Listening to the commentary on GMR, it sounded like Dan Sarginson had his passing laser trained on 'nowhere in particular'. His name invariably seemed to be followed by an "oh dear", and it sounded like he had a real nightmare. Would he still be in the team?

It'll be interesting to see if Gil Dudson plays. It's been rumoured he's on his way to us, and Shaun Wane doesn't seem too keen on playing players that are leaving.

I agree, I think Jason Walton's future is in the second row, but he provides cover for the centres. Nowadays, coaches tend to go for a bench full of forwards, and you rarely see out and out backs on the bench unless the coach is forced to go for that because of injuries. The ideal player, then, is someone like Jason Walton who can cover both forwards and backs.


At the moment, Steve Rapira (and Tony Puletua) seem to operate more as props than second rowers, so, if Andrew Dixon comes back before the end of the season, my guess is that it wouldn't be in place of either of those. I don't know who it would be in place of though.

Overall, one of the (quite nice) problems we have is that, as it stands, we've probably got too many back row forwards for next season:

Gareth Hock
Harrison Hansen
Weller Hauraki
Matty Ashurst
Andrew Dixon
Steve Rapira
Tony Puletua
Jordan Walne
Jason Walton
George Griffin
Will Hope

and probably not enough front rowers (although Rapira and Puletua tend to play like front rowers). I suspect some of them will be leaving at the end of the season. In fact, someone is going to have to go because, unless Marwan's got an exemption rabbit to pull out of a hat, we appear to have one non-fed player too many.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Sarginson had a shocker, and personally I don't think centre is his best position. But Darrell Goulding is injured again and Iain Thornley is still a couple of weeks away, so we don't really have another option unless someone like Jack Hughes or John Bateman gets put in there. Joel Tomkins is another option but I think he'll only play half an hour or so off the bench for his first game back.

and probably not enough front rowers (although Rapira and Puletua tend to play like front rowers). I suspect some of them will be leaving at the end of the season. In fact, someone is going to have to go because, unless Marwan's got an exemption rabbit to pull out of a hat, we appear to have one non-fed player too many.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Clutching at a very big straw but because Hauraki was at the celts when they folded will he count as exept or as he had 1 to many moves since

Rapira the new Paul Forber.

You'd not class any of those back row forwards as worth really getting rid of so it's going to be a difficult choice picking who goes. More and more seems odd the choice to bring in Hauraki for me. I hope that George Griffin proves to be the find his brother has been over the last few weeks, given his chance and made himself pretty much undropable.

Fitness is the big issue with players coming back from Union, and I think Joel will get a run out. It's tough though because it means you have to keep a replacement too, as we've found out with Locke. It means a bench spot is taken up with their replacement or vice versa.

Has Tomkins played a game in the lower level since he came back?

Might be a blessing for us if he does get named on the bench.

Given the four day turn around and the fact that you seemed to spend most of last Sunday defending, it would seem a bit of a high risk option to then have a player in the team who isn't likely to spend more than 30 minutes on the field. Surely, Shaun Wane wouldn't do that would he?

If we go with 4 forwards on the bench then we can probably afford to ease Tomkins in, plus Bateman and Farrell are more than capable of big minutes. Joel will be lacking match fitness but he looks in excellent nick and bigger than ever and I can't wait to see how he goes.

Our problem has been at 6 and 9 with Green and McIlorum out. Powell and Williams are both quality youngsters but it's been a big ask for them to fill in for 2 key players over a long period. Both have had to play 80 minutes and we've been swapping them round mid-game and I'm not convinced it's been working, particularly against decent opposition.

All this talk about Locke tickles me. He is probably a decent player if (when) he is fit. But he couldn't get into the Warriors side because he wasn't fit. He's turned out twice now for SRD, not finished either match and is clearly still not fit. One day he might be, in which case he should be available to be selected. But to put Evalds on the bench just in case Locke can't make a full match would be senseless. It's a waste of a bench player and an interchange. Apart from which, I don't think Locke provides much, if any more, than Evalds.

The sooner we understand that home grown doesn't mean inferior, the better the chance we have of succeeding.

I like Evalds, I really do, and he's a great talent. But are you seriously suggesting That a Kiwi International who's done it in the NRL provides nothing more?

Your sentence should have been 'I don't think an injured unfit Locke provides much, if any more, than a fit Evalds.'

You'd be right on that one.

Nanki always makes some good points regarding our youth and I commend him for his loyalty to the flag but in this case I think he is wrong. Evalds still has to convince me of his talent under a high ball & he has some way to go to match Locke's (so far) 100% precision with goalkicking. Basically imo we need both. Great talents.

Re the match. Jon Wells made a good point re the first 20 minutes when a Wane motivated Wigan team will be hard to suppress. If we do then we will have a chance but it will be an electrifying first quarter & maybe Rapira should be on from the start tonight to give them some stick early doors.

I don't think we will see the best of Locke until next year. He only looks about 75% to me. When he's made line breaks against both Huddersfield and Leeds his speed endurance hasn't been at the level I've seen in the past. He needs a full pre-season and more game time. Although despite him coming over not 100% fit I think it was a smart move by Harris to get him over early and settled in so he can hit the ground running in 2015.

Fortunately we have an emerging young talent like Evalds who is quick, can cover a number of back positions and knows where the try-line is.

Rubbish, don't forget we have no youth policy, well according too interlopers from other forums. The Walne brothers, Fages, Evalds, Hope, Owen and Ford are all very good young players who provide a potential back bone too the side for years too come.

As for Locke I have know doubt we'll see a superstar when he is fully fit but I said it when they both signed that I expect in years too come MCB too be the one who will be the better player for Salford.

Good point to be fair, as our two biggest name signings are in the positions where we have our best two young players coming through. Hopefully this policy won't leave us short in other areas (eg hooker) again.

What many supporters from other clubs don't realise is this crop of young players from 2-3 seasons ago were one of the best academy teams around.

Exactly, I think we finished second in 2012 – with the likes of, Evalds, Fages, the Walnes, Sneyd, Owen, Hope, Ford, Tyson, Marriott, Davidson etc.. Then unfortunately we had to drop down a division due to the financial situation we were in, which halted the progress of the whole academy.

What's happened to George Tyson? I really liked the look of him, is he still at Oldham?

Alex Davidson has gone out to Crusaders for the month, after falling out of favour at Oldham despite impressing on a weekly basis.

Jon Ford continues to impress and apparently Gareth Owen had a stormer at weekend.

It's brilliant to think we still have Davidson, Ford, Owen and Hope all still to figure in the first team under Harris.

According to Salford faithful on twitter Locke is out for tonight! Although it's gutting he is out it's one area where were very strong in that department.

Well I guess that answers the question about who will drop out of the 19 for this week. Locke and Rapira! Only joking, I would imagine it will be Tomkins.

I also quite liked the look of Tyson when I saw him in the cup and the academy. Had a plenty of aggression and a decent size for a young lad. Heard he had a bit of a fitness issue though and that’s why he didn’t train with the 1st team long. Not sure if Davidson or Hope will make it as SL but both could be more than capable NL players. Ford needs to be tested at a higher level than in Oldhams team and so does Owen. Was pleased when they were at Sheffield but not sure the benefit of dropping down a league is if we really see them as furture SL players?

I trust what Harris will do with the young kids. Under Noble it felt like a case of out of sight out of mind and it didn't matter which club they were at. Owen wasn't getting the game time he needed at Sheffield and at this stage of the season I doubt our options were too great. It's his local team to, so after travelling to Sheffield I am sure he will appreciate the short distance and minutes on the pitch.

I would like to see more of Will Hope.

I was hoping that they would ask him about Salford young players on the Super League show, what with mentioning Evalds and Sneyd it was pretty damning of his ship em out policy. Myler looked ready to split his sides laughing at one point.

I caught a bit of an academy game a few weeks ago and we had a lad playing prop who was bigger than a lot of SL props so can't wait too see if he makes the grade.

"we had a lady playing prop who was bigger than a lot of SL props "

Jesus Christ!! Fair play to her, she must have some balls on her!

Ar$e, what a misprunt!