. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... view/13210

. www.rugby-league.com/superleague ... view/13210

and the ball

Hopefully Brown and Higson will actually be fit to play. Which just leaves the question of whether Drinkwater is fit or whether Hampshire needs to move there.

Would be good to see a bit of a reshuffle in the back row. Can't bring myself to watch Vea's attempt at defence and Stewart's attempt at being an extra half back.

Grace is a real handful need to watch him very closely on that wing

Mitch Brown is still struggling with some aspects of Head tests.

If he passes he will play full back and Ryan Hampshire will move to 6 to partner young Drinkwater at 7.

I have a funny feeling about Friday, I don't know if thats down to us mixing it up or St.Helens possibly expecting an easy ride, maybe a combination of the two.

A lot does depend on Brown being passed fit otherwise I suspect 6 and 7 wilk be Ridyard and Drinkwater and 1 will be Reynolds or Hampshire.

Well at least it appears that Brown at FB is the way forward - deffo looks our best option there, very solid.

Hampshire at 6 would be interesting, put a bit of pace around that area

Yes I think so, I am really looking forward to watching him have a full 80 mins there, considering he has been chomping at the bit for this role. Let's hope Brown's availability will give him the opportunity.

Brown is hands down a quality SL full back but an ordinary average centre.

IMHO Of course.

A fair point that, Harold. But is Dawson a SL centre? Not in my opinion!

Don't think Dawson is any better or worse than brown at centre, but bringing naughton into the wing would add pace to the back line while having first choice full back at full back.

Worrying that brown is struggling to pass the head test though.

Disappointingly Ridyard does not seem to be taking his opportunity at the moment - glimpses possibly, but fear we will be looking at another 6 shortly

Drinkwater seems a far better game controller, dictating the plays etc.

Imo No, but I also think he is only half the winger he is when Tonga is at the side of him.

Losing Tonga was a big blow to us as that side was looking an accomplished edge both defensively and offensively. 3 weeks now for Tonga I reckon.

Brown at full back is our best option - he attacks the ball and hence gets us much further up the field than others we have tried there. Our problem is then that we do not have a second centre if he does - I agree Dawson is not a centre.
Naughton looks poor in defence he crucially fell off tackles against Hull KR and would struggle against the Saints wingers.
I am not convinced about Hampshire at 6 - but until he is given a chance we will never know. I am a big Riddy fan, but he looks out of sorts at the minute and there is too much uncertainty about who is Kicking what. I agree with Mr Chairman that Riddy is the most effective with long kicks and bombs. Is it worth giving Reynolds a run at centre? suspect he will be full back on Friday night

Who plays at if Brown is FB? Brown to ,Hampshire to FB,Reynolds to miss out.

Hampshire is not a full back in the memory of mon. He is badly exposed and will be peppered with the high ball relentlessly.

Brown plays and he will rightly be FB. Dawson, even Higson to centre.

Reynolds is not a FB either.But seems he can't be dropped for love or money.Don't know why they bothered investing in Hampshire..HELLO he's a halfback.Please try playing him there..

I do not disagree, Hampshire will be at 6 =#FF0000If Brown is fit and Reynolds will be dropped. if Brown is not fit then it will be another case of needs must.


All in my opinion obviously

I really hope we go Brown at 1 & Hampshire at 6, but without Riddy or Reynolds do we have a decent goal kicker ( if we score any tries

)

Josh Drinkwater kicked goals regularly for London

Danny Tickle used to also kick goals for fun at Wigan. Ryan Hampshire has also kicked a few for them.

We are all stating our preferred Halfback partnerships however, against HKR Glen Stewart was 1st receiver


I believe this was reducing the ability for Ridyard to influence the game, something he is more capable of than Stewart! We need Glen to concentrate on being a tough no nonsense second rower!
If Josh Drinkwater[u is [/ucarrying a knock then I would put Ryan Hampshire to scrum half and leave Ridyard at Stand off which is, his best and most influential position!
Our pack needs to get switched on from the off, on Friday against HKR we were not tackling like a Super League side
and certainly not, knocking our opponents over! We [umust[/u be strong in the tackle against Saints!
The threequarters are a worry, Brown at FB will provide the strength in defence and return the Ball however, the Centre spot has limited options! I've seen mention of Reynolds playing there

definitely not! its really time we had a Reynolds free week, thats if, the Coaches can bring themselves to do this, I can't believe all four of them favour him ever week ?

Doesn't matter who we have at half back, if we have one second rower trying to play like a scrum half, and another playing like Atelea Vea. A lack of quality at centre compounds this. Who is the half going to put through a gap, if there's nobody willing to run a line to get through it?

How many tries did we score from Drinkwater / Maitua or Ridyard / Paterson combinations last year? A big reason for our success in the 8s was the fact we had a genuine threat on both sides of the field, where we seem to be back to the same set play, through the full back, which is too predictable.

AJ to Centre for me HRJ .....

he's a big lad, solid, sometimes punishing in defence, it's a no brainer for me.

(Yes I know I am a no brainer).

Bongser thinks that he's touting for a run there anyway, Ste, if his tendency to be sucked off his flank is anything to go by.

Bongser that's a Racy last statement.

Naughton
Higson
Brown
Crooks
Dawson
Hampshire
Drinkwater
Weston
Pelisser
Acton
Vea
Stewart
Hansen


Hood
Burr
Hopkins
Tickle