The only change we need is to bring back Dwyer as Smith is nowhere near good enough for hooker and is a waste of a bench spot.

Bet it doesn't happen though. I could give numerous reasons why.

*pulls up a chair*

sounds like you have a tale to tell.


Smith was mixed in his praise of morgan last night, not great going forward, but good in defence, and they were just glad to give clark a breather, who btw had another scintillating game.

He was superb again, I think better than Roby in his prime and that is saying something.

Yes I think Clark is our most effective player alongside Hill. He needs to stop looking for penalties by planting the ball onto the opposition at play the balls though, it isn't working.

I don't like this habit where he throws his arms in the air at most play the balls appealing for a penalty, other than that he is incredible. Tackles like a demon, amazing acceleration and step.

+1 for Dwyer coming in. I like Morgan and he played well against Hull and on all his other first team appearances to be honest. But he shouldn't have played last night. Brad Dwyer is a young player as well but he's more than established in the first team and is a proven performer, whereas Smith hasn't played 10 games in Super League. I expect the pair will swap for next week.

I'd also like to see Bailey on the bench if he's ready but Patton has earned his place for me whether Sandow is ready or not.

i would say that clarke is having a better season, than his man of steel winning year.

Easily.

His stats are incredible.

AG nearly 11m.
105 tackle busts
695 tackles.

He is just so dangerous when the defence is rushing back to position.

I actually though Clark was quiet compared to the Wigan game, im not saying he had a bad game. But against Wigan he was immense!

Why is Dwyer on the "naughty step"?

All things being equal I'd have Dwyer back on the bench Smith's got time on his side other than that same team for me.

What I can't fathom apart from where's saddened is why we haven't had a Tom Lineham thread? I have seriously had a downer on the guy, particularly his attitude, but, boy the shortest transformation in history, totally resurrected his Wire career will be lining at OT rather than Rochdale and more importantly looks to be part of team?

Carry on next year please as the last couple of weeks

The Lineham thing is amazing. It's not as if he's appeared and just filled a role. He's played very well and if he scores a hat trick at Old Trafford, he becomes our top try scorer for the season (joint, I think, not sure if stats have been updated yet).

That actually made me laugh. At first glance I thought you meant Tony.

If he's fit there is no way on earth that our Marquee player should not be playing.
This game is the reason we've paid the big bucks for Chris and its madness not to play him.
That said Dec deserves a spot so how about the following squad (assuming Bailey and Dodds are not fit)

Ratch
Lineham
Evans
Atkins
Matty
Sandow
Gidley
Hill
Daryl
Ashton
Hughes
Sam Wilde
Westerman

G King
T King
Declan (to cover Daryl at hooker)
Philbin

I really don't think sandow is fit, let's be honest we haven't missed him as much as any of us thought we would. If someone said to you just before the challenge cup final that would be Sandows last game of the season do you think you would have expected us to have played the way we have since then? Bar 20 minutes against Wigan and maybe the second half against catalans we have played really well and that's having fielded teams that we would say we're weakened every match on that time.

We are playing that well that we don't need to take the gamble. That said if sandow was fit then I am sure he will play.

Yes I've said on another thread. Sandow disappointed me at Wembley. He hasn't reversed that performance since. I didn't envision how a knock to Gidley's head could affect Sandow so badly.
I'd look to replace. I think we're seeing what baggage he is.

Smith did his job last night. Gave Clark 10 minutes rest and didn't miss his tackles. Nervous with the ball, but at least he continued to have a crack, and backed himself with a kick as well. That game will teach him more that a season in the 19's. That said, next week is of for him.

Big stage, big game against a big team, momentum is key and we can't have a 10 minute 'cling on' period. If he's fit, Sandow on the bench would be great. Would really lift our crowd when we throw him on. Gidley is more than competent defending in the middle and has good distribution. A little bit of magic from Sandow could be what we need to break down a tough Wigan team

Redvee suggests Dwyer has spoken to Saints but too expensive. Then again they do have over a 100 pages of transfer speculation, most of which was wishful thinking.

Maybe ever if the rumours of on a plane back to Australia day after grand final are proven to be right

Straight swap for Andre Savelio.

Does anyone think Clark even needs to be rotated? It is not as though you look at him and think he needs a break. He is far too good to be off the pitch at any point IMHO.

I am tempted to suggest Sandow should be on the bench and be used in case of emergency.

With regard to Dwyer if we let him go that would leave the club with no specialist hooker in any of the teams apart from Clark. One would need to be signed; I would suggest McShane as an option.

I don't know how he is playing these days but don't we have Andy Ackers on loan in London ?

I don't know what the problem is with Dwyer but he always seems to add an extra spark when he comes on.

I'd take that.

Ackers was never offered a contract. The starting hookers in the Academy from last season have both now left the club. The reserve team had the halfback from Rochdale covering the role and Sean Kenny who is now at Salford.

Very thin on the ground.

Dwyer in for Smith definitely (just because he was dropped I'm not clear why people refer to the naughty step). A couple of weeks rest could have helped but I'd have liked to have seen him play on Thursday.

Only other possibilities are Bailey for Philbin (Joe did nothing wrong,but Bailey has more presence if 100% fit) and Sandow for patten. But Dec played really well and there's no way Sandow is 100% match fit or possibly even fit.

Big call though as Sandow is mercurial. Can we afford him on the bench with Dec moving to hooker for 10 mins resting Clark? Dwyer would miss out then....