TBH I reckon the team I named is more likely to line up later in the season if at all. You're right I do think it's worth sticking with the halfbacks as they are for a while to see if they can drum up some understanding. It's just that Halley offers zilch in attack and I think Kearney could do better.

As for the Manly boys gelling I was under the impression they'd played together before!

Its ok for the Manly boys but with Kearney at 6, he still needs to gel with Orford and L'Estrange, no point having only 2 out of 3 of the play makers on the same wave length.

Dave Halley is an odd one, in terms of effort and what he brings to the team, I don't think he should be dropped but will he ever turn into one of superleagues best No 1's...............juries out on that one!

1- Kearney
2- Halley
3- Platt (if fit)
4- Crookes
5- Reardon
6- Sykes
7- Orford (tho he was awful on Sunday)
8- Kopczac
9) Godwin
10- Lynch
11- Menzies
12- Langley
13- Donaldson
14- L'Estrange
15- Hall
16- Whitehead
17- Scruton (Impact in style of Burgess)

Oops forgot about him.

1. kearney
2. Sheriffe
3. Reardon
4. Nero
5. Halley
6. Sykes
7. Orford
8. Scruton
9. Godwin
10. Lynch
11. Langley
12. Menzies
13. Donaldson

14. L'Estrange
15. Hall
16. Kopczak
17. Whitehead

I'd try Beaver inside Sheriffe for a bit of stability, start with wagga and maybe Strangey could get a feel of the game first. I feel bad about moving Halley but imo he's a better winger than FB. I'd stick with Whitehead and I'd give Dnno and Crookes go too.

fb Reardon
w Sheriffe
c Beaver
c Crookes
w Halley
so Kearney
hb Ox
p Whitehead
h Wagga
p Lynch
sr Langers
sr Nero
lf Donaldson

subs L'estrange, Scrutes, Hall, Kopczak

1. Reardon
2 Halley
3 Sykes
4 menzies
5 Sheriffe
6. Kearney
7, Orford
8. Scrutton
9, Godwin
10. lynch
11 Hall
12 Whitehead
13 Langley

14 Lestrange
15 Nero
16 Donaldson
17 Kopczak
17

Play Langley as a Prop he plays like one, must be the least creative loose forward in S/L. Rarely passes a ball just drives it in (like a prop).

Sykes to S/O, Kearney to L/F, Orford S/H

Or Sykes S/O, Menzies L/F, Orford S/H, Kearney to F/B, Halley Wing.

Whitehead S/R, Drop Worrancy

Langley played SR on Sunday and did so last Friday.

Not big enough.



And, Steam pig, if Whitehead is big enough to play prop at SL level, then sureley the Burgii must be ready

Accepting that we don't see a HUGE shake up (which lets face it we won't) I would go with the below:

Halley
Reardon
Crookes
Menzies
Sherrife
Kearney
Orford
Lynch
Godwin
Hall
Whitehead
Langley
Donaldson

Subs
Scruton
Kopczak
L'Estrange
Sykes

I'd be reasonably happy turning up on Friday to see that.

For whatever reason be it fitness or something else, L'Estrange hasn't worked as starting hooker so far. Godwin played well as starting hooker in our unbeaten run at the end of last year and will be fired up to play his old club.

Castleford's squad isn't filled with massive forwards, I think Lynch and Hall would be able to cut it from the start and then bring on Scruton and Kopczak at the same time as our impact props.

Donaldson and Whitehead played great at the end of last year and have been two of our better players this year so both to start for me.

Something needs to change in the back line and I'd drop Nero altogether (although I know Macca will never do this). Let Crookes have a go (fans love to see young homegrown talent being given a shot) inside the more experienced Reardon and move Menzies to centre next to Sheriffe to sure up the defence on that side.

Sykes to the bench to provide utility value and spell Menzies if he needs a break or Crookes if it all goes pear shaped for him or [ieven[/i to move to partner Orford in the halves if we are getting hammered and a massive shake up is needed!

With this line up the halves still get more chance to 'gel' with each other and with the hookers.

Whatever team is put out though I would be happy with any result if they came out and played with the enthusiasm that Wigan did on Friday night against Hull KR and scored more than 9 points (which is the disappointing total we've averaged per game so far this year!). They need to start playing for each other.

i'd go along with that tbh. if platt is fit i'd throw him in and move menzies back to 2nd row with sykes dropping out. agree that godwin deserves a shot at starting hooking role.

In League weekly it says Sculthorpe is out for 2 more months. Great signing

he had back surgery last week. bulls slipped news out at backend of sts team news.

I'd go:

Reardon
Halley
Nero
Crookes
Sheriffe
Kearney
Orford
Scruton
Godwin
Lynch
Langley
Whitehead
Menzies

L'Estrange
Worrincy
Donaldson
Hall

Now, an explanation.
I'd freshen things up in the backline, just for experimental purposes if nothing else. Reardon has won GF's and played international football at FB, and Halley is a great winger, and a clinical executor given the half chance, something we look to be lacking out wide thus far. I'd drop Sykes, as he's quite possibly the worst defending centre in SL, give Crookes a game, he most definitely merits it. The halves stay, give them time they'll click.

As for the forwards, I fail to see what Kopzcak gives to the side, sadly. He just doesn't run his weight, and a spell on the sidelines might kick him into gear. Subsuquently, I'd spell Glenn Hall at prop, with the superb Scruton leading the line. Godwin at 9 just to test L'Estrange as an impact hooker. And Donaldson certainly did not deserve to get dropped on Sunday, so he'd walk back in for me.

No matter how he lines the Team up there is one thing for sure, we don't have a Loose Forward in the Team and haven't had since Forshaw left. Brad McKay was the man on that front. If Donaldson is a Loose then play him. If not then maybe we should go with 2 Hookers at the same time and use a bench spot for a fourth Prop and not Worrincy....

Neither of the Burgii have played first team rugby yet, at least Whitehead has, and as others have said we play Langers at loose when we all know he isn't a LF. I think Whitehead and Langers could switch positions quite easily during the game. Let's be honest it can't hurt our game plan and it might confuse the Cas defence

Unfortunately it would probably confuse our defence too.

If we had one that is...

19 man squad has been announced and it's the same as the last 2 weeks.

Hopefully Donaldson will come in, preferably for Worrincy.

Macca can't seriously be contemplating keeping Worrincy in the 17 again can he?

I didn't think we'd ever contemplate signing him. I was wrong.

I didn't think we'd contemplate putting him in the side without a massive injury crisis. I was wrong.

I didn't think he'd become a regular. I was wrong.

I'm starting to think he's got some kind of incriminating photos of Macca or Hood.

From what I've heard, Mr. Worrincy is a really nice lad. I'm sure it's true. However, no matter how nice a lad he is, he shouldn't be playing Super League for any side that wants to be in the playoffs.

Worrincey is the new Nathan MacAvoy.

McAvoy was good once (even only if it was the bit where he chipped Harris)