To be fair, most of the posts here suggest only modest change

Most of that is prompted by the decision to play Sykes at 6 on Sunday, which obviously backfired. So there probably needs to be a bit of shuffle there, whether or not Herbert is fit

I suggested Ainscough for Rayner - straight swap. But I'd be quite happy for Raynor to be picked too

i didn't think Raynor did much wrong against Wigan. He looked quite dangerous when running at their defence. It was obvious he wasn't going to see much ball in attack in their 20, I would have liked to see him take more scoots to help the forwards.

Yes. Especially at half back, thats assuming Herbert is fit.

If you take one of his drives against Wigan, he very nearly bust the tackle. Against lesser opposition I think he would have been through with defences struggling to cover him

The wing is a difficult one to call. I too haven't been entirely impressed with Ah Van but he did run the ball back well from kicks and is our kicker. Not sure on this one

'"

My team

1. Royston
2. Ah Van
3. Platt
4. Walker
5. Raynor
6. Kearney
7. Herbert
8. Hargreaves
9. L'Estrange
10. Lynch
11. Elima
12. Whitehead
13. Addy

Subs

Scruton, Diskin, Kopczak, Ainscough, (Sykes - if Herbert doesn't make it, Le Strange to 7 and Diskin to 9)

tbh Ah Van place in team is relstively safe until herbert or briggs are back and 100% fit to take over kicking duties. Whilst he has looked a little dodgy under high balls dont think he's been terrible in defense. Occasions he has been sucked in its generally been a case he's had to come in because entire defense has come in.

Dont think theres much to choose between raynor and ainscough at this point. Can see a case for giving ainscough a go, given raynor hasnt really done much in the games hes had. Ainscough has a bit more pace over raynor but that might be more beneficial later in year on harder pitches. Not really too bothered which of those two plays at this stage.

only changes I'd make would be herbert into halves and addy into loose forward which are basically straight swaps for briggs and langley. probably include sykes on bench at sibbits expense to give us some cover for herbert if he isnt 100% yet.

Pretty much agree with all of that

According to Mick Potter in the T&A today, Herbert is still 'a week away' . I guess it will be as we were against Wigan

What did I say earlier in the week about them feeding us bull about injuries.......wouldn't be surprised if its a couple of weeks till we see Herbert to be fair.

Seems they aggravated the injury trying to get him reasdy for Leeds. Best be patient

Is that a Bull's week or a real week though?

I will gladly be patient if they just told us the truth instead of saying well he almost made the leeds game but is a week away......then we expect to see him against Wigan and once again he is still a week away and then this week he is still a week away! Same for Briggs he was 50/50 midweek last week for Wigan game then suddenly day after is 4 - 6 weeks out! I don't mind being patient its the false information they have given that annoys me.

Is it just me, or does Patrick look a bit of a dodgy kicker? He doesn't really seem to get any power in, and the ball takes an unusually flat trajectory. Some of the easier ones that have gone over haven't gone convincingly over the dot. His kicking isn't so far what I'd expected.

Not fussed HOW he kicks them tbh, provided they go over. They can do a double-piked inverted back flip barrel roll in mid-flight for all I care, provided they go over and between the uprights. If and when they stop so doing, then it'll be time to give one of the others a shot.

TBH I would rather they just made it over than some of Sykes ballooned efforts last year that nearly ended up on Rooley Lane

1 Royston
2. Ainscough
3. Platt
4. Ah Van
5. Raynor
6. Kearney
7. Southernwood
8. Lynch
9. L'Estrange
10. Hargreaves
11. Elima
12. Walker
13. Whitehead

Subs


14. Diskin
15. Scruton
16. Addy
17. Kopczak

Water Carrier

18. Sibbit

Corner flag

19. Sykes

I'm glad you didn't put Sykes as the water carrier. I highly suspect if he was, he'd try and throw the bottle to someone, only for it to miss and hit the linesman.

Hopefully my water carrier will do the same and hit my corner flag.

First we have to get the other kickers fit and on the pitch

Until then Ah Van is going to be guaranteed a starting spot and to be the kicker

definitely has a very laidback/lazy style to his kicking. But as adey says as long as he's getting them it doesnt really care. And until herbert/briggs is back do we have a more reliable option who also contributes to the team apart from just kicking?.

From the Bulls Site

The squad in full is: Addy, Ainscough, Ah Van, Diskin, Elima, Hargreaves, Kearney, Kopczak, L'Estrange, Lynch, Olbison, Platt, Raynor, Royston, Scruton, Sibbit, Sykes, Walker, Whitehead.

Is it the fact that the "Wilkinson" technique is seen as the Gold Standard?

He doesn't put his foot through the ball and put it out of the ground or to the back of the stand but he only has to get it between the sticks and over the post in the middle.

He was "tutored" by Daryl Halligan who wasn't too shabby so hopefully he's been taught some good things. Alot of what they do in terms of kicking is just to get into a routine and try to eliminate pressure by being comfortable.

If you look at football and penalty kicks Matt Le Tissier only ever missed one and generally just passed the ball into the corner. Stuart Pearce missed more than a few (one very important one in 1990 springs to mind) and he used to try break the net, yet both were excellent at that responsibility.

I think we've all been clouded by Union and how they kick the ball as to what should be expected.

Could be the same 17 then.........even though Connor has alluded to a couple of positional changes.

That's his style and technique. Not every player kicks the same way. Every kick could shave the crossbar for me as long as it went over.

I'm 100% happier with kicking this year than last thats for sure. Briggs is obviouslyy a good kicker looking at last years stats and I have only seen Herbert kick a couple of times in pre season so couldnt really comment.