I'd go: Hohaia, Makinson, Shenton, Wheeler, Foster, Gaskell, Lomax, LMS, Roby, Puletua, Flanagan, Soliola, Wilkin: Wellens, Clough, Laffranchi, Dixon

Royce will probably go: Wellens, Makinson, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Hohaia, Lomax, LMS, Roby, Puletua, Wilkin, Soliola, Flannery: Wheeler, Clough, Laffranchi, Flannery.

I hope not! I'm not sure we'd do very well against the Catalans pack only starting with 1 prop and having Chris Flannery play twice!

I think it's pretty clear that just like anderson he is rotating his props. He has 5 and is only going to play 4 in a match. Perry has not really provided immense go forward and Clough was full of running against Salford.

As for this having to raise our game for Cats. Well Cats may look strong on paper, but they where lucky to win at the weekend against Cas, so lets not talk them up too much. They improved at the back end of last year, but are no where near that form yet, same as ourselves really.

Given the line up, I'd go

6. Lance Hohaia,
21. Tommy Makinson,
3. Michael Shenton,
5. Francis Meli,
22. Jamie Foster
20. Lee Gaskell,
7. Jonny Lomax,

11. Tony Puletua,
9. James Roby,
10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook,
12. Jon Wilkin,
4. Sia Soliola,
15. Mark Flanagan,

16. Paul Clough,
17. Gary Wheeler,
19. Andrew Dixon,
14. Anthony Laffranchi,


1. Paul Wellens, 13. Chris Flannery,


It may seam unlikely but if Wellens was not at the pace of the game last week, he may need some more time to get his fitness up after injury. Did not see Flannery last week, but of the back row available he would seam most likely to be 18th or 19th man, unless Dixon had a mare against Hull KR that no one has mentioned.

Sia is becoming a first choice on the team sheet now, he's been outstanding and bettered all the props so far.

This is how I would line the team up to face Catalan Dragons

FB: Lance Hohaia
RW: Tommy Makinson
RC: Gary Wheeler
LC: Michael Shenton
LW: Jamie Foster

SO: Lee Gaskell
SH: Jonny Lomax

PF: Tony Puletua
HK: James Roby
PF: Anthony Laffranchi
SR: Jon Wilkin
SR: Andrew Dixon
LF: Mark Flanagan

INT: Sia Soliola
INT: Paul Clough
INT: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
INT: Paul Wellens

It's a fair call but given Meli's strike rate at the moment it would be hard to drop him currently. Even given his defensive frailty. On the highlights noticed that on that chip Roby was closest to covering rather than Wellens. Not sure of the build up and whether Wellens was covering a break on the near side, but he was not close enough chasing the kick, could be a tactic other teams may employ now.

I reckon Royce will go:
1. Paul Wellens
21. Tommy Makinson
3. Michael Shenton
5. Francis Meli
22. Jamie Foster
6. Lance Hohaia
7. Johnny Lomax

11. Tony Puletua
9. James Roby
14. Anthony Laffranchi
4. Sia Soliola
12. John Wilkin
15. Mark Flanagan

Subs:
10. Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook
16. Paul Clough
19. Andy Dixon
20. Lee Gaskell

Flannery and Wheeler to miss out..

no wheeler got be in the taem somehow hes a game breaker

I'd go with this:

Hohaia
Makinson
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Lomax
Laffranchi
Roby
Puletua
Soliola
Wilkin
Flanghan

SUBS:
Clough
Dixon
LMS
Meli

Wellens and Flannery to miss out. Won't happen, but it's what I'd go with.

I'd go with this:

Hohaia
Makinson
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Lomax
Laffranchi
Roby
Puletua
Soliola
Wilkin
Flanaghan

SUBS

I think it is very easy to drop Meli. I would be so very happy if Royce dropped Meli! Alas, he won't. He'll rotate everyone but Meli because he appears to be forgiven every single defensive howler/lazy moment no matter when or where it comes by all the Aussie coaches.

Wheeler in for Meli; Meli in for water boy.

Yeh but when he's hot he's hot. At the moment he is hot. 2nd in the try scoring chart at the moment.

We've only had three games! And he's managed to let in a try in every one of them. I'm much more worried about Leon Pryce et al outstepping him than I am about how many tries he scores. Wheeler in for him any day of the week, especially if he would be playing opposite Leon Pryce. To counter great feet and a rugby brain takes great feet and a rugby brain, not to mention effort. Meli does not qualify on any of those criteria.

I don't think its the right time to make him water boy. He should be allowed to play in every game this season with exception of the Grand Final..........................................then he can be water boy.

Although It wont happen i'd like to see:

1. Lomax
2. Makinson
3. Shenton
4. Meli
5. Foster
6. Wheeler
7. Hohaia
8. LMS
9. Roby
10. Clough
11. Soliola
12. Flanagan
13. Wilkin

Subs. TP, Laffranchi, Dixon, Flannery/Wellens

Whilst I sort of understand what you're trying to get at, it appears that you think Pryce will just be running down their right centre poistion all day. He will be playing stand off, therefore I expect him to be popping up all over the place. So each one of our 17 may have to come up against at some point, not just Meli/Wheeler.

im looking forward to seeing how Catalans play to be honest. Interesting to see how Bosc will link up in attack from the Wing

He was playing centre last week and that is what he has been recruited to do. Unless their halfbacks are one short or not functioning, Pryce will be playing at centre. Centres with a good step are dangerous beings, especially close to the line. I won't be remotely happy if Meli is chosen over Wheeler to defend against Pryce's step. I can just see it now ... *cringe*

Where on earth have you plucked this nonsense from? He played stand-off last week and Robinson said he would play the majority of his rugby there. Not sure where you are getting your facts from. Perhaps you are reading too much into the no.3 he has been given. Bosc played on the wing last week and Pryce and Dureau half-back.

Grand finals are his specialty

Flanagan at 13 and Flannery on the bench.....I'm so used to typing Flannery....think you'll find all props were present and correct though.

I appear to be unable to count, interesting....

I saw a interview with Robinson the other week and he said pryce was brought in to play loose but it looks like he will be stand off as he's been so impressive in training. He said that Bosc could play fullback as he's origanally a fullback with greenshields covering wing or vice versa.

Not sure where pryce played last week but from watching super league full time he seemed to be in the thick of the action and lookedike he was at stand off.

I'm sure he will be out to impress to tonight and if he's hot, we won't be able to handle him.

Could have the monkey off our backs tonight with the question of who'll be first team to best us at Langtree park.

I think you'll get your wish about Meli

I think saddened will also get his wish with lance being the most expensive sub.

With perry, Ade, Dixon and Meli all not making the 17 for the game tonight shows what a strong squad we've got yet we ain't playing well at all.

Last year we had injuries as excuse but not this year.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if we turned it on tonight. Saints have patches every season in which they look less than inspiring against teams they are expected to beat, and predictions of annihilation in the big games tend to flood onto the forums. In the twenty years I've been following Saints though, time and again it's when a big match comes along that things suddenly click. Leeds away last year was the perfect example. I class tonight as a big game, as I think Catalans are going to be in the mix at the top all season, and I think we'll see a different Saints this evening.