Anyone heard what team we are putting out today ?

I couldn't get there yesterday. Who were the backs? I heard Locke and BJB didn't play and Griffin wasn't in the squad. I know Caton-Brown, Johnson and Evalds scored so assume they started at centre, wing and full back? Who were the other centre and winger?

How did the pack go? Was it Lee and Hood at hooker? Did they do well?

From memory, the starting XIII was Evalds, Johnson, Walton, Caton-Brown, Ford; Chase, Fages; Taylor, Lee, Tasi, Hansen, Hauraki, Hock.

There were eight or nine substitutes who came on at regular intervals after about twenty minutes. Theo Fages was my Man of the Match. He had his best game in a Salford shirt and bossed the game. He was dangerous virtually every time he touched the ball. Scott Taylor was the pick of the pack, I thought.

Overall, the defence was outstanding. We moved up in a strong line and gave Hunslet no room. The only downside for me was that we still gave too many penalties away!

Its a slight concern that our 1st choice backs have hardly had any game time but Walton, Evalds and ford have not disappointed I expect 1 or 2 of these to start against wire. Can see Fages starting as well as I heard rave reviews from fans yesterday on twitter. Also not sure if Dobbo is ready to start

I think you're right that the standings have done a job but to be top 8 aspirants I can't see that Ford and Walton playing week in week out. One being used as an occasional stand in will be fine, but a 3/4 line of BJB, Griffin/MCB, Sau, Johnson is top 8 quality and most of it needs to be there most weeks with Evalds as the first replacement for Locke or One of the wingers

I worry about the lack of time our first choice centres have had in terms of our defence around the edges. The communication between the 2nd row and centre then on to the HB and winger is crucial. Hopefully the fact that there are much tighter structures in attack and defence that all players have been training with will mean that the individual changes are less important as they will all play the same way

Jay Walton has been excellent. Certainly i wouldn't be worried if he was in the starting line up. He's been excellent in pee season.

To be honest if ilestyn plays on form then there might be a few fringe players getting their chance if the pre season games are anything to go by.

Is this about Carney or Walton?





FWIW I really like Walton. He's a hard runner and has that extra something about him some of the younger lads don't yet.

I can actually see a backline of Locke, Evalds, Walton, MCB, Johnson against Wire. Sau & BJB won't be risked i think there more likely to play against Hull end of Feb. Also Josh Griffin i don't know how serious his injury is to.

Very young backline but frighteningly quick, I'd feel much happier if Griffin or Sa'u was there adding a little more grunt but all in all not bad.

Yes agreed my perfect backline would be Locke, BJB, J.Griffin, Sau, Johnson. You've got pace and power one of the strongest in super league surely.

For me you need to get MCB onto the field, he has the potential to run most teams ragged with his pace and I'd not bet against him finishing as the highest try scorer if he gets his chance. From what I've seen they have worked on bulking him up in the off season which is what he was lacking.

MCB is certainly better going forward but i'd have Griffin just on better defence. End of the day it's all opinions whoever plays will not let us down come 7th Feb! Bring it on.

Locke came off against Swinton and we thought he seemed to be holding his groin, I hope it`s nothing more than precautionary otherwise it could be a disrupted season. Not seen anything anywhere so it may be my pessimistic Salford way of looking at things!

That said I have no problem with Evalds stepping up and as others have said about trying to fit MCB in it makes a change that we have such good replacements to step in rather than making do with 2nd rowers fitting in at Centre.