ratch at fullback, russell on the wing(when hes fit) and GOB with myler in the halves higham and dwyer hookers. simples!

Unless he is still affected by his ankle injuries, but looking at his last two games Ratch is not a fullback.

So the general consensus is that G'OB is worthy of a regular starting slot?

Cas seem to think so, Saints became more consistent with him last season, he orchestrated games for Widnes and I can remember him creating / scoring some amazing tries for us (in both our camouflage and MND charity shirts).

So why isn't he given a chance before Monaghan?

Everyone deserves the chance if they show something in the first place, it's then up to the player to grab it with both hands and make himself undroppable.

Mick Monaghan is not a Halfback, so give GOB the chance, give him at LEAST a run of 5 or 6 games and assess him based on those performances.

Couldn't agree more.

I'm hoping Ormsby gives Riley something to think about too.

im hoping for a little bit more than that

From what I saw of Ormsby in the Leigh game, he's got plenty of potential and he's got some acceleration.

He's a big unit, Ormsby, as well isn't he even by modern winger standards. Hopefully he won't be restricted to runs from dummy half and kick returns and we can engineer some one-on-one's for him.

he did quite a gd job there at the back end of the season last year, but since briers retired hes been training at 6. do u think ratch would be fb if briers didnt retire? would we have signed russell or was that before they even knew about briers injury?

Gaz O'Brien was one of Saints' better performers last season and I'm sure they would have kept him if the option had been there.

He is a natural halfback so let's give him a good chance to show what he's about and judge over a longer period of time, not just one or two games.

It was a poor start last week but we know we will be there or thereabouts at the end of the year so we can't press the panic button just yet.

Riley is consistent but he looked overweight for me in the Salford and Saints games so leave him out and make him work to get back in. Good luck to Ormsby tonight and if he does make a mistake tonight, let's not hound him but support him and he will turn into another good young player from the production line which is starting to be beneficial to us.

See you all at Headingley!

If Ormsby and Atkins show well and Ormsby is quick off the mark with equal strength then Mr Riley will struggle to get in on form alone. GOB has to play in the halves above Monas that is simple. If Smith persists with the Monas half back thing i think his god like status should be monitored somewhat! Ratch was good at FB last year when called on and suddenly being put back there after training at 6 may have knocked him. Ratch is a broken field player as is Myler we need a controlling player and at present GOB is the best we have. Support from Grix at 13 may help GOB cement his place.

Re Ratchford at full back... at the back end he looked good as a stand in for Hodgson ,but in his 2 games this year he hasn't looked as impressive or comfortable in the role so far. He may still be feeling the effects of his ankle injuries from OT. If push comes to shove though ,Jordan Burke looks like a full back for the future.

What was this chat about Myler at hooker all about?

Is it that we think Higham is past his best or is it because Monaghan is going to be playing halfback long term now so we need a replacement hooker.

TBH I don't fancy Myler at hooker much. We need a ballplaying/kicking halfback alongside him and let Myler be the running half, he is like Danny McGuire, fast, direct, superb support player. He has proved himself with us over the past few years but I think he is what he is and we shouldn't expect him to be a player like Briers.

Myler and Brough seems like a marriage???

Ugly kids though, plus Helen wouldn't be happy

I think the strategy this year is to see how 'the promising youngsters' cope at the coal face and I expect they will all be put to the test this year, including GOB.
It does not matter who you play where in the backs though if the forwards do not create the platform for them to play.
Against Saints the pack got second prize which puts the backs under pressure ergo Myler making so many tackles. We have some big lads but I think they will get a few more second prizes until they find some steel and leadership from somewhere. I hoped Asotasi would supply this but the jury is out on him at the moment.
I do not expect any trophies this year but let's not be greedy we have done well in recent years and it may take TS a year or two to build another team.

From my point of view it was a long term potential option in thinking it could be where his future may lie, I don't mean at the expense of Dwyer as I think he has potential to be a great player. I really like Myler but his last tackle kicking game is woeful at the Minute and needs to improve.

Then that ought to be in the reserves or at Swinton playing hb but not at the expense of someone better at hooker than he would be.

I said long term, not Swinton over the coming weeks/ months! Our hooker options right now should be higham, Monas/ Dwyer (this one should be very much up in the air) and then after them probably grix and then Myler if we are unlucky with injuries (if we do get that unlucky I think he may just surprise a few in the 9 role but for the record I hope it doesn't come to that).

The one out on the full aside thought he was one of our better performers tonight and he hit the ground on his kicks, splitting winger and fullback.

I lke the lad but he is in such an important role and filling in for the greatest UK halfback of our generation I can't help but feel he will fail.

They certainly are enormous boots to fill bu I think he has a chance. Myler needs to step up with a bit more help.

Good game last night for young Gareth. Another go next week will do no harm