according to t&A rinaldi is due to start off bench and spell newton - not go into halves as most expected. So given one off sykes/menzies is going to be tied up at standoff, who do we play at ?

we tried platt there last week and quite frankly it was a disaster. I'd guess first option that springs to mind is matt cook. At the very leas the'd improve us defensively out wide. Given his performance against leeds I'd put menzies up against gidley as he did a very good job off keeping senior quiet. Other option I suppose is to play solomona at standoff with sykes and menzies as but if we did that I'd pair menzies with sheriffe as the thought of sykes and sheriffe together against saints would be like a revolving door.

Really hope t&a have it wrong and rinaldi starts at standoff as dont think its a good position for solo at all.

Agreed

Solomona is the best available option for stand off.

I'd have to agree.

As much as I agree with the sentiments around Solomona recently, the last thing we want to do is play Platt at Centre again.

If it's a straight choice between Menzies & Sykes in the Centres and Solo at 6, or Platt at Centre, I'd play Solo at 6.


Otherwise watch Gidley absolutely rip Platt to shreds.

While Platt was lost at centre last week Sykes wasn't much better in defence. In fact he's been a weakness in the defence since day one of this season, his decision making seems to be way off the mark. Nevertheless it's Platt who always gets the flak.

Fact is that without Crookes and Nero we're stuck. I'd certainly put Menzies in one centre position, preferably marking Gidley. As for the other. I'm not sure it makes much difference.

I agree Sykes' defence has been poor. The reasons I highlighted Platt more are 1) He'll be opposite Gidley if he plays left centre again, 2) Platt was being played out of position and I don't think we could really blame him for his positioning mistakes.

To me, it's a complete no-brainer. Menzies has to be put opposite Gidley. Any other option and Gidley & Gardner are going to get a hat trick each.

Platt has the potential and after his first seasonwe know he can play. I would stick with him at centre and Halley at Full Back.

As an alternative it would be Solo at SO, Menzies and Platt at Centres, Sykes at FB and Halley for Sheriffe on the wing. They can all play so it must be a confidence thing. In that case there is not much choice than to play through it.

I wonder what Macca's longer term thinking is re: Platt.

If the plan is to turn him in to a certre, then he needs to be playing there. It's no good dropping the lad after one game in an alien position. Let's face it, the rest of the team wasn't real up to much last Friday either

Potential as a FULL BACK not a centre if we take anything from the Warrington match it is most deffinately without doubt DO NOT PLAY PLATT IN THE CENTRES.

MEnzies has to be opposite Gidley, he had Senior in his back pocket for the majority of the Leeds game...let wait and see eh

Gidley is doubtful according to the Saints board.

I don't think he played as bad as people are making out. That said, I'm not saying he was outstanding either.

Let’s remember it was his first SL appearance at centre (I think). My opinion is that he has the attributes to make a go of it there but we can't expect the finished article overnight can we?

Also there seems to be an awful lot of talk each week about how to combat the opposition, rather than playing our players in THEIR best positions.

If your primary game plan is counter acting the opponents’ threat, then you're on a hiding to nothing already if you ask me.

IIRC Platt missed five tackles vs the Wire and Sykes missed four.

Problem is we're down to the bare bones. Platt's only going to play in the centres because we're desperate. In reality he's a fullback who's also played a bit on the wing at previous clubs but he says himself he's an out and out fullback.

I agree with Wigsy that last week was a bad game to judge Platt on given that everyone played poorly to put it mildly.

A more fundamental problem has been our defence in the centre position because we've been carved open here far too often this season even with first choice centres being available. It's easy to spot the gaps from the terracing but on the field players seem oblivious at times. It's a position where split second decisions are needed and I'm not sure any of the current bunch are good enough at it

I disagree Warrington Pinpoitned Platt from the first minute it was clear as day his positional sense just wasnt their, if we are allow him to develop at cecentre why not just put one of the youngsters in who is an actually centre at least that way they have some idea of how to play their, what is the benfit of puttign Platt in over an Academy player??

Hardly a great match to give a debut to a part time lad though is it? Any other game and maybe you're right.

It's a real shame Crookes is out as this period would've been his big chance.

As good as Gidley is, it's not so much his try scoring as the tries he creates for that lump of lard outside him. It's stopping him doing that which is the difficulty. If I was MIck or FA I would be putting my lolly on Gilmour for a couple tonight, as he is likely to be in the centres.

We can't afford for Platt to play at centre or full back the way he is performing this season, his tackling is awful. He'd be better placed on the wing IMO.

I don't think Halley would be a bad option at centre (at least he can tackle), and if Hyde is as good as he's cracked up to be he should slot in at fullback.

Langley might even operate reasonably at centre, but that might cause more problems in the pack!

Not big enough. See Ashley Gibson at Leeds.

Size is a mind game. He's more than big enough to play at centre, he proved so when he was about the only player on the park against Wire that could take Morley one-on-one.

Likelihood is Gidley not playing, which should save you about 12 points in all honesty.

Gilmour will almost certainly play left centre with Wheeler, Dean, Foster down the right is my guess.

Saints by 18 -20 rather than 30 if no Gidley.

Aye, they may as well rest him for the bigger games!

Saints resting players when they play the Bulls?

Just like the good old days...



Or then again... =whitemight be the only way we have a chance but better not pursue this line of thought and face charges of screaming breathtaking hypocrisy...

You think? Langers has been poor recently. When was the last time he broke a tackle?

Sol would only be able to play SO in spells, then Menzies or Sykes to fill in, then Cook to centre?

I think they should all have 5 minutes at SO then rotate round one place. That will keep Saints on their toes.