Thought Smith looked ok in Robbo's testimonal game at loose - i'd be fine giving him a go there.

Problem this year is we have plenty of options and at times it will probably be a case of seeing who can do what where hence the trying people in different positions.
I'm still adamant we need to split Seb and Ukuma up though, as good as they are together we lose momentum and power when they're replaced, in my opinion we need at least one of them on the pitch at all times.

Daz its a tough one they are doing so well as a unit we need the bench to come to the party i think the issue last week was 2 players are not yet fit and loosing our best back row . hope last week was a blip playing our bogey team you could say 7 or 8 where below par but yet we had enough chances and time on there line to win 2 games . this week we need to get back to winning ways

Don't see Ferguson as a front line second row, but I do think he would do a good job at prop, and I would be happy to see Ferguson and Ukuma start with Seb and Mason on the bench. Wakeman doesn't look fit and probably won't see the best from him until late in the season or maybe next. Rapira looked a bit short and may need a bit longer, but don't see him as a loose forward.
Sounds daft so early in the season but for a few reasons we need to win on Friday!

The second to me looked like Wakeman missed the tackle on O Brien. The first I thought Cudjoe was at fault but watching again Cudjoe had come in one place and Sau actually ran between Brierley and Mcgillvary.

Context for the Salford game
4 tries each
We haven't beaten Salford in years
We threw the ball directly to them in attacking positions 4 times

Ultimately we blew it but can fix it and we're miles better than this time last year

I'm fully supportive of Wakeman but scary thought is we don't know what the best of Wakeman actually is at this level of rugby.
I'm hoping IF he is behind in fitness and if it can be worked on off the pitch that he isn't taking the spot of a super league experienced fully fit player, especially at such an important part of the season where we need to hit the ground running.

All we can do is support the team out there no matter how odd the team selection may be. Rick Stone knows more about rugby than any of us I presume.

Wakefield is going to be a tough test. Comfortably beat us last year and did the treble on us. They have a better squad than last year. I'm hoping a week off after only one round will hinder them and we can walk away with 2 points.

I'll be happy with 2 wins in the first 2 rounds. The loss against Salford was round 11 so trying not to think too much into it.

Interesting match indeed. Up until last year you was our bogey team we probably couldn't of bought a win! I think the game break will benefit you as you say more minutes in your players and probably the perfect time to rectify your mistakes of the previous week.
My 19 would be:
Grix
Johnstone
Tupou
Lyne
BJB
Miller
Williams
Huby
Finn
England
Ashurst
Kirmond
Sio

Wood
Fifita
Walker
Arona

Michael Lawrence out injured so Tyler Dickinson comes into squad is the only change from last week. www.giantsrl.com/news/article/59 ... -squad-for

Michael Lawrence out injured so Tyler Dickinson comes into squad is the only change from last week. www.giantsrl.com/news/article/59 ... -squad-for

Watch our captain, that's where the problem is

He never puts the shoulder in, just jumps on players backs so offloads/passing are easy, exposing McG who has to come in and finish the tackle

Plenty of advice for RS there, every one has a view " why not" Whoever he picks" particularly in the pack" is going to need to step up from last week with the exception of the obvious two who did very well, The thing is though that despite them being far and away the best two forwards on the field, Salford still were making easy yards, and a lot more of them than we were, I don't know if the stats show that but that's certainly how it looked from the stand. Our line speed is so poor, that the opposition get a head start, Most teams can go best part of a field length in one set against us, so they are kicking from good position, Brough is often kicking from half way, so unless the fullback drops the ball, they are like passes.

I will be hoping to see a bit more speed and fire in defense this week whoever plays, Wakey are not going to be easy to beat, I think they are a far better team than they get credit for and they have some dangerous backs, I really can't call this game at all, I just hope we come out on top but i don't see any run away victory from either side.

Being honest, If both teams had scored from the chances they made last week we would have won the game, especially if Brough had been able to land the goals, He does have one of them days now and then but not many, so maybe we can look forward to them going over this week and overall i don't see Wakey as any stronger than Salford all round, so who knows, could be a real grinder.

According to the stats Salford made 30cm more per carry.

The go forward doesn't bother me so much as the defence.

would imagine smith will get a game this week as loose forward replacing injured lawrence.

rapira back propping please!

Lawrence out for 3 months

last thing we need is a run of injury one good thing we do have cover for back row .

Bugger! What's he done?!?

At last someone else sees it. I'm a Cas fan and said this on here maybe a year ago but Giants fans reaction was total rejection, verging on aggression. It really is Cudjoe that is the weaness in your right side defence, not McG.

I'd say a 62% tackle completion rate is worse than a 95% completion rate-Which is how it currently stands. Leroy misses more tackles over a season but makes many many more, last season he was our fifth highest tackler he made over 550 tackles and had a 93% tackle success rate so not sure how you can suggest he can't tackle. Compare that to mgilvary who had a 78% success rate and was required to make over 450 less tackles over the season.
no stats dont tell the whole story but it does tell some of it!

Look at his tackling "technique", more times than not he jumps on the player's back or, on occasions tries to grab the shirt, allowing off loads. I don't see as much of your games, apart from when you are on telly or playing against Cas, but I can't honestly remember Cudjoe putting his shoulder into a tackle - can you?

He will do the things you say as many of his tackles he makes the effort to make- i.e. He chases the man down. Some of those don't come off- but other players wouldn't even get to attempt them.
20% of his tackles are marker tackles.
Yes I regularly see him putting his shoulder in. He probably works harder altogether than any other player in our side.
Most offloads, most tackle busts, second highest metres gained, 2nd highest try assists, 5th highest tackles, 4th highest marker tackles.
I can forgive him missing the odd tackle (5%) with that work rate! And if the player offloads then the tackle isn't complete so surely won't be on the stats for tackles made.

So you think that your weakness on your right edge is:
A) Down to McG?
B) Your second row not covering?
C) Lack of understanding between Cudjoe & McG?
D) Another reason?
E) None of the above - what weakness?????

#
I have never been a fan of Cudjoe's tackling style my self, I have said so many times, He allows the attacker to get up alongside him and then drags him down from the side, This possibly gives McG the idea the man is through and he comes inside to make a tackle, If the attacker then gets the ball away, the winger is free and clear ( which seems to happen a fair bit )

Having said all that, we do look a poorer side without Cudjoe, especially on attack but something isn't just right down that side on defense, Maybe It's just as simple as Jerry trusting Leroy and staying out to cover his own man, Sure RS will be working on it.

Yes, on attack no problem. He seems to get the ball away to McG with regularity. It's only his tackling technique that I am commenting on.
I would have thought that one of your coaches would have addressed it before. As you say RS may be the one - hopefully!!!!

Wakefields ticket allocation sent to the club have been fully sold no idea how many that is but looks like some decentvsupport travelling.

off the back of symonds another major blow, the curse of 2016 striking again?!

i see almost every giants game and saying cudjoe cant defend is utter nonsense. one of the best in our team along with lawrence for tackling

cudjoe is an international player for england and also awarded fans and players player of the year last season

id say its more mcgillvarys defence the problem or the constant changing of second row / half back inside of cudjoe too so understanding could be a problem, wont get better with symonds out now!