If the inevitable ban happens, who replaces Austin?
Personally think Livett and leave Ratch at FB. Over next 2 weeks they can work together and this at least prepares for a spell maybe further down the line if Austin gets injured. We definitely need a plan B for the 6/7 positions.

Livett to stand off,he is more than capable of filling in.

Livett still covering Benny for one more match so think it will be Ratch moved with Mamo coming in a FB

We should be applying for the dispensation and looking for a replacement for Brown regardless as it makes no sense to go into a season with spare cap and spare place.

Still not a bad option,Mamo must be chomping at the bit to get a start.

Hasn't Toby King played at stand off as well ?

I'd put ratchford to half and mamo at fullback. Probably more disruption this way so they will need to have worked on those combinations already. Otherwise Harvey and patton in the halves.

Depends who is available.
Is there anybody currently on the outer that another club would be willing to let go, who is worth spending money on?

I suspect that Price already has options for such an eventuality. Toby King at second row came out of the blue, so who knows what will happen.

Ryan Brierley has not played for Toronto. Lost his place to Mellor.

There's also the young lad who starred against Rochdale.

Riley Dean

Don’t take utter rubbish the answer is most certainly not at this stage “ the young lad that started against Rochdale “

Are these things suggested just to provoke a response like mine?

We have signed and created a first team squad for a reason . Mamo goes to full back and Ratchford atvdtand off. No absolutely not ideal but it’s the best of the options we have

If he even gets a ban

Bit touchy aren't we?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-an ... ing-anger/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-an ... ing-anger/

This situation emphasises the need to look for some sort of cover for Brown.

Exactly.

What cover though? Are we paying for a halfback with a one year contract? Who will come at this stage? Anyone good? I would expect that all we would have available would be somebody's third choice or a highly rated youngster, we'd be better off giving our own youngsters a chance over giving experience to the young players of our rivals.

Austin will probably only be banned until the game after we play Wigan, no matter when that happens to be.

Any decent half is already signed up, so we're pretty much snookered, bar taking a punt on a young Aussie lad with potential, who can't get a game, because of his place in the hierarchy/better established players in his position.
No Aussie is going to sign a contract longer than this year's GF, with Widdop coming next year, so an Aussie "kicking his heels" is our only option.

I'm surprised nobody has started a Ben Barba one year deal rumour just to increase the hits to the website that Wires71 has posted a link to.

Is a ban inevitable? If the officials were sure it would’ve been a straight red.

I take your point. We aren’t going to find somebody great and I don’t have a specific name in mind. If bringing up a youngster is the answer, brill. Either way, I’d like another name in the mix for a rainy day.

How's this for a thought - play one of the academy kids and promote from within rather than getting the cheque book out!!!

We already are.

At the moment we're 2 from 2 with Patton, I can see us going all season with him and winning the lot....and they'd still be fans knocking him.