Can't say I'm too confident about getting a win at Widnes. Any thoughts? Currently we have the joint 4th best defence in the division but the third worst attack. The defence will get tested at Widnes. Attacking wise although we showed a few signs at Batley it wasn't the right conditions.

I'd keep DFJ on the wing I think and drop Evans. On the artificial pitch I think it'll suit the quicker players. Keeping a settled halfback pairing will hopefully help the misfiring attack.

I'd go with Pickersgill, DFJ, Webster, Oakes, Ryan, Lilley, Wildie, Crossley, Hallas, Bustin, Farrell, Minchella, Wood - Subs Kirk, Green, Flanagan, Storton.

Evans as 18th man.

If the previous selection against Sheffield was anything to go by I'd imagine that Webster will be rested in this game. Don't think Kear is a big fan of the 4G pitches and highlighted this as a factor behind his decision.

That said why he would rest one of our key players who could potentially match Gelling one on one?

I don't think we will see many changes to the Batley 17.

Drop Evans???

Wow!

Have you been on the sauce all day?

This game is being streamed on the OurLeague app again, so the whole RL community can see us get our butts kicked on the fast 4G pitch



Widnes by 20+

I would think you want a right centre with a good defence like Evans, considering he'll be opposite Anthony Gelling.

I would go with the same team that beat Batley. Nice balanced line up and no one played badly. Agree about comments about Webster. Don't see the need to risk him. Our season won't be decided by Widnes away.

Can't see anything other than a defeat though. Just got to he confident and believe in ourselves. We have good players in Ryan, Evans, Wildie etc

I don't think we should be going into games thinking about damage limitation. Webster in the right centre is the best option for handling Gelling. Evans isn't a bad shout but on the 4G pitch I'd prefer someone with good defence who can also pass so that the winger isn't just there for ornamental purposes. Evans ignores his winger too much IMO and is far too quick to pin the ball under one arm.

I am going out on a limb though in predictions I say Widnes, I am have a feeling we may actually turn up this week?

Whenever we played Leigh we upped the level substantially. I think taking them very seriously and the occasion etc we may sneak a draw.

I think Widnes will win this one fairly comfortably as their defence is as good as ours and our attack is way below theirs.

This is going to be a tough one. As regards selection, I suppose firstly we have to wait to see who has picked up an injury this week. Only Lilley was mentioned on Sunday night, but that is fairly meaningless. They usually wait until Friday to reveal who is out of contention for Sunday.
Hard to argue with retaining last week's squad, unless Minchella is available.
Pelts, Keyes and Hitchcox all long term absentees and it's hard to think of anyone else to bring in apart from Chisholm, and who knows what is going on there?
Despite all the winter recruitment and talk of a big squad, there aren't that many options atm. I presume the prop forward who was on loan from Toronto has returned there? I am loath to criticise any player as they are all braver than me for crossing that white line, but he was certainly one of the more "disappointing " recruits of recent years.

Minchella will be back in. Think he'll rest Webster. Probably Gibson back in. If we're going to have any chance we need Lilley to be fit.

To be honest, much as feel we must be second favourites in this game, IF we turn up with the same physicality and spirit we've shown recently then anything, including us taking the spoils, is possible. There I've said it. Hostage to fortune now, I guess...

I have heard from a very good source Chisholm is been offered around to other clubs. From a club that has been offered him.

I have heard the same from a few sources, I imagine it's very similar to Lee Smith who was classed as injured last year when wasn't the case.

I wonder why.

It's not as if we have a glut of halfbacks already lining up to take his place. And he has just had a kid, so you wouldn't imagine him wanting to bite the hand? If these rumours are true, something must've happened.

I would presume he is our highest paid player and [uis[/u OOC at the end of the season too, but I hope we have a replacement lined up if he is off. Look what happened last time.....

There was chatter him at Batley that him and Kear weren't seeing eye to eye. But if you believed everything you heard on the terraces

If I hear JK and a player don't see eye to eye, I have to say I instinctively assume it's the player that's at fault.

Yeah. I can see that.

I've worked with bosses who I have clashed with in the past. I find the best way to get through it is to keep your head down and do as best as you can at your job, and give the boss no opportunity for making the situation worse. Not so easy on a rugby pitch though. Or with an enormous ego either I suppose.

It would be a shame to lose him but he hasn't been the same since the knee injury hopefully keys will be back soon I think he and Lilly will play well together

There does seem to have been a, 'talking up', of Mattie Wildie as a half from JK. Fair enough, his linking up with Jordan Lilley worked well last week and as a short term 'work around' it's fine but I'm not sure how long term it can be. I know we have Joe Keyes to come back(?) and also Rowan Milnes but, Keyesy's injury is a bit indeterminate and we need to pick and choose Rown's games and this leaves us a little too dependent on Jordan a Mattie which is not ideal, IMO.

If Keyes can't get to the bottom of this back problem he's going to have a difficult decision to make. I know it's a big operation but maybe he needs to have it removed.

Bookies giving us a 20 point start today, yikes.

That feels fair to me. I'd take Widnes on that personally.

Widnes in under the posts after 5 mins. Very soft defensively for that score.