What sort of team do you think we can/will play next week against Wakefield?

Bare in mind you can't pick due to injury:
Rob Purdham
Karl Temata
Jon Wells
Luke Dorn
Andy Ellis
Lamont Bryan

I didn't go to our only friendly (although it's debatable you'd get any useful info about form anyway…), so baring in mind past performances and who we've got left, I'd go for:
FB: Ben Jones-Bishop
W: Chris Melling
C: Tony Clubb
C: David Howell
W: Will Sharp
SO: Luke Gale
SH: Danny Orr
P: David Williams
H: Chad Randall
P: Oliver Wilkes
SR: Ryan Esders
SR: Jason Golden
LFW: Luke Williamson

S: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
S: Danny Ward
S: Jamie O'Callaghan
S: Ben Kaye

There are 3 players not selected:
Luke May
Matt James
Ben Jones

FB: Ben Jones-Bishop
W: Chris Melling
C: Tony Clubb
C: David Howell
W: Will Sharp
SO: Luke Gale
SH: Danny Orr
P: LMS
H: Chad Randall
P: Oliver Wilkes-Looked good on Fri
SR: Ryan Esders
SR: Luke Williamson
LFW: Jason Golden

Jones-? prop from bulls
Kaye
Ward
O'C

Dave Williams played for Skolars and Lamont Bryan was on the sidelines in a tracksuit, so I suspect it's unlikely either of those two will feature on Saturday.

That doesn't surprise me, but it still disappoints. Lamont Bryan gave us a bit of spark last year in a terrible, failing team. When Dave Williams has stepped into the first team he has always done a well and he has put in many high quality all action performances as captain of the reserve team.

I think we need to start think about whether we are here to bring through players from London and the South or being a home for Yorkshire rejects. Under McDermott's reign all these average players brought in from the north (Gardner, Bannister, Thompson, Grayshon, (you can all think of your own examples!)) all get preferential treatment and more game time over our own younger players.


Ben Jones is ex Leeds.
Matt James is ex Bradford, although he spent last year on loan at Halifax.

Did either play against/for Skolars and impress?

I don't think I've ever seen Dave Williams play. I've seen him several times on the train going back from the match though.

Dave was injured most of last year (well, he is a Quins player!) although he did make the last game of the season.

Re Lamont, add him to the ever-increasing injury list (rib I think).

Thanks for the update, I've amended my original post.

It's looking absolutely crazy not bringing in more players and filling at least one of our two open quota slots.

Can anyone explain why we have so many injuries even before we play? And how come we find out about them a week before kick-off. Is it bad luck or some hideous training plan? This season looks like it is up the swanee before it starts. Apparently Gale limped off at the Skolars game as well. There is more good news off the pitch at least. Maybe we should start singing 'Things can only get better' or 'Always look on the bright side of life'. Due to injuries Hull never got going last season, I reckon we will be the same, I only hope the squad, or what is left of it, will prove me wrong. I was surprised when Mac said he might have to blood some youngsters at the first game at the Media Launch, I am not now.

Why would you announce your injuries publicly- Do you think when a player is playing with an injection or carrying an injury it would be sporting of us to tell John Kear.

Maybe tell him our tactics to!!

I agree, but if a player is out for weeks it is hardly a secret! and the paying punters should know who they won't be getting to see, in football it is fairly transparent.

It is a secret when its the first game of the season. Maybe Kear see's Dorn interceptions and speed as a threat and is developing his game plan to prevent/counter it. Maybe he is tragetting Dorns weak defence only to find our best tackler will be in the hole where Dorn usually defends.

Is this football? In football they shout a refs and fight in the stands- Do you want that too?

I'd go with the following, but a little light on the bench in terms of experience and size.

FB: Ben Jones-Bishop
W: Chris Melling
C: Tony Clubb
C: David Howell
W: Will Sharp
SO: Luke Gale
SH: Danny Orr
P: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
H: Chad Randall
P: Oliver Wilkes
SR: Luke Williamson
SR: Jason Golden
LFW: Ryan Esders

S: Matt James
S: Danny Ward
S: Jamie O'Callaghan
S: Ben Kaye

Not selected:
Luke May
Ben Jones

Agreed!


anyone got any info on Ben Bolger or Martin Smith? Who both played against the Skolars

Bolger set for Quins debut
Londoners dealing with injury crisis ahead of new season

McDermott: difficult preparations

..Harlequins are likely to include untried second rower Ben Bolger in the squad for their Super League opener against Wakefield Wildcats at Twickenham on Saturday.

London-born Bolger, who caught the eye against London Skolars in a pre-season trial match, will get his chance as the injury-hit Quins are currently shorn of four senior players.

Skipper Rob Purdham and stand-off Luke Dorn are the major absentees, both with shoulder ligament damage sustained in pre-season training, while second rower Chad Robinson was released from his contract after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Like Purdham, Dorn is facing a 12-week lay-off after slipping on the ice and tearing shoulder ligaments.

"Add to that, young Lamont Bryan, who was going give us some cover in the back row and centre is out injured and so is Jon Wells who was going to give us cover all over the back line," revealed Quins coach Brian McDermott.

"There are some London debutants probably happening quicker than we thought.

"Ben played against the Skolars and went really well and it's a good job he did because he's probably going to be coming off the bench against Wakefield.

"It's not ideal but it's great that he's going to get some game time.

"Although we're not where we want to be at the start of pre-season, we're in the best position we can be given the situation we find ourselves in."

So if Mac thinks this kid might get a start of the bench does that mean more injuires to players we dont know about.



Anyone seen this kid play,as cant find anything about him on Quins site (but then again did i expect too)

Bolger, who played in a scrum cap, certainly impressed me against Skolars. It was a little hard to work out in what position he was playing. He stood out of the scrum in a stand off/centre position. In particular he looked useful with the ball in hand, making good ground. I know the club think highly of the guy!

Last years Club Guide said this of Bolger -

"Ben Bolger
Born: Hackney
Date of Birth: 13 September 1989
Position: Back Row
From St. Albans Centurions, Ben has been playing Rugby league for four years. A former Saracens RFC development player, Ben was Quins RL’s standout player at Foundation Academy level in 2006. In September 2006 Ben
was accepted on a rugby scholarship to Campion School in Essex. In 2008 Ben
switched playing position, moving from Stand Off into the Back Row. In addition to his playing skills, Ben has show great leadership abilities."

Im sure whiilst with my local London Junior League side that I reffed Martin Smith whilst he played for
Mitcham Bulls a few years back. He was the stand out player on the pitch and was the player we nominated
as their man of the match. He was very fast and elusive and had a bit of a cockiness about him.
He seemed pretty confident.
Since then I am sure I have seen him at Dagenham representing Croydon Hurricane"s Juniors.
I hope he does well.
Im sure he will.

Ah, so he was the guy in the scrum cap. Yep he looked useful.

Another product from Hertfordshire - he always looked outstanding in our junior ranks and I am made up for him and the club. Go Ben !!!

Sounds very promising

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... quins.html Bolger to come of the bench as a second rower. You wouldnt believe we would be short of second rowers!!

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... quins.html Bolger to come of the bench as a second rower. You wouldnt believe we would be short of second rowers!!

What i found interesting in what Kenda wrote was he use to play at SO then moved into the back row, so is he going to be on the bench as cover for Gale as well, as i understand it was reported that he(Gale) limped of against Skolars.

As Wire Quin said bit odd covering 2nd row when we have 100's of them on the books. blimey you could even drop LMS to 2nd row and use Williams as cover for props if need be if we short because of injuries..