Not overhyped at all
He's scored a couple of belters
Tackled well
Kept a good (if not better) standard of performance
So I fail to see the overhype

Yes, he's made mistakes. IIRC, so did Hanley, Johns, Meninga and Thursfield.

Opinions, eh? 'ooood 'ave 'em

As for Bridge, and proven ability. Well, it's not been on show, so far, this season (and I'm a Bridge fan)

Russell
Monaghan
Bridge
Atkins
Penny
Ratchford
Obrien
Hill
Clark
Sims
Westwood
Laithewaite
Harrison

Currie
Asotasi
Higham
Philbin

Bridge and king for me,, bridge is no where near fit, king still has time to develop

King and wheeler/bridge to miss out.

In our desire to solve the half-back conundrum people seem to be prepared to try any combination possible, I'm half expecting big Roy to figure at half-back in someones line-up.

Re 6 & 7, the facts are these, your worship.
Wheeler did a very convincing impression of a fletcher st. turnstyle in France
At themoment, Bridge looks about as dynamic as a Jeremy Kyle guest, and half as fit
The only two players to have shown any kind of creative acumen at HB thus far are Ratchford and O'Brien so they get the nod

Furthermore, the game plan for anyone v Huddersfield remains simple - nullify Brough, particulary his kicking game, and Ratchford has the size (height) to enable him to do this better than anyone else in the squad.

Elsewhere, he may be nippy, he may stand on the wing with a centre inside him, but that doesn't make Russell a winger. His positional sense at St Helens wouldn't have looked amiss in the bar side of the Lower at chucking out time.

Russell
Monaghan
Currie
Atkins
Penny
Ratchford
Obrien
Hill
Higham
Sims
Westwood
Laithewaite
Harrison

Wheeler
Asotasi
Clarke
Philbin

Rachford
Penny
Joel
Atkins
Russell
Bridge
GOB
Hill
Clark
Asotasi
Westwood
Laithwaite
Harrison

Sims
Wheeler
Philbin
Higham

I'd put Sims on the bench not as to be relegating him but because I would rather see Asotasi soften them up in the first 10mins.
Sims would then play out the next 30mins rather than the other way round which we are doing presently.

Sims would be better against a softened up pack. He looks a little lightweight for a prop. He really wants it but he is far from a Paliasina type hitter.

The fact is we are a halfback short. O'brien is having to do it all on his own. In the first team squad the players that can play, or should I say have been selected to play halfback are

O'brien
Myler
Ratchford
Bridge
Wheeler

O'brien is one.

Myler is not good enough and is currently out the picture through injury anyway. We know once he's fit he will he straight back in.

Ratchford is our best full back so should be played there and only there.

Bridge is a cracking centre and isn't a very good stand off, play him where he is best.

And that leaves Gary Wheeler as the option, somebody who doesn't have a best position because he plays about 3 games a season yet the club signed him anyway. So here we are, wheeler is the only option unless you can call up Declan Patton but I don't think there is much chance of that happening.

Bridge is not fit and Wheeler is a defensive liability and I would leave them both out and play Ratch in the halves.

Sorry Morrissey but Russell has spent a good portion of his career so far as a winger.

That being said:

Russell
Penny
Atkins
Bridge
Monas
Ratch
O'Brien
Hill
Higham
Sims
Westwood
Laithwaite
Harrison

Clark
Asotasi
Philbin
Currie

I could go with that but I would also throw in the idea of swapping Penny and Russell around. I think Penny could do well at FB - he's always been good under a high ball. Russell could stay on the wing. Apart from last week he's played well there this season.

I think Joel does need to come back in on the wing as he takes away one of our major attacking threats out wide with the kick to him.

Its an obvious tactic but it has proven success

Couldn't he swap with his partner at the appropriate play, just think of the confusion this would cause and merriment on the terraces when O'Brien puts in the grubber under the sticks instead for Clark to score, we would bamboozle every defence in SL...genius.

BTW I don't know why we are all bothering with this thread. Lefty, despite taking the time to join in, said it's a waste of time and TS knows best and we shouldn't be guessing or stating what our preferred line up's should be, we should just accept that we are foolish and be quiet.

His defence is, he was like a cat flap at Catalan.

Finally!!! If only some species that go the games had this view!! sick of hearing people bad mouth Penny....as iv said on other thread. He cant defend half a pitch on his own!1

Penny
Russell
Atkins
Wheeler - In over Bridge who doesn't look fit.
Monas
Ratchford
O'Brien
Hill
Higham
Sims
Philbin
Laithwaite
Westwood

Clark - Want to see him come off the bench and make an impact (like at Cas last year)
Harrison
Currie
Asotasi

Bridge & King to miss out.

What if Ratchford played Full Back in defence, and stand off in attack? Where in which Penny would then revert to full back to chime in to open space? Quite a bit of faffing around as to who to put in Ratchfords slot in defence (Currie perhaps?) But could be worth it...

Bridge stank the place out at Saints last week. Whether he's fit or not, he should be dropped on the basis of that display.

Smith appears to love bridge almost as much as rubber duckie. If he's even 80% fit, he'll play.

I think Smith is picking Bridge at the moment because he has nothing else... He isnt a stand off, his best days are behind him and he is partial to the odd injury.

Is his contract up at the end of the season? I wouldnt be surprised to see him let go when his contract is up.

I doubt we would have shipped the tries down the right hand side so easily with Bridge at centre & he did put Penny into space for his try.

Exactly that.
Sorry nico

No Harrison again tonight I believe.

Don't get this, he as been in the 19 last few weeks and not in the 17. If he is still not fit why include him in the 19.

I think Hill and Sims could do with the support of Harrison and England to bulk up the bench. Both can do quite significant game time too which will help when both are fit, hopefully for the Easter weekend.