 9. Sinfield usually swops with Burrow at different times in a game to add variety to the attack.

I like the idea, but I just don't think Keinhorst is hard enough to play at hooker. McIlorum would rip us open like a tin of sardines.

I imagine they've not included Robbie Ward as they see it as too much of a risk vs this opposition.....which would kind of rule out making a risky move like Keinhorst at 9 very unlikely IMO.

It'll be Burrow at 9 for 80 minutes. If Burrow needs to go off for injury then Sinfield to hooker with Moon to 6 with Ablett (or Keinhorst if on the bench) to left centre.

yes the ideas sound enough but I just can't see him at 9. think burrow will play most, if not all game, and sinfield may step in and share it with him

I reckon that we'll line up as this:
1. Zak Hardaker
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Joel Moon
5. Ryan Hall
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)
6. Danny McGuire
8. Kylie Leuluai
7. Rob Burrow
10. Jamie Peacock
12. Carl Ablett
14. Stevie Ward
17. Adam Cuthbertson

20. Jimmy Keinhorst
16. Mitch Achurch
19. Brad Singleton
30. Mitch Garbutt

I'm sure that'll be the17 but perhaps with Garbutt starting and Kylie off the bench. I hope there is a plan to alternate Burrow away from being an 80 minute hooker with at least Sinfield figuring regularly at dummy half.

Let's not forget McDermott surprised us all once by starting Clarkson at dummy half, which I seem to remember went quite well??!!! Maybe Keinhorst at dummy half might not be quite such a surprise ....

That was when he lost both Aiton and Burrow though. We've still got the latter to pick ATM. Not a fan of it like yourself but can't see anything other than Burrow for 80 providing no injuries during the match. Just hope Robbie Ward gets into the 17 next week vs Hull (he made the bench against them in the cup game at there place) and his lack of selection his week is just McDermott thinking this game isn't the right one to bring him into the side.

Also the comparison of Clarkson/Keinhorst. Keinhorst has done well in his spell in the side but is still limited in his games for the club, Clarkson had been a solid hand, particularly defensively, for a number of years by that point.

Burgess being out is a big blow for Wigan. He is IMO the form winger in SL and usually causes us lots of problems and scores key tries.

Wigan will no doubt have a plan to get in our faces and target Cuthbo plus the usual blight that is the overlong wrestle with unnecessary bodies in the tackle.. I hope the ref observes the offside rules. Maybe for this game we should try to move it wide earlier.

the forecast for friday is appalling and I hope that the RU boys dont churn the pitch up. The weather could mitigate against our open off loading style of rugby and turn this into a low scoring forward battle which might suit wigan and their spoiling slow the PTB tactics

Well if Wigan's left side is going to be Gelling and Manfredi again then I suggest going down the Watkins & Briscoe side as defensively those two for Wigan last week vs Hudds looked dodgy and unfamiliar together.

Thinking more that BM is trying his hand at rotating Burrow and Sinny OR another at 9 and keep the bench more for utility with Keinhorst than bring in R Ward. I don't think that is such a bad idea as Burrow could play 30 minutes a half and when he is off we tighten up the game a little in the forwards.....yes not ideal but I think still a solid option with a stronger bench and cover