With the short trip to Cougar Park on Sunday, what would be your preferred team? Chisholm and Keyes are still expected to be out I think as are the obvious ones such as Hitchcox and Peltier. I’d like to see a side similar to this:

Ryan
Grant
Oakes
Gibson
Foggin-Johnston
Pickersgill
Milnes
Magrin
Wildie
Kirk
Garside
Storton
Hallas

Flanagan
Wilson (if fit)
Hodgson
Wood/Foster

Maybe even Milton in at 13.

I would rest Wildie, pretty key for us at the moment

My selection would be

Stephenson
Grant
Oakes
Gibson
Rickett
Pickersgill
Milnes
Magrin
Hallas
Kirk
Storton
Garside
Milton

Doyle
Wilson
Bustin
Hodgson

Think it's a good time to rest a few (not because we're arrogant fax fans) It's a long season and we've had a run of tough games with Easter on the horizon, the last thing we need is more key injuries from a game we should win comfortably and haven't a chance of winning. I can't see Kear making wholesale changes but I'd love to see the fringe players get a run out. I'd go.

Stephenson
Grant
Gibson
Oakes
Rickets
Milnes
Pickersgill
Bustin
Hallas
Wilson
Hodgson
Garside
Milton

Margrin
O'sullivan
Wood
Culling

This is a challenge cup game not a reserve fixture!
Theres no way we will field a team as weak as some of those posted above.

Agreed. I think the side I suggested had a few more senior players in there. I’d certainly rest Webster, Crossley (because imo still a little light up front and he’s a big player for us). And I’d rest Evans. Not because he deserves it but because Grant deserves a shot as does Gibson. DFJ has only had 3 games but has performed really well. Can’t afford to drop Wildie as we don’t really have a player who can run the game atm with Keyes and Chisholm out.

You rest people carrying knocks that might get worse. You rest those that aren't young enough to play every game anymore (Webster). And you give a chance to those who are banging on the first team door but haven't quite had the chance because people in their position have been playing too well to drop. Other than that, leave the team more or less the same. Yes, you don't want to risk injuries but equally the more practice first teamers get together, the more the team benefits.

I'd be wary of sending out the reserves as it sends the wrong message. It also disrespects Keighley and the competition.

By all means rest Webster and anyone with a knock but that's it.

The thing is, a lot of those "reserves" played a big part for us last year and we may need to call upon them as the season wears on. Stephenson, Grant, Gibson, Ricketts, Milton, Garside, Margrin Wilson etc which one of them would struggle?

We'll all be here moaning if Ethan Ryan gets a season ending injury in a comfortable win. We have a big part of the season coming up. Its Easter and we have matches against sides in the lower half of the table, while those above us all seem to be playing each other. I want our squad to be as fresh as possible, and those on the fringes to be a little battle hardened as we'll probably have to use a few. Also if they get a chance, and take it, it puts pressure on those in the first team to do the business. Don't see the point in getting a big squad if you don't trust half of them to beat a team in L1.

Final point - I didn't think DFG was a good signing when he was announced. He is a player I think everyone of us would have had in the "reserves" category. He's proved me wrong (hence why I'm not a coach) . Would anyone drop him from the first team now. Sometimes players need an opportunity to prove themselves.

Anyway I expect few changes so it's irrelevant

will be spending the game hoping no one gets injured thoughicon_biggrin.gif

When has John Kear EVER made wholesale changes to his side as a result of facing lower league opposition? I can't think of a single instance.
I suspect he'll give some of the 'older' players a week off (Webster) and may give some fringe players a shot (Stephenson) but other than that I'm expecting our strongest 17.

I understand the comments about avoiding potential injury but I don't think anyone involved in the game thinks that way. You could just as easily pick up a serious injury in training (Luke Gale, Kevin Brown) so there's no point having that mindset.

All academic really because, as usual, it will all depend on who's already out injured. Apart from Grant its doubtful that any who have been missing recently will be back in contention. Its already been announced that Lilley is about to enter his 4th week on the injury list due to a dead leg.
Then its whoever got injured last Sunday. Cant see Green playing after the photos he posted of deep cuts in his leg. If anyone else picked up an injury, then I've not seen any mention of it. Maybe Bustin will be back. In two weeks hes gone from mom to not being in the 17. The reason may well have been fully explained somewhere, but if so. I've missed it.

I expect it'll be a mixture of some of those fringe players you've named along with the fit 1st teamers. We're not exactly well off for fit halfbacks so I expect Milnes and Wildie to figure.

As Nothus says I think he'll rest Webster or anyone else with a knock. Kirk and Farrell have played a lot of minutes and we're well stocked in the backrow so I'd maybe let him have a week off. Bustin was 18th man last week so I reckon he'll play. Wilson might play if he's fit, he's had a bit of bad luck with injury lately.

It'll be interesting to see where Ryan, Pickersgill and Alix Stephenson figure. I'd go with this:

Stephenson/Pickersgill
Evans
Gibson
Oakes
DFJ
Milnes
Wildie
Crossley
Hallas
Bustin
Minchella
Storton
Wood

Flanagan
Magrin
Wilson
Milton/Garside

I think it may have just been tactical. Looked like Kear wanted to a bit more mobile with Mini in at 13. Had a game plan and we stuck to it and worked a treat. It's Horses for courses and fully expect to see Bustin back this week and the week after on the narrow Dewsbury pitch.

Replace Kirk and Farrell with Bustin and Garside. You'd be hard pressed to say that would 'weaken' the team.

Isn't the Dewsbury game at Odsal?

My bad, it is indeed at Odsal

Must have been a beast of a shot for a four week dead leg.

I remember dead legging each other in school with a cheeky knee to the thigh. Never hurt for longer than half hour though

Think some of these lads are bigger than your schoolmates

19 man squad:
Bustin Crossley Doyle Flanagan Foggin-Johnston Garside Gibson Grant Green Hodgson Magrin Milnes Minchella Pickersgill Ryan Storton Wildie Wilson

Reckon we'll go:

Ryan
Grant
Gibson
Oakes
DFJ
Wildie
Crossley
Flanagan
Wilson
Storton
Garside
Minchella

Pickersgill
Margrin
Bustin
Hodgson

Reckon Kear will bring Pickersgill on for Flanagan and go in at 7 with Wildie at hooker

I know keighley are pretty poor, but surely we will start with 13 rather than 12?

19 man squad:
Bustin Crossley Doyle Flanagan Foggin-Johnston Garside Gibson Grant Green Hodgson Magrin Milnes Minchella Oakes Pickersgill Ryan Storton Wildie Wilson

You missed out Ross Oakes Bullmania

I'm not sure who misses out but what price a new halfback pairing of Milnes and Pickersgill?

I think the new names will get games like Doyle, Hodgson and Wilson.

I also think Magrin and Grant will get a game.

I can see him resting Minchella and Wildie.

Hopefully a bit more rotation in the squad for the Keighley game. No disrespect to them, but we should really be able to win this game with a 2nd string side and we need our big hitters to be rested up for the league games

I agree. No point including Doyle if you're not gonna play him. Would expect Flanagan to start and Doyle to have the interchange hooker spot. Maybe other way round.

If Ethan Ryan is considered a long term option at fullback, this is a good game to get him some practice there. That leaves one of Milnes, Pickersgill or Wildie to miss out. Considering how important Wildie has been at 9 and covering the halves, this seems a no brainer.

I think that's right about Ryan. He seemed to be talking about his 'new job' in the T&A this week so I think Kear will consider it a good time for him to get some more practice in.

I thought the rugby was been shown on tv