Salford Red Devils Squad

Locke, J. Griffin, Sa'u, Johnson, Chase, Dobson, Morley, Lee, Tasi, Hansen, Hauraki, Fages, D. Griffin, Taylor, J. Walne, A. Walne, Walton, G. Griffin, Paterson.


Wakefield Wildcats Squad

Arundel, Collis, Crowther, Godinet, Hall, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Lyne, McShane, Miller, Owen, Paea, Riley, Ryan, Scruton, Simon, D. Smith, T. Smith, Washbrook.

Liam Hood dropped or injured? Utter b*llocks if he has been forced out by the return of Dobson. If they’re choosing to go with Dobson, then despite his excellent form Theo shouldn’t be in the 17. Hood has shown in the last two games he is the better option at hooker.

I expect G.Griffin and Walton will drop out.

Probably dropped as you say, I'm in complete agreement with you. We have some tough decisions to make with who plays in certain positions & that's a good thing, no need to shoe-horn players in the squad out of position.

If we're starting with Chase & Dobbo then we need to use Theo to spell Tommy Lee who has been putting in brilliant performances while he's had chance to take a breather. If we're going to interchange Theo & Dobbo in the halves we're kicking ourselves in the teeth.

Seems odd to break-up a half-back and dummy half partnership that has racked up 72 points in the last two games.

Fingers crossed it’s the right call.

We were always going to have to make tough decisions with team selection this year. That's a good thing.

What we don't know is that there could be a number of reasons one player is dropped for another. Form doesn't always mean a cert. Picking up injuries in training, not training well, tactical reasons, rotation etc etc. We have to trust the coaches know what they're doing as we don't see these aspects of team sport like they do every day. Fairly strong side should be put out, which hopefully bodes well.

Hood has done well, but I’m not going to lose any sleep over him being dropped, such is the strength in depth we have this year, someone will always have to miss out.

Locke,
Johnson
Sa'u
Paterson
J. Griffin
Chase
Dobson
Taylor
Lee
Tasi
Hansen
Hauraki
J Walne

A Walne
D Griffin
Morley
Fages


Looks more than enough to beat Wakefield on paper!

My main concern is having both darryl Griffin and Adam Walne on the bench together. they'll both be on the pitch for long periods together and their discipline is poor.

Id like to see G Griffin or Walton given a bench spot for A Walne or D Griffin.
Dobson on the bench for me!
Same starting 13 as last week
Where the hell is BJB??

Dobson on the bench would be criminal; if hood isn't playing then Theo needs to be interchange hooker.

Point taken but just like the development of fages/chase.
Its not a bad problem i guess surely must have the best trio of halves in the league.

I have an issue with the chorus of He must play. We can't pick players on reputation, Dobson hasn't put in a good performance yet. As a result he must earn his spot. The top teams drop players out of form, we must go down the same line. Thats why those same teams produce quality in their ranks because they all know they will get their chance.

So what, you'd play Chase and Fages in the halves, leave Dobson out of the squad and not have an interchange hooker?

So how do they earn a spot if you don't play them?

Bring the alliance league back!

Hood confirmed injured@

Don't see any reason why Hood would have to be in the squad. Done nothing wrong but not been amazing either. He'll get plenty of chances. Dobson's decision making and kicking will be massive assets for us over the season.
I suspect Fages will start and move to hooker to spell Lee when Dobson comes on after about 30 mins. Lee and Fages will share the second half
Fages has done really well for us but he is still learning his trade and his decision making isn't always spot on so having Dobson to come in is a boost

I'd just start Chase & Dobson given the squad we've named.

Keep Fages fresh to rotate with Lee & provide as much impact (on the game, not physical impact) as possible. No point changing a halfback combination after 30 minutes unless things are dire.

If Hood were fit I'd have him in the squad instead of one of our halves in a heartbeat; we bought him to play hooker, let him play there instead of playing someone else out of position. I wouldn't want to choose which half had to miss out though, I think any combination of the 3 would go well.

If everyone's fit why no BJB?

He may end up playing, I think a few players had late fitness tests.

There is a distinct difference between being dropped and not selected. I consider being 'dropped' as a result of poor performance and 'not selected' as the coach having a good choice of options. Dobson has to play for me if fit. The sooner we integrate him in this team for his organisational qualities and kicking game the better.