We're going to see a hooking partnership of Hallas/Flanagan aren't we icon_sad.gif

We won’t get Johnson if it cup ties him, just not sure if he can be cup tied in the CC by playing in the 1895

or maybe we lost on purpose .... 1895, 1066 cup is more of a priority.. i know no player wants to give the towel (yes we've had a bug) ...but are we just planning the long run (lets hope)

wakey at home for the 1895 looks tasty and a big gate

EO keeps alluding to, 'Where a new group' I have watched a few interviews and mentions it alot. Far from a new group the majority of that team have been together since at least last year. Only Dan Smith, John Davies, Mitch Souter, Will Oakes and Aidan McGowan new isn't there.

I don't think we have been as poor as yesterday since the away game at Keighley last year. That was a combination of us being very poor and Cougars being very good.

That was not the case against Widnes. Apart from being well marshalled around the field by Gilmore, I don't think Widnes particularly offered anything that we shouldn't have been able to overcome, We lost purely down to how bad we were.

Whilst the warning signs were there from the start in terms of lack of creativity, the key turning point for me was the loss of Doro. From that point, instead of being camped inside their 30m we ended up losing ground and momentum which ended with us playing in our own half for the rest of the game.

Clearly injuries and absences are causing us issues. Three months ago we would have expected Holmes, Blackmore, Gaskell, Scurr and England to be in the starting 17. McGowan has been more than a capable replacement at full back, but we have lacked the strength in depth to cover the other losses.

Lilley's deficiencies as a half back are exposed when he doesn't have a Gaskell alongside him to take that weight off his shoulders. Who ever chose him as MOTM wants their head examining. And As much as I appreciate Billy Jowett's enthusiasm, he is not a half back in any shape or form.

Flanagan and Hallas... why are they getting a game??? Neither offer anything other than being lazy, sluggish and penalty conceding machines. Last week I did think Hallas had turned a corner but he was back to his normal self on Sunday.

How bad is Dan Smith? I thought Ant Walker and Levy Nzoungou lacked mobility but this guy takes it to a whole new level. I thought they announced a Super League prop... more like Super League Pudding!!! Someone please put him on a diet and get him fit.

I really hope to see something different against Swinton. A real positive for me would be to give some of the younger lads a run to show what they can do. Give Barraclough a go at hooker instead of GFS, the kid is decent and needs a run. I'd say the same for Jamie Gill. That lad is an absolute unit and doesn't take a backward step. Also where the hell as Eliot Peposhi gone?

Put Myers back to centre, Oakes or Scurr on wing and Arundel to SR (which actually suited him better last season) with Davies as 13. I doubt this will happen though and we will see a virtually unchanged side apart from those newly injured or suspended.

My only hope right now is that we end up picking up some decent re-enforcements after the Easter period in a similar way we did last year. Tuafoa, Gaskell, Baitieri and Segeyaro all joined late and offered a great deal. I'm sure we could do the same again with some clever recruitment.

Agree above. Whilst I don't think we need to go OTT with yesterday's result, I think we need to freshen things up a bit.

Fully agree bringing Oakes on in wing so Myers can go back at centre and Arundel at back row.

I too would love to see Barraclough get a run out. We always have an academy player who breaks through. But I think EOC will put Hallas in there sadly.

I think Smith has been one of the people with illness in the camp. His endurance has been worse over the last 2- 3 games than his preseason efforts. Would he not work at LF? I thought he’s supposed to have a good off load game.

To be fair bits and bats he does do well is when they move the ball that first try (I think it was the first) the got the ball moving well and he was at the heart of the build up from memory

At one point after about 10mins following a deep downtown kick Thaler stopped the ptb to allow the Widnes players to get back on side before he allowed the ptb. I dont understand that one.

I don't see what Smith offers and TBF plenty of fans of other clubs said he was a bit of a plodder. He's a big unit but seems very slow in the way he ambles up to the defensive line. He looked alright against the kids in the Hull academy but at this level he's distinctly average.

Please can we stop mentioning the possibility of playing Hallas at dummy half? I'm not sure I could handle that.

I think we're in for a long afternoon versus Swinton unless we go into it with the mindset that we took to Sheffield late last year.

Saw that too and wondered why.. still wouldnt have altered anything, we were dire apart from maybe 3 players.. significantly so after Doro went off.

Fenton Rogers to London on loan. Shame not to us but I suppose he wants to play Superleague.

Saw that and think he will go well for them. Obviously now looking to get some game time at SL level which you would expect at his stage of development.

T&A are as usual promoting clickbait style headlines suggesting he has chosen a move to London rather than come on loan to us... whilst I know a lot of us fans would love to see him back, to my knowledge there hasn't even been an approach to see if he was available.

Good for London and better for the player to be playing versus SL opposition regularly. I'd be looking at attracting another like him as it seems he's outgrown playing in the championship.

If Gaskell is fit I assume it'll be Jowitt and Flanagan at 9. Just need to get a win and come through without any further injuries or suspensions.

According to M Gledhill, Gaskell is still unavailable (which is worrying, is something else going on behind the scenes)

Also - expected loan players to come in this week, possibly Johnson from Leeds and another, Maybe Oliver Holmes?

We need another halfback for sure. What happened to Moss?

Well if Gaskell is out, let's hope we do bring someone in. Otherwise it's a spine of
McGowan
Jowitt/Lilley
Flanagan/Hallas which is the most uninspiring spine I've seen for a long time.

Yes, this is what I have been thinking.

In his previous employment with us didn't Mr Gaskell go 'sick' for a while until he was transferred?

He was at the game on Sunday. Still with us, apparently. Injured, obviously.

New Hooker incoming. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... r-28722599

New Hooker incoming. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... r-28722599

Doro out for 8 weeks.

Doro big loss. Be better off playing Gill at 6 and Gaskell at 7 instead of Lilly and Jowitt. Least there would be a running threat. Somebody needs to make space and somebody needs to be capable of going through it. Myers and Brand centres. Lilly at 9 all game.