With Holmes coming in, I assumed that's where Hughes would find himself. But it's good to see Longstaffs progression, wouldn't have any worries putting him in should one of Currie / Holmes pick up an injury / suspension. Same with Walker, wasn't concerned when I saw Clark wasn't playing (was pleased that he didn't to be honest - he clearly isn't right) We don't lose much when Walker replaces him, in fact I think he's been better than Clark for the last few weeks.

Not sure if J Clark is injured, but he's not getting many minutes. Just 12 minutes I think he played?

I've noticed we seem to raise our game whenever longstaff comes off the bench. I don't want to get giddy, but I'm really, really impressed with this kid.

He has a brother in our U16's who also plays BR. Unlike Josh Thewlis's brother Jake, who has broken the mould by playing centre rather than FB. Too early to know if they are likely to come through to the first team yet but the younger Thewlis did play his first game for the U19's last Saturday.

The run he makes for the Williams try is indicative of the impact. Hughes wouldn’t run with the same aggression, and without that Harry Smith wouldn’t shoot out to close him down, so the gap isn’t there.

Nothing against Hughes, I quite like him as a middle. But he just doesn’t “sell” that lead runner, so there’s no space in the line around that dummy run.

Don’t you worry about us owd cock, I would be rather more concerned at your own teams (I presume you are still a Saints supporter) complete and utter collapse. All that guff on Redvee about not being concerned? If 3 tries in 5 minutes isn’t cause for concern then I genuinely don’t know what is.

I'm not concerned in the slightest about that. You could see how much we relaxed, took a few off and had Wingfield at hooker and everything just stopped. That isn't happening in a semi final or final. We've been doing that for a while, Walmsley has been doing minimal minutes to try to save his legs and we'v been taking players off late on in games. We got one wrong, it means we don't get a 10th hubcap that everyone laughs at us for winning anyway, what's the big deal? No panic from me even if we don't win it this season, one trophy already in the bag and some decent recruitment lined up for next year too.

I'm not a big fan of Hughes but thought this was one of his better games although the game itself was a low risk affair (apart from King's blind side manoeuvre). Him, Walker Cooper Hill and Mulhearn were all pluses up front for me and obviously Thewlis and Longstaff as others have mentioned.

I think currie is back to his best as well UR. I wouldn't swap him for any other 2nd row in superleague personally. His defence is outstanding and he runs good lines carrying a threat in attack. I though currie closed them down really well yesterday, one of our top performers on the day. Cooper was outstanding.

It was a war of attrition down the middle, not many errors or penalties, we did well to keep them to one try. Cooper was very impressive on his return, Walker worked his socks off but at times I did feel we missed Clark running the show from dummy half. Mulhern came off the bench and made some really good yardage need more of the same from him!

Hope Davis and Clark are fit and well for next week..

Takes me back to the days of Tyrone 'Mr Tumble' Roberts

I would not risk any player, especially D Clark against Salford.

I would prefer to play our best available 17 players against Salford and then give some of them a rest versus Castleford.

It looks like Castleford will finish 6th, and for our last league games we play them away, which will be a `Must Win game` for them to finish in the top 6 and qualify for the play-offs.

Let them fight hard to beat us in a game that has little significance for us, then we go for the win in the qualifying semi final at the HJ.

Given how much we missed in last couple of months I’d rather we rest no one unless they got a niggling injury. That said if they do then 2 I wouldn’t rest is Williams and Widdop they need as much time together as poss.

We've not been in good enough form to go into the playoffs after resting players who don't have a knock or injury. They will be going in undercooked I cannot think of a time when it has payed off but there are lots of examples of a rested squad struggling to with the intensity when the opposition have not rested players.

Last night should be the starting block to build into the playoffs if we rest players and go into the playoffs expecting them to just turn it on then I think we're in for another disappointing conclusion for the season. Our players have not played as many games as expected so we should not need to be rested but start to be pushing to raise their intensity so going into the playoffs were peaking.

I agree, we need to be hitting our peak now. I think yesterday was a defence test which we passed. We should attack against Salford and try to put it all together against Cas. Then hit the playoffs with the right mentality, not limp in to them and dissappear without a fight like the last couple of seasons.

Autocorrect

Walker is on crutches at the minute, so it’s highly doubtful he will be able to play. D Clark only had a stomach bug so I’d expect him to slot back into the side.

I would get a huge bundle of cotton wool for Cooper & Hill. We do not need to see what they can do. They are getting on and good ... so look after them.

Quote ="Mighty_Wires88"Walker is on crutches at the minute, so it’s highly doubtful he will be able to play. D Clark only had a stomach bug so I’d expect him to slot back into the side.'" Clark was injured according to Steve Price:- https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... kend-game/

Quote ="Mighty_Wires88"Walker is on crutches at the minute, so it’s highly doubtful he will be able to play. D Clark only had a stomach bug so I’d expect him to slot back into the side.'" Clark was injured according to Steve Price:- https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... kend-game/

Quote ="St Helens Wolf"Takes me back to the days of Tyrone 'Mr Tumble' Roberts '" Oh thanks. youtu.be/UPw-3e_pzqU

Quote ="St Helens Wolf"Takes me back to the days of Tyrone 'Mr Tumble' Roberts '" Oh thanks. youtu.be/UPw-3e_pzqU

I'm happy that D Clark isn't playing. Nothing to gain from the last two rounds of SL = get your strike force 100% fit for the play offs.

Other than Hill, Cooper & Philbin, I'm not sure we should be resting anyone who is fully fit right now.

If you want to be 100% come play off time, the way to do that is to get some tough games under your belt. The Wigan game will have done us a big favour - we needed a high tempo, tough workout and now we need momentum and form.

We haven't suffered fixture backlog like some have, and our form of late has been erratic so bar resting the above I say let's hit the playoffs running, rather than ambling apologetically into them like we have in previous years.

I understand your point but..we need Williams and Widdop to play together as much as possible and for them to have optimum conditions Hill and Cooper have to play. Quite a conundrum.

Agreed, the last thing we want to encourage now is slackness and complacency. If the coach doesn't take these last couple of games seriously I don't think the players will, wholesale changes sends out the wrong signals IMO. Give some Fringe players a last chance to fight their way in to the playoff plans by all means (Ashton, Davis, longstaff, J Clark, austin) but please no big alterations. I don't think we are good enough to mess about, we can't just turn it on. 3 years on the run limping out in the playoffs will see me seething that price was allowed to stay on.

Ratch to 9, thewlis to FB and Ashton on the wing works for me or more straight forward is Austin to 9 being spelled by Davis. I'd like Ashton to have a run out and maybe longstaff to start.

The way to ensure players are rested is to get in to a lead, then let your key players spend more time on the bench. Especially Hill and Cooper. Get the job done then rest.

Let's not forget we need our key players spending more time on the pitch with Williams for him to get used to the way we play and where he is likely to find space and hurt the opposition.

If Walker out I can’t see past J Clark/M Davis at dummy half