Eek. Out till first round of the play offs - could have been worse I suppose. Makes top 2 much more difficult though.

I’d still give CTW the run this week, if he does well keep him there, if not we have the option of putting Thewlis in and Lindop to wing.

Maybe Play CTW at fullback when we are attacking and then swop him and Thewlis around when we are defending?

If Dufty is out for 6 weeks, then that would ease CTW into regular 1st team rugby, and he would be under less defensive pressure.

Hmm not sure, that might put him under more pressure. Yes a full back has to make last ditch tackles, but defensive positioning for a winger is vital and he'd still be under pressure through a kicking game on the wing (see Thewlis vs Hull KR). Asking him to defend in a completely alien position to him might be asking for trouble?

How do you finish a game but also need 6 weeks out.

RL players are freaks! (In a nice way)

There's no way the physio should have allowed him back on.

He's having the cartlidge trimmed. Should be more than 6 weeks ideally but club trying for 5!

Perhaps one is as a result of the other?

Can’t he go Orford Lane for a trim, enough choices there and he won’t have to wait six weeks

Losing Dufty is a massive blow but I’m not overly worried - we’ve got good options. See if Sky mention us missing two of our huge overseas stars in the run-in.

Jai Field did it in the cup final, missed 8 weeks after tearing his hamstring early on.

It’s a reflection of Thewlis and how far he’s come as a winger that this isn’t being touted as a chance to get him some experience at fullback. He’s still so young, but it seems a disruption to move him from that wing, even in the name of development. If anything, Thewlis is the safe pair of hands in this scenario.

Don’t forget if need be Ashton is a superb full back

Yes this doesn't get mentioned enough. He had some great games there when he first broke into the first team and is a great support player.

Agree, Ashton filling in would be my choice with Lindop taking the wing spot.

He’s an out and out winger for me now, he’d make a decent fist of it but not sure he has the passing game for it.

SB's 'next man up' policy being stuck to. CTW starting at full back tomorrow night.

Pleased with that. He’s the most like Dufty in how he plays. Not had this squad depth for a long time.

Losing Dufty is a massive blow and I can imagine other sides saying 'thank **** for that' (in a 'relief' sense) but this team is more than one man and has more than one way to win. It does make our run in more difficult, but still better than most.

Yes it is great when the next man up is so good. Big chance for him.

CTW is the Reece Walsh of Super League. Just hope that the fans don't jump all over him for making some inevitable mistakes on the way to becoming Dufty's replacement. Can't wait to see what he can do when he sees a gap.

Sounds like the right decision: better to replace 1-for-1 than move 2/3 players about.

We will need to be patient because any young player will make mistakes and it's one of the most exposed positions on the field.

Yes, great opportunity for him, and probably means we wont have to significantly shift our attacking structure as they seem on the face of it similar players. Also may mean we look to develop additional ways to score points in other areas of the field with Dufty not available, so hopefully we will see some future gains from this.

I think as long as Williams is fit and firing top 2 is still well on, will be defined by the games vs Leigh & Saints.

[list=[/listTaylor-wray is the best youngster I've seen coming through since the days of Harris and Sculthorpe. There? How's that for putting pressure on the kid?

Stick CTW in a Dufty mask ,should confuse the Cas players.

As for Ashton , he doesn't half get through some work during matches.

Has our game been relegated to the red button of doom tonight?

what a contrast with last season! The style of play but also SB’s trust in youth. He has totally captured what so man Wire fans have been praying for for years (decades). Not trying to shoehorn his favourite player into any position just to get them in the team. Mainly though I get the feeling he would walk barefoot over hot coals rather than push a youngster under the bus. The contrast with Powell is overwhelming.
Ps I know we haven’t won anything but it feels like it!