Salford Red Devils 19-man Squad

Ashurst
Chase
Dixon
Griffin
Hansen
Hock
Howarth
Johnson
Lee
McPherson
Meli
Morley
Mullaney
Puletua
Smith
Sa'u
Tasi
Walton
Williams

No Gleeson. Is he injured or has Walton played himself into the team?

No Rapira either. Injured?

No Rapira again , has he been in training at all , or is he not over his knee operation yet , very strong line up , think it will be dixon and williams missing out of the 17 though

theo not in the squad either , looks like howarths versatility has won the day

Gleeson didn't train with the team at the open day on Sunday so you'd think there is some injury there.

Hope Rapira doesnt end up a big cost to us. He was thinking of retiring due to injury before we signed him.

They must see some potential in him?

I think Rapira will be fine, he trained hard in South Africa according to the coaches. If he isn't 100% there's no point risking it, we've got a big enough squad.

I didn't think I'd ever hear that

Leaves us short in centre with no gleeson. Need him fit asap also no fages I find annoying! Crackin little player

Meli in the centres is good cover for Gleeson, just hope Williams shows up against Wakefield as he's not impressed me in the slightest in pre season.

We'll be fine, if he cant get on the park I'm pretty sure the Dr wont sit back, he'll send him on his (ala Foran & Mouro last year) way and find a suitable replacement!

I reckon they will go with


Mullaney
Williams
Meli
Sa'u
Johnson
Chase
Smith
Morley
Lee
Tasi
Hock
Hansen
Puletua

Dixon
Griffin
Howarth
McPherson

THAT is what is go for. Easily a strong enough team there to win well.

Have to be honest think it's a massive mistake to not have Theo in before Howarth, cover in the halves/hooker position and I'd be happier seeing him go into the back line than Howarth if needed.

I must admit at the Warrington match Howarth did look abit more of a threat in attack than I think theo is capable of from the hookers position? But that's just my opinion.

Possibly but Theo offers more in other positions, with the sqaud we have its omni back/halve/hooker cover we need more than in the pack.

Howarth doesn't cut it in the halves and not got the pace for the backline either where as Theo has.

Yeah suppose you got a point?

I'd also have Ashurst in place of McPherson, i think he will add more impact.

I don't know if it's just me, but I just don't see what Howarth brings to the team. He misses plenty of tackles in general play, all he does is pass the ball from the PTB, Lots of us could do that. Nobby must see something I dont

That I don't agree with McPherson is one of our big hitters, one of the best forwards we've got IMO, ashurst is too light weight for me.

I don't think it's just you I'll be kind that performance from Howarth was **** he can't even pass the ball from the ptb, anyone see him shy away from catching a high ball not to mention giving a try away from the ptb. Dreadful is an understatement.

As I've mentioned on another thread Howarth isn't good enough, not his fault its just fact that he will get picked by Nobby purely on his size, Owen/Fages are far better options IMO.

I think your right, Howarth is big for a hooker and can also put in a big hit, I just think he delays the pass far too long and as a result has given away interseptions in two games, abit more urgency and he wouldn't be that bad.

Agree with that.

I still think Theo would give us more versatility off the bench. Once Chase went off yesterday the reshuffle changed the game plan and it nearly cost us. Theo could have slipped straight in at either hooker or halfback. Don't think Nobby will make the same mistake twice.

Horrible as it is but I think what happened too Chase proved me right, bring on Theo and there is no loss for me, bring on Howarth @ hooker and move Lee into the halves and the game plan had to change.

FWIW last season we'd have lost that game by some margin, the fight and back bone shown in the second half when things weren't going our way shows that this team is going to be hard too beat.