I'm going to stick my kneck out here and say I think he'll start contrary to the press releases from the club.

I don't know why I think that it's just a feeling I have.

rememember reardons a doubt too. If he doesnt play then I'd expect wardle to be used on wing. In which case when southernwood comes on we could drop sykes to FB and move halley to wing to allow us to bring wardle off and keep as many experienced players on pitch as possible. whichever way we do it I wouldnt pair southernwood with sykes. We need to keep kearney in the halves for creativity which sykes has shown no signs off.

be very surprised if southernwood starts. hopefully he'll get a decent stint both halves but going on macca's past history off debuting youngsters wouldnt be surprised if he only gets 10 mins towards back end of 2nd half.

Think its 4 clubs { rhinos) scholaship

my point is baggage

connor murphy just tweeted the following

'Cain starts cos Wardle misses out through injury. Menzies moves to centre, BK to full back, Halley to wing, Godwin to loose forward.'

Not bad, not bad at all I'd say!

Some nice touches, some good, accurate passes and he looks to have a fair amount of agility too.
I'd be tempted to keep him in the squad for next week after that showing.

Agreed. Got more confident as the game went on. Some nice touches. Looks a bit slight but as he grows that'll sort itself out.

Very sound debut I thought. He showed a few nice touches and didn't make any glaring errors. In fact I think all our young guys stood up well today.

Went well.

I'd let him play SH until the end of the season tbh.

Thought he did well.

Some nice, crisp, sharp touches and he didn't really look too much out off place, albeit that he was "protected" from the heavy traffic.

He's there. Let him play on I say.

I think the team protected him well. It sounds like it was a late injury to Wardle that gave him his chance and he took it well. He'll make errors in attack and defence but he may as well make them this season and he'll improve because of the experience. Doubt he'll make the cut next week with Langley and Platt back but you never know.

They did protect him well and if they continue that then there's no reason he shuoldn't keep playing.


Langley and Platt back should push Worrincy and Godwin to the bench so it's likely that Addy and Olbison will be back in the u20s rather than Southernwood.

If he can keep doing a decent job then there's no reason to move L'Estrange (definitely not if he's playing like that) or Kearney out of their best position.

I hate to say i told you so but I did.

He didn't look out of place and as the game went on grew in confidence. You could see he was really nervous at first but he did well on debut. Keep him at 7 I say.

See what I mean about playing players in their right positions instead of playing musical chairs all the time. Kearney at 1, Sykes at 6, a 7 at 7 and L'estrange at 9 and we did well on the creative front. Halley is a winger as well!

Inspired selection of Wagga (my favourite current Bulls player) at 13.

I agree. I really hope he keeps Southernwood at 7, as he wasn't bad and then we can use players in their best position. That way we'll have some competition on the wings too (if Reardon's fit)

Didn't think he was playing for large parts of the game.

I was very impressed with him, his passing is very good. It would be more productive in the coming years if you let go off Orford now and played Southernwood for the rest of the season.

We can play Southernwood for the rest of the season without releasing Orford.

It will do Southernwood good to get the odd game next season whilst still being helped along by Orford.

no reason to release orford as southernwood can play standoff too ( wakey fans keep telling us thats his best position). Wont do us any harm to have genuine competition for the 2 half spots from orford,sykes and southernwood.

Pretty impressed with his debut. Looked solid in defense which was a concern for many going into match due to his size. put some nice touches in attackwise and that side of his game will only improve as he gains 1st team gametime and learns the combos. Certainly rest of season looks a lot les gloomy than it did going into yesterdays match.

Tbf all the youngsters did well yesterday and none looked out of place. wonder what the odds are on a burgii debuting next week if scruton is out?

They're not close imo, Worrincy and Langley will be pushed up before them.


They've only been playing u20 for half a season, so it's alot to expect of them to move up another level right now. Next season we should see some of the Burgii.

From what I've seen Southernwood is better at 7 than 6.

has he actually played any 6 for us though? I was under impression he'd gone straight into u20's as halfback.

So do you think he will keep the SH spot now or dropped next week when we have a few back?
How did Wagga go at loose?
How did Olbi go on? I've liked the look of him when I've seen him.

Godwin did ok but I don't think we need to look for another bench hooker just yet!

Southernwood did well on his debut, looked a bit unsure where he should be at times but that will come with more game time. Hard to say what will happen next week, if we're looking to the future then he should get a few more games this year. Another run out against Cas wouldn't do him any harm IMO.

give him the spot for the rest of the year. we looked more organised, and moved the ball better becuse as pivot, his passing was much quicker and more accurate than anyone else other than Ox has been this year.
He will only benefit long term from the experience, and as he is a kid, we will allow him ups and downs.
with platt back, I would move Menzies into the back row. hopefully Langers is back too, and i am praying that Scruton hasnt done serious damage. If he has, then Bring on the Burgii!

agree with everyone southernwood should keep no 7 jersey till end of season as least if matt orford dont come back hes not just dropped in deep end.

I don't see any reason why southernwood shouldn't keep the 7 shirt until the end of the season. he looked comfortable in the role on saturday and his inclusion allows kearney and le'strange to play in their best positions which make us a better side.

also, assuming orford does come back next year, it'll mean we'll have a new half back partner for him