There are lots of options:

Monas 7 or 9
Louis 6 or 11/12
Clarke 6, 9 or 13
Bries 6 or 7 (if it matters)

The only reason I can think of not including Myler in the 17 is if Clarke and Monas both start, then TS needs a hooker on the bench to cover if one gets injured. Then will he name 3 forwards on the bench with Higham. Wood, Sol, V.Anderson.

All three Monas, Clarke, Higham played on Friday. Looked a bit disorganised to me.

Any news on Big Dave's back?

I heard he was struggling earlier in the week but he looked fine as he walked out in front of a moving car on Tesco car park this morning? I was tempted to dive out body guard style to save him (he is my favourite player), but then I thought that even if the car did crash into him it would probably suffer more damage itself.

Why drop Higham ?

Briers and Monaghan at 6 & 7.

Clarke at Hooker.

Higham on the bench along side Myler.

So Cooper and Vinnie to miss out.

Think we need three forwards on the bench. not enough cover otherwise. You could probably get away with it if all the props play 60 mins, then you can give the other forwards a rest at some point. But pick up a knock and you are going to struggle to keep up the intensity.

If Myler doesn't play then it will be him and Cooper to miss out. Thought Vinnie did enough on Friday for a place ahead of him. After a knock on and a penalty in his first five mins he looked good. Cooper was ok. But Vinnie edged it.

Would just like to add that this is not a bad position to be in. We should be counting our blessings that we have selection problems at the business end of the season.

My thoughts exactly. A few pages back (or on another thread) I said I was surprised if this were true, but I added that Smith seems to get the tactics right (2005 final being the exception to prove the rule before Leeds fans jump in). In a month of Sundays I would never pick Higham ahead of Myler but then again in a millennium of Sundays I would never be Warrington's head coach.

The point is he is not picking Higham ahead of Myler, as they don't even play the same position. TS will have a game plan and pick the players that fit that plan. I hope he will not just pick the 17 'best players'. I had enough of that philosophy in the world cup.

I can't believe I'm getting into this based on a rumor (even if true). I will refrain from further comment.

Was on radio earlier that the rumour was Myler was not in the 17.

Briers 6 , Monaghan 7, Clarke and Higham rotating at 9.

As per Sir Raymond of French

I'm sure he does have a plan.

I agree with pp that IF Myler is the one to miss out it is not necessarily as TS believes certain players are better etc - it will be that he has a team design and game plan to fit.

I personally will still be shocked if he does make such a large change on the eve of a major final but he must have watched numerous playbacks of Leeds and so will pick his team accordingly.

Those above saying Myler's defence is weak need to look again. He has been working hard in this area- he may have a few missed tackles to his name but this is often because the lad is so quick he reaches and halts the oppostion quickly. I am a huge Monas fan and will be disappointed if he starts at 7, he has settled much better at 9. I am glad I am not the one who has to pick between Higham, Clarke and Myler.

There is enough experience in the team, so no need to worry about Myler on that score. I can't help feel to drop him is the wrong choice - his speed alone keeps him in for me when he standing opposite the likes of Maguire.

I'm intrigued. But won't believe it yet.

Tactics, tactics...

He's done it off the back of how well Clarke, Mona's and Briers linked in the semi.

Mona's got 3 assist's that day and did play very well but we aint playing Catalan on Saturday I can see why for experience reasons an maybe being more solid why he would keep them 3 together its just that Myler won't even be on the bench which baffles me.

Mona's is 10/1 for the Lance Todd and for me he's going to have to be at least in the top 2 players on the field if we are going to win this, he's going to have to do one of them 80 min wonder spells and lead us.

whatever you are smoking, share it!

The thing I am fearing is he's using a world class hooker in Monas in the halves and not his prefered posistion, okay he's played there before but in a game like this where you have a world class 9 on the otherside in Buderus, does baffle me, as much as I like Clarkey him V Buderus, for speed and passing from the ruck?

Although, I'm fully behind Che and I believe.

In Smith We Trust.

But playing in the halves is where he wanted to play..

Is it? I seem to recall an interview this season where he said his prefered posistion is hooker.

Go back to his Manly days he only played 9 because of Orford, he then got injuried and played very well in his place the only reason he came here was to play in the halves.

The problem being he has been mainly garbage in the halves for us.

True but he does have it in him to run the show we need hope he's red hot come 2.30.

Cullen bought him and he was "supposed" to be the best thing since sliced bread. He was gash. Then in came Tony and played him at hooker, and is now the best in SL along with Roby, look at the SEMI last year, I think he played better in the SEMI last year than in the final.

Point being - we are playing a class hooker in his second posistion IMO.

Everyone was "gash" around that time even a SOO centre/winger.

What I am saying is because Myler isn't playing then this weakens us already, as I have said we have to play our brilliant hooker in the halves (his second posistion) then start Clarke/Higham probably Clarke at nine against Buderus. Buderus is a better nine, a better passer, and is faster around the ruck area, he killed us around the ruck at the Halliwell Jones earlier this season. There are two things that weaken us there IMO. With Buderus and Monas both at hooker I'd of said that was a fairly even contest and both are great hookers, it was a battle I was looking forward to.

But as I said, I will stand by what Che thinks and his decision. [size=200Believe[/size

A cunning one, at that.

As I just said on the Myler thread...I can't help thinking this could be mind games from Smith - but as a Leeds fan I hope it is true because I think Monaghan is most effective at 9 and in a different class to your other options there.

We haven't managed to achieve this in 3 out of the last 4 times we've played them though.

Yes but this time theres no JP or Burgess at all