By using facts?

I am suggesting anyone who says he isnt good enough hasnt watched a game all season, and is basing their opinion on his club because they are absolutely not basing it on a knowledge of RL.

Maybe he wont cut the mustard on saturday, but to say he has been easily handeled by good defences is one of the most misinformed statements of all time, and on this forum, thats saying something.

crabtree


CRABTREE?

I haven't seen much of him but if he plays for shudds he can't be great shakes and he is handled by good defences.

Would of gone with Carvell over Crabtree as he adds more impact. Tom Briscoe deserves his place, hasn't put a foot wrong in any game for club and country. Eastmond on the bench is a good call, as is the halves parntership of McGuire and Tomkins. Would of prefered Moore as hooker though. Westwood isn't as bad as people make out either. Burgess should be starting in second row with Graham dropped to bench.

Please tell me who should be the current 6 and 13?

Depends who they support. Think Smith has the 6, 7 and 13 right. McGuire is in on form, Tomkins is in on form and Sinfield is in on form.

And if Carvell would have been put on the bench instead of Crabtree, he would have been called for Warrington bias.

I think that team is capable if the defence is solid. Thats a big if though.

The Warrington players in the squad have been good this season.

Morley - Man of Steel contender
Carvell - along with Morley, been immense for Wire
Westwood - been good, maybe have Jones Buchanan instead
Bridge - quality cover for the centres and at stand off

They must of done something right to win the Cup.

Yeah got easy draws

Its true, they did...

Crabtree has been immense for Huddersfield, you know, the team that finished 3rd in the league, with the best defence and 3rd best attack.

Crabtree was at the heart of that attack, and has shattered even the very best defences all season.

If you think otherwise, then your opinion isnt based on any single facet of anything thats actually happened this season.

Agree.

Some must want Eastmond and Wilkin...

how much has t briscoe played all season??

6 weeks hardly a long period, will be fresh for this game after a long season with the giants.. cup and play offs included

crabtree was fit last week and could of played at a push but seeing that he has recently had a knee op was seen best to leave another week

COME ON ENGLAND!!

Wilkin hasn't much all season really. Eastmond I think warrants a place in the 17 because of his form, but the utility bench spot is the place for him.

13 games this year, would of played more if he didn't get a long term injured in April. Plus 16 games the season before aswell as a Wembley performance. Think Huddersfield fans have to accept that a lot on here rate Carvell more than Crabtree.

Oh dear. Is there any player who hasn't been singled out for criticism yet?

As for the Briscoe vs Fox debate, this just seems like another opportunity for the same old Hull vs KR squabbling. Reminds me of a few years ago when Horne was played on the wing outside Senior, and all the Hull fans could do was whinge about Senior's service to his wingman, never mind the bigger picture.

Tbh I think the team is as good as it will get given the players available. I think he's gone for Westwood for his mobility and workrate over Carvell.

so how many since aprill?? should fox not be in instead? what you going on about last season for?

Came back in August, so I'd imagine around 4. Briscoe should be ahead of Fox. And why not ?

Except for Carvell over Westwood, I think that's as good as we can get. Glad Tomkins is in - for me, with Myler in we'd have been stuffed. I rate him highly, but Tomkins is the more creative and better all-rounder, including his defence, which is as strong as anyone. He also seems to get under the skin of opposition teams - hopefully that will include the Aussies.

If the pack steps up and each forward performs to their best; nasty and aggressive with it, we'll stand a chance. If not all we can hope for us to defend for all we're worth. Crabtree needs to step up a gear. He's been to easy to stop at times (often the case with the tallest players), and it's up to him to hit harder.

BTW, the Fox vs Briscoe argument is pretty pointless. I see barely any difference in them - both good young fast players. It's their defence and decision making that's gonna count on Saturday.

Whatever, it comes down to the individuals on the day. I'll be there screaming my lungs out. Can't wait.

I agree Crabtree is a good footballer with offloads etc. Just he doesn't smash it upfront enough. He should be using his size and driving harder in the tackle - that'll ware any defence down. If he can bring that to his game he has the potential to match Burgess etc as a proper World Class Prop.

I can see why Crabtree has been picked over Carvell when I look at these stats:
[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2009&hp1=172&hs2=2009&hp2=220&stat=tries&season=2009[/url
It's all about the number of missed tackles and offloads over go forward.

if Crabtree makes those tackle busts, then I want Tomkins on one side of him and McGuire on the other.

Sod this organising jobby, support those breaks and get over that tryline.

We may only get a couple of chances, so we need to take them.

Further looking at the stats on the superleague website shows that crabtree misses less tackles than any other forward. He is definitely in the team for defence.

Judging by the last two games i thought that was already smiths plan?

So has Tomkins been chosen because of his ability or to promote struggling ticket sales?

If Tomkins was always the plan, why wasn't he chosen last week and given the experience and the time to gell with the players? Why throw him in now? The cynic in me says it's all about putting the extra 5,000 bums on seats.