i no that the headaches smith is going to have has been brought up i,m just interested in peoples and opinions of what team you'll think he'll go for.
With westwood and wood more than likely to be back, both by far deserve to be in the team but no one deserves to be left out! any way, mine goes...
Hodgson
joel
atkins
bridge
kingy
briers
myler
moz
moners
carvel
anderson
westwood
grix

Subs i'd go:
cooper
wood
harrison
solamona

no hooker as i think moners can do 80 and the others dont offer much, if it comes to it bridgy gets in there at 9 or grix just while moners gets his breath back
apologies if its been discussed all ready first post in a while i've been off shore.

I'd go with a hooker option, and I think Clarke's form puts him in poll position for that interchange hooker spot.

Hodgson
Monaghan
Bridge
Atkins
King
Briers
Myler
Morley
Monaghan
Carvell
Westwood
Anderson
Grix

Clarke
Cooker
Wood
Solomona

Personally, I think Harrison is the weakest of our prop options. Cooper is in sensational form and deserves a spot and Solomona is a potential match winner. Really tough on Riley, but the taller wingers give us an added threat

*Falls off chair*

I agree with your team but you make a very interesting point RE: Harrison. He hasn't really hit previous form since his injury for me. He does a job and does it well, but it's been a while since I have seen a big shot or are barn storming run from him.

I had high hopes for Ben, potentially being like our Paul Gallen, but recently his game has changed and he's just slotting in now. Cooper has gone the other way.

I think unless God has told Harrison to adapt his style, he must improve to earn a spot with us and England.

Harrison has been superb in the last two games. He has been doing the hard yards and consistently winning the collision. Amazed at what people watch sometimes.

Its a great problem to have going into the final rounds of the competition with essentially a fully fit squad. I can only think of Gaz O'Brien that is unavailable.

hodgson

J monas
Kingy
Atkins
Riles

Briers
Myler

Moz
M Monas
Gaz
B Westwood
L Anderson
Bridge

Int

Coops/Woody
B Harrison
Clarke
Grix


i know different to some peoples but i really like bridge at the loose forward role and seems unfair to push riley out now and having Grix on the bench adds versitility that is what i personally would go with!

ooooh forgot woody might be back maybe have woody on bench instead of coops

Hodgson
Monaghan
Bridge
Atkins
King
Briers
Myler
Morley
Monaghan
Carvell
Westwood
Anderson
Cooper

Clarke
Harrison
Wood
Solomona

Harsh on Grix who's been our unsung hero this year, but I believe Westwood will offer more to the team. Same for Riley, King offers more on the wing and Bridge back at centre.

I'd have Grix over Cooper

Depends on who we play, if it's Wigan - King & Atkins have had so much success up against Joel & Charnley that I'd leave Riley out and let those two continue to make fools of them.

How come Yed? IMO we have enough ball players across the park, so as I see Grix more of a "ball playing" 13 compared to Cooper as a "battering ram" or extra prop, I'd be inclined to go for Coops. Share the workload, do the damage up the middle, and we know we've got the best 3/4 line in the league to score when we shift the ball out wide. I'd like to hear your POV though as to why you'd pick Grix.

Grix as you alluded to is a better ball player, but don't kid yourself that he can't do the hard yards either, Cooper is having a good season but i just don't think he has the same variation as Grix, plus if there is a knock to a player, he can just slide over to that position for the rest of the game, he brings more versatility to the team which puts him over Coops for me.

I think Ian Knott should get a game, if we get a knock in the backs he can move out to centre, he's proven before that he can play there.

woah hang on, flashback. sorry!

Amazing to think we could be full strength at the perfect time after having key players out across the side only weeks ago.

Play to our best in the next 2 games and we will be Champions.

I think your point about versatility is a good one Yed. With Coops, Bridge is your utility player in the case of injury. There's no doubting Grix's ability with ball in hand whether carrying or his pass selection, but as I mentioned, I'd prefer Coops in there with his strength, size and footwork at the line. Tiring out the middle of the field, leading to more quick PTB's allowing Monas to cause havoc from dummy half like he has all year and then giving the time and space for our halves and 3/4's to finish the job.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one!

totally agree as with the team that i have put on riles can cover fullback aswell so if hodg gets a knock there is cover aswell we have a very versitile team at the moment that can cover positions i have also not included solo as he still doesnt look 100% he was playing on one leg in the last game

Have you actually watched the last two games? Benny Harrison has been our best forwards, making the really hard yards all the time. I saw several barnstorming runs from him both at Hull and last Friday night.

Harrison has been awesome last two matches. Watch how many tackles he puts in on each set. He came on vs Huddersfield at the same time as Luke Robinson and it was his running at Robinson in each set that knocked the stuffing out of Robinson within 5 minutes. Important but not obvious contributions.

I am about to amaze myself by suggesting that Wood and/or Westwood might not/should not make the 17 if all are fit.

Watch the Wigan game back, he was average at best. Complete brain fart shooting out of the for Deacon's try and didn't contribute a great deal going forward.

He doesn't get picked over Morley Wood or Carvell, there's no debate there, and if your picking on form Cooper wipes the floor with him, 70 mins at Hull and clear leader in carries and meters in the Huddersfield game. Cooper is on fire and deserves his shot, the only spot up for debate is Wood's fitness and Solomona, who offers a lot more in regard to width and diversity

i would say at the moment, cooper is doing harrison's role at 13 better than harrison has been doing it this year.

You'd say probably if all fit grix would drop out, i wouldn't want that to be the case, but you know what the full strength 13 would look like with a prop at LF.


PErsonally, i would ask the question, is it worth actually keeping bridge at 13 though, i think he's played better in the middle of the park than out in the centres this year, does the team get better value and more effect with him there. I'd say yes myself.

Can't agree Grix has been outstanding this year & deserves his place

Grix has to play..a lot of attacking moves that come out from our position has him providing the pass....he tackles well also....he has to play for mine.

There cannot be any room for sentimentalism in this...tough on the players that have done the business so far...but that's sport.

Richie Myler missing out in the CC final show that Mr Smith will pick the best team to get the job done.

IMO

Brett
J Monas
Bridge
Atkins
King
Lee
Richie
Moz
Monas
Carv
Louis
Benny
Grix

Ben H
Woody
Solo
Clarke/Higham/Cooper

ANCW totally agree with what you say about Ben H.

With regards to your comment about Benny W and Paul, the mere fact that you are thinking this is a credit to Simon Grix and Coops and how they have taken their chance's and stepped up to the plate in Benny and Paul's absence.

Spot on. Ben H did play well on Friday and reasonably well at Hull but most of his previous performances have been average at best. Coops definately deserves to hold onto his place.