didnt look like we missed him too much

We certainly didn't miss all those passes going to ground that Saints were able to benefit from.

But we shouldn't be too hard on him. That was the only bad game he's had in a long time.

Don't think he's gonna get back in the side now, I'd rather have Lockers at 6 tbh.

A big difference for me was that it allowed Tommy to play virtually the whole game. As others have said, we look so much stronger in attack & defence when he's on, and often seem to lose momentum when he's off the park.

Deacon should have been rested since the cup final up until last week but he wasn't and he looked shot against Saints.

Doubtful he'll make it back in now.

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post so go easy on me!

I think Deacon would have struggled in a game like yesterday, some of the tackling was unreal and some big guys struggled to get back up (I know most of it was from us but he still would have had to have joined in defensively). I don't think Deacs can take many more knocks to the head tbh, but it will be interesting to see whether he comes back in, or we stick with the same side that won yesterday.

Big fan of Deacs and what he has brought, and I don't think it would be a surprise if we went back to him with Finch and Tommy at hooker

He had one very poor game last week. I wouldn't write him off yet, and wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench on Saturday.

If he plays on sat saints will run everything at him

We looked a far better side without him yesterday IMO. For starters Joel and Charnley's side was a lot more sound defensively because they weren't having to compensate for Deacon's inefficiencies. I also thought we looked better in attack. All Deacon brings to the table is a kicking and passing game, something Finch also provides but at a better level IMO. Also Brett does offer some threat with ball in hand that Paul doesn't.

I like the fact yesterday that we mixed it up a bit with Lockers at 6 on occasions. For me Deacon wouldn't get in the side again this year barring injury. I feel father time has court up with him big style.

Bang on

With Deacon out and Mic Mac starting we had him and Tommy on and they are two of the most hard hitting tacklers in the squad. Some of the hits going in for that first 20 mins were shuddering!
They should both start again v Saints and in the same tackling style. Saints were stopped in the tracks in the Widnes game and that needs to be done again.
A defensive display like yesterday and OT could be beckoning.

i loved it....when micky had a rest and tommy went 9, we started mixing it up.

different positions for attack and defence.

im sure Faz was switching betwen 12, 13, and 6 in attack....and playing 9 in defence, with lockers going 13.
indeed, im sure Faz was playing 6 when he scored..was backing up like a 6 ??