I am all for giving the young guys their chance in the 1st team, however I would much prefer to see them gradually brought through whilst the team is going fairly well. I sense that people are wanting to see Southernwood included because Sykes isn't really very good at stand off. But the coaches also have a duty to do what is right for the player.

If he is ready for 1st then let's get him in there, but he shouldn't be rushed in because the 1st team are struggling if he isn't ready for that level yet. Potter isn't afraid to blood some youngsters, so I expect to see Southernwood given a go as soon as Potter decides he is ready.

know what you're saying. But I think part of problem, and this isnt a dig at Sykes, is that we know what he's capable of at standoff from last year and he isnt going to improve. Playing Sykes at standoff is a sticking plaster at best and theres a sense of us treading water and not progressing. At least if one of U20's halves was playing there would be a sense that we were building for the future even if they were making mistakes (although knowing how impatient some of our fans are they proabably wouldnt give them the time or allow for mistakes before deciding they werent good enough).

If Southerwood is ready for SL then yes I would agree, we would be better off letting develop and making the mistakes now.

My point was that he shouldn't be picked to keep the fans happy because they don't like Sykes at 6. I hope he isn't far off though, otherwise it could be a tough couple of months.

I'm thinking that Southernwood at SH would provide a decent partnership with Herbert at SO. Briggs could come in when he's fit/in form etc.

think theres an element of wrapping our youngsters in cotton wool and letting them make there mistakes in u20's away from public eye. But thing is no matter how long you wait their still going to mistakes when they step up. Problem we have is our fans can be very quick to get on someones back so you can understand coaches being reluctant to go with a kid over a more established SL player. But some players need that step up to flourish. How many told us burgess wasnt ready for SL, Yet in games he's played so far he's looked pretty good in gametime he's had.

Think in current circumstances we our support would be a bit more forgiving of mistakes as long as they could see improvement rather than just papering over the cracks.

Maybe then moving herbert to Loose forward?

Possibly, we need another creative halfback as Herbert is the only player in the team capable of giving an assist apart from our usual two at dummy half. Nobody's really capable of breaking the line on their own so we need to make breaks by having more creativity with the ball in hand.

When you look at other teams they often seem to be able to get the backline moving with ease whereas we really struggle at basic passing moves, especially the "out the back" move that all the SL teams use. I'm sure this is down to us playing with one or two makeshift halfbacks.

Looking at the list of injuries, there is Addy to come back. Including him at loose with whichever halfbacks adds another creative player. Showed some good skills in the Quins game before getting injured.

You could also liken the Southernwood situation to Sam Tomkins at Wigan.

Everyone said he was too light weight and too young, but injuries forced their hand a little.
Look at him now.

I agree with other post re: needing a little more creativity.
Cain would hopefully provide that.

doesnt look like either off southernwood/briggs is gonna get a go if connors latest tweet is anything to go by. mentions possibility of burgess,olbison and donaldson returning and raynor being a doubt, so presumably ainscough getting nod.

Unless he's given a chance how are we are going to know he's good enough. His displays in the 20's have earned him his chance at super league.

I'd rather see Herbert at stand off, and either give Southernwood ago, if not play L'Estrange at 7. Southernwood and Bateman have been getting glowing reports from the 20's though, maybe it's time to give him another go.

I think we're gonna see Sykes in the halves again as Connor didn't mention Briggs/Southernwood in his tweet to me... Glad Olby and Donno are back in though! Whitehead rest?

I think Briggs at 13 could be a good move. In the championship his kicking game was second to none (don't know the stats but seemed to allways find a 40 20 when his team needed one) and IMO he was one of the best players in the league, so maybe by removing some of the pressure of being a HB and moving him to loose where you have that extra half a second before the opposition are on you would see some of his past form come back, whilst also adding another creative player to the team. I defiantly think a creative loose is something that would help our side.

Might aswell try it, sounds a good idea

That sounds like a cracking idea but i can see it happening unfortunately. I think Bateman and Raynor and Crossley will miss out this week and Ainy, Donaldson and Burgess will return.

maybe olbison getting a game ahead of whitehead too?

Yes, after his attitude in France, missing out could help buck his ideas up

I've watched most of the U20s games and Southernwood has been steady but hardly putting in the sort of performances which would force the coach to pick him. To be fair to him, I would only consider including him in the first team if we were going to have a strong pack, one that is likely to be going forward to give him some room to operate, and I'm not sure this will be the case against Wire, who have a pretty solid pack themselves.

I guess he'll get his chance when the coaching staff reckon it's right, but I wouldn't want to see him get 'monstered'. I really think you have to look towards a young player's future rather than the perceived short term needs of the team.

I said pretty much the same thing earlier in thread and got brushed aside. Still think its a valid reason for not playing Cain yet.

Yeah, I'm not saying that everyone else doesn't care about the kid's long term future, it's just that people aren't considering it, just looking no further than the next game.

We've all got our beliefs on who should play and who shouldn't, but our opinions are ten a penny I guess, it's a decision which is rightly in the hands of the professionals who work with the players on a daily basis. They are the ones in the best position to decide whether A,B or C is ready, physically, mentally and skill wise to make a move up the ladder.

I suppose it's a dead argument in any case because that is what will happen, whatever the opinions from outside.

This weather should see another 14/15k crowd in attendance.

Should happen but won't mate.

Couldn't agree more Bulliac. In Potter we have a coach who WILL give a young guy a chance if he thinks he is ready for it. The calls from fans for a rookie to be given a go generally tend to coincide with the 1st team struggling.

Well we didn't [iexactly[/i cover ourselves in glory, did we?

Wire are a very good side but we should have played better than that, so it was very disappointing. Certainly Wire were so much the better team it was almost untrue, and even if I cling to a few crumbs of comfort, like the injuries before and during the game and the fact they had some fortunate bounces after the charge downs, it doesn't really change the fact we got stuffed and they thoroughly deserved their win.

Onwards and upwards? Well, onwards anyway at least until we get some bodies back.
Come on you Bulls!