Quote ="Philth"This isn't a "have you played" esq post because a) I don't know if you have and b) I never played super league standard but when I was playing I wanted to play. A week off was crap and disturbed my rhythm. I get a mid season break from being bashed about for 16 weeks but for now I'd go full strength to ensure squad cohesion. Of course injuries are a risk but with the play off a single digit week away, I'd be be going for system over cotton wool.
As an aside,. I'd have Holroyd over Bateman any day of the week, even if the latter was a mate and had played with my brother's at junior level and me at international.'"
It’s a fair point (and yes, but not SL), but should we finish 3rd or lower, the main rivals will have a week off in round 1 of the play offs anyway, so whoever you play in round 2 (if we win the first game) is coming off a week off. That is why I suggested playing full strength against London, to get that timing and rhythm back. Particularly if we end up playing Salford who challenge on both sides of the field with lots of ball movement.
The risk is that Saints and Wigan arrive at the play offs with a large part of their squad fresh having lots of injuries and suspensions, and we have Dufty who has played all but 35 minutes (and a bit of time in the bin) of the season.
On Bateman, if he can get near his best he plays. But last week he wasn’t near that level. But he can change games when he’s on. And he’s been there and knows what it takes, which might count in his favour for a naive squad.
