I would underestimate Hull at our peril. Changes afoot, players coming back, sense of "they think they've already won lads" in their dressing room (and in the past we've gone out with that mentality, or it felt like it)

Looking at the betting, the bookies can't tell if this is going to be a 6pt win or a 40pt win and neither can I at the moment.

It's just about finding the right balance. After the Hull game, we have a very tough run with Hull KR, the Cup semi-final, Catalans and Wigan. If we played our first-choice team against Hull, won easily, and then players were looking fatigued in a month's time, people would be saying 'why didn't he rest a few when he had the chance?'. I'm certainly not classing Hull as a gimme, but I'm still OK with Burgess resting a couple of forwards this week, and as you say, if we can just win and move on, then happy days.

Totally see your point and on reflection I agree. Although subtle it's probably this no disrespect angle that concerns me most. Admittedly it's probably genuine unlike when people use "with all due respect" in an argument often meaning the opposite.

Let's hope for the win and move on.

What i'd go for, but Taylor-wray might get a shot on the wing but i'm not sure?

I’m not sure we can pick Ratchford after the struggle that he had containing Lafai at the weekend. Yes, Lafai is a handful for anyone, but he was reduced to a turnstile. Didn’t offer much in the way of attack either. 18th man for me (for versatility and experience value)

Wrench is still the preferred choice, so I think it’s a foot race between Tai and Lindrop. The other going out to the left wing to plug the Ashton gap.

Thewlis is fortunate that we aren’t blessed in wing stock, his defence has been hit and miss for a while often finding himself in no man’s land between the centre and winger. That said, it must be really difficult having had three centres in the first 10 games, and disruption with both halfback and second row on that side. I think keeping Thewlis, Williams and Nicholson together has its merit, so if Dufty has a rest, put the kid at fullback. If we lose, it won’t be the fault of a kid. We have more than enough in the pack and halves to mitigate for a naive youngster and is a great show the squad as a whole that we are not panicking and reverting to Ratchford at 1 because he’s steady.

It’s a good debate about the pro’s and con’s of the bye rounds in the NRL. Clubs have a blank space on the calendar where they can push the stars to their limit knowing there’s a break in the horizon. Against our position where that rest actually opens the door to show youth players what first grade looks like, give them almost an action plan of where they need to work when they go back to lower grades or loans, and monitor their progress. For once, I think we’re in a good place on this and can make an informed choice on contract renewals having seen Holroyd, Wood, Whitehead, Lindrop, Taylor-Wray etc. in and around the match day experience rather than gambling.

Lots to be positive about. Complete 180 from where we have been.

Hayes' injury has forced one change but, in any case, I was expecting him to be withdrawn from the firing line at some point in the near future and Drinkwater to be given some game time and the chance to prove himself (he's had just 2 ½ games under Burgess). Russell had a bad game and needed to be dropped, Harrison and Crowther have played a lot of minutes and I think that there were signs, Crowther in particular, that performances were dipping. With Musgrove coming back, and with some tough rounds ahead of us, it feels like the right decision to rest them.

With four changes already confirmed by the squad selection it will be interesting to see whether or not Ratchford stays in, I suspect that he will.

100% They've got a big powerful squad, if we turn up like we did last week they'll run right over us.

We really haven't, we have Ese Ese who has been excellent and Pele with potential, that's about it in the pack.

Trueman should be back but has been out for months.

Briscoe will give us some go forward and Walker looks good, but should be a comfy Warrington victory.

The weather forecast shows heavy rain for the match, so I'm expecting a dour affair with lots of handling errors. My confidence is starting to ebb a bit, I must say. Not sure about comfy - I'll just be happy with a win.

I'd take a 0-0.

We have London amd Cas the two weeks after, we will target those games.
.
Season is all about getting some confidence and picking up a few win. Hopefully with the investment coming, we get a good coach and some decent overseas players to mix with our young squad.

I think with the stick given to our right side defence recently i would not put Thewlis at fullback. I think he could be better in a going forward with the ball position. I would put him in the reserves for a bit as a half back & see how he progresses. But then i a m not the coach

PS just painted living room while waiting for post to appear..

Classic.

I don't get the Thewlis stick? I remember him having a stinker in round 2 or 3 where he dropped a ball once or twice, received a high shot, missed a tackle, scored and also intercepted but apart from that he's bagged a fair few tries of late hasn't he?

If your winger is caught between 4/5 (or 2/3) constantly then I'd look inward on the line, someone either isn't tracking or is being sucked in (or both)

Thewlis stays on the wing for me and for a while yet.

Philth. Absolutely.

4 weeks ago, nobody want Ratchford in the team, he kicks a record breaking score, and suddenly he’s un-droppable.

Doesn’t have the best game like every other back behind a beaten pack…and every one wants him out again!!

Utter crazy Wire fans.

We always have to be slagging someone off, and the usual targets (Drinkwater and Currie) have been keeping their heads down by (1) not playing or (2) playing well.

It’s not a Thewlis bash, by any stretch. Actually, more of a reason to keep him on position to form those relationships to improve the current issues. But, it’s undeniable that the right side is an issue.

Look at the Lafai try, Thewlis is left defending two players, but has a grab at Lafai and bounces off. Could and should have shut that play down on the half way line. The Leigh game, left against 2 again but gambled on the interception which left Leutele to stroll through untouched and put Charnley in the corner. Untouched 15 yards out. Similar with the Leutele try, he was stranded in the middle of Leutele and Charnley, tackled neither and wasn’t in a position to tackle either.

It’s a tough one, on one hand he needs to keep to his man and trust the inside slide, but there has to be a point where you defend the man closest to the ball when the slide fails. Doing either would be fine, but he’s been in the middle too often. It payed off for the interception at Leeds, but they are few and far between.

That’s before you look at the struggles against Catalan where he was simply bullied by the kicking game.

It’s not a knee jerk, he is a fantastic player and is a long term fixture of this team. But that are is a vulnerability. If I was doing video on Warrington to prepare to play them (And Russel isn’t playing), that area on and outside of Williams would be the absolute lions share of the focus. You don’t fix it by moving him to fullback for a week. You fix it by keeping the combinations together as best as you can. But there needs to be some improvement now we have Nicholson and Williams settled on that side with him, or he may have to come out and work on it in reserves. Put it this way, if Russell, Minikin or even Kevin flippin Penny would have been in those positions, the groans from the stand would have been deafening and this board would have been red hot. Thewlis has credit in the bank because he does a lot well, and has been a victim of the Powell’s right side merry go round, and the on-going Wrench injuries.

must admit, (i can't currently quote browny) i've chosen not to comment on currie's last 2 games, where he was a mile off where he has been, though it surprised me he escaped much criticism for his first half performance against catalans

Baring any late injuries in the warm up, tonight's 17 is.....

Dufty
Lindop
King
Tai
Thewlis
Williams
Drinkwater
Vaughan
Walker
Philbin
Nicholson
Fitzgibbon
Currie

Musgrove
Holroyd
Wood
Powell

thats a light-ish bench, regardless of how naff fc have been they still have pele and ese-ese who are big bodies and we struggle to put them down.

Not aware of any injury to Bullock and yes he would have added some weight to the bench, I assume he has been dropped?

I get more nervous/fidgety about games that we are expected to win. Always worried about the team that's struggling getting a quick 10 point lead & us panicking and the opposition having the best game of their season.
Get a grip Smiffy!

hull sign asiata for next year, thatll give them a lift for tonight, possibly.

Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"hull sign asiata for next year, thatll give them a lift for tonight, possibly.'" https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/reports- ... ata-91107/

Quote ="Fantastic Mr Cat"hull sign asiata for next year, thatll give them a lift for tonight, possibly.'" https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/reports- ... ata-91107/

I don't think will make much difference tonight, but a massive step in the right direction for the club.

My 'want' for tonight is no/minimal penalties.
Achieve that and we'll be fine.

Last week was a penalty horror show and we got what we deserved.