I'm glad Harrison is back, bench looks a little light to say the least.

Agree with that. Playing Micky H must also have a bit of risk with it. So sorry for Jon Clarke, he doesn't deserve to miss out this way. Only
playing with one prop on the bench suggests that TS is going for a quick paced game with more mobile forwards. Hope he's got this right.
ISWT

COME ON THE WIRE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Team is strong enough for me.

All the way wire.

I'd suggest that he doesn't want a lump of lard being exposed in defense. I think Moore and Crabtree would run rings round him.

I think moving Westwood up to prop when crabtree comes on might be a good option as he'll be straight on him before he can build momentum and there should be less chance of an offload.

Agreed - Benny and Harrison will rotate I think.

At the end of the day - that's what we're going with - we have to trust TS.....

Sorry for being a bit of a pessimist. but i'm a little concerned by the team. Rugby is a 17 man game nowadays, especially if the weather is gonna be hot down there. McCarthy looks a decent prospect, but even he admitted he was struggling to keep pace with the step up in the speed of the game at first team level. This is a CC final and no place to ease youngsters in gently. And higham will be nowhere near match fit and i wonder how many minutes we will get out of him. We will win though. Louis anderson first try - 25/1 at betfred, get on him.

He aint being eased in, he put 2 good performances in and he hasnt be scared to try and put big shots on IMO i think hes ready

Absolutely. We are more mobile then they are & Benny stepping in at prop for the odd shift smashing Crabtree & Mason early on so they don't gain momentum will be the way forward.

Is it Brown or whateira (sic) who will be facing Chris Bridge?

The bench looks light.
We always seem to struggle with Hudds up front and only having 3 props is a gamble.
TS must see the 'mobility' of their props as a key factor rather than out an out brute strength and size.
It's a brave move but I guess he's paid to make those calls.

Either Harrison or Westwood will have to step in at prop for a spell or Moz/Carvell be called onto do more than usual.
Just wish wood would have been available becasue he'd have been there for sure in the interchanges.

don't forget the weather...hot sunny day at Wembley...lighter more mobile might be the way to go...trust in Tony!

I'm thinking world cup here.... went with pacy back rowers then and lack of props and look what happened. Im quite worried to say the least...

That's made my weekend even sweeter.Imo biggest waste of space this club has bought.

Amen brother...amen.

You never got to see Dallas Mead at prop then I take it.

Win or Lose, I'll go with his selection.

For me, he's done the right thing, so there's no hindsight.

I'd have dropped Rauhihi, he's a liability, he lacks mobility, and he lacks common sense, he lacks almost how can I put it, the ability to read a situation and wants to play regardless.

Also, folk have clammered for yonks for local, hungry lads to get their chance, he's left out a 35 year old Kiwi for a 21 year old Warrington born lad, awesome. Bodes well for the future, and it should filter down through to every level of our academy, do your stuff, work hard, you'll get your chances under this regime, whether you're 16, 17, 18, it doesn't matter. For next year, should be a reason for every one of them kids to give 110%.

I'm with Smith 110%, he's got us here, win or lose, I'm with him.

I think the last 2 weeks Smith has been pushing Carvell to play longer stints, presumably with Wembley in mind (although we have been short of rotations in both those games...and we have lost them both!).

Wouldn't be surprised to see him on the pitch significantly longer than off it tomorrow.

I like this team to play Hudds. Like it a lot. The light bench is easily compensated by having a large back row that will be used to dominate just as much as the 3 props. Plus we have an extra ball playing forward in the halves.

In effect we're starting with 7 forwards, (my guess) would be to attack using Mathers as the 3rd oustide pivot on the left until Higham is on, then move monas to 7 & play 90 minutes.

indeed, all them disapointing performances, tons of em

Poop hot bench presser tho. Was it 20 mins he played.

I like the plan... I think Vanderson may be a masterstroke. As somebody else said, he gets paid to make those calls and he's gone for a bold strattegy, better than a fudge.

The last 6 months have taught me that Tony always knows what he's doing, it's always beteer to make a decision, even the wrong one, than to dither.

Come on the Wire!

At wigan(Superleague) he made 2 interceptions while playin 6, hopefully he can do that again but make it full length this time

Mathers will do alot of work as another half back anyway so dont mind vanderson playin there dont wana move monaghan from 9 with his upturn in form

Steady.......

50/50 call, either a masterstroke, or will lose us the game (3 props)

Morley will get more game time tomorrow to compensate the light bench I would imagine. No problems with McCarthy or Cooper being out there, infact I have more concern over Jonno and Higham.

As i expected.