It looks almost certain we will be playing a team full of kids and loanees on Friday, do we pick a strong side and look to push our points difference in the right direction as the league is so tight and that could be key, or do we look to rest players ourselves? Byrne, Farrell, Smithies, King, Wardle, Marshall could maybe do with a rest? Would give them almost 3 weeks clear of playing to rehab any niggles and recharge batteries. Think I’d certainly be looking to play Shorrocks, Hill, Nsemba, Thornley and Hampshire.

We need wins and a points difference boost, so I’d go as close to full strength as possible. They seem to have promised Eckersley gets a go at some point, so I’d probably look at him and Hill coming in for King or Marshall and Byrne. Maybe Shorrocks for Nsemba as well, although easy either way with that.

Something along the lines of-

Field
Miski King Wardle Eckersley
French Smith
Ellis O’Neill Hill
KPP Farrell Smithies

Subs
Mago Dupree Shorrocks Cust

I’m 50/50.

On the one hand we should be looking to consolidate our position in the league. Saints are rapidly closing the gap (as expected) and there are 2 points we shouldn’t be losing IMO. So to that end full throttle, full strength. Don’t forget, we’ll also have a 2 week break when the CC final is on so plenty time there to rest up bodies and have a few days off.

On the other I can see the sense in resting players for what will be a tough run in and play off series.

If I’m pushed I think I’d plump for full strength. The higher up the league we finish the “easier” the games we get in the play offs with home advantage too. Plus, as I’ve already said, we get a break with the CC final which is plenty time to refresh and re energise.

I’m advocating resting a few and using senior squad players to replace, this will still be enough to beat what will be pretty much a second string Hull KR side I’m sure, just the margin might not be as big.

Complacency may be our undoing. Though it may be a second string side all those lads are vying for a Wembley place. I don’t think it’ll be a walkover at all and they’ll still be a dangerous side on Friday night.

Fair enough, this season has thrown out enough shocks too

Anyone carrying knocks/playing through pain needs to be rested. We need to take the opportunity to freshen lads up for the run in.

We don’t go with kids but lads like Cust, Nsemba, Hill and maybe Eckersley need to be given decent game time.

the full wembley team will be rested 6 debutants in no chance of a shock

How many points start are you giving?

Thornley, Hampshire?

Yes worth giving them a run. It seems likely it will be a mix of reserve players, loan players and academy lads on debut.

If HKR are resting everyone who will play at Wembley, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth. It is so important we finish in the top 3 as a minimum, but realistically we could do with top 2. To do that, we'll need to have a better end to the season than St Helens. If they win the game in hand, they'll be level on points and their points difference is currently around 30 behind ours. It may come down to that and this opportunity could be massive in terms of helping with that. We should go strong IMO (bar maybe giving Eckersley a debut) and try and rack up as many points as possible. If it is a complete reserve team we'll be facing, I don't think it's disrespectful to talk like that but we'll see who they turn out.

The players have a break next week so I wouldn't just rest players for the sake of it - rest players with injuries such as Bryne.

We should be looking to give Hill and Nsemba more game time as they may well be needed at the pointy end of the season. Eckersley should be given some time too.

Not sure there's a great deal of value in Thornley playing. Cust and/or Hampshire should get some more time as again we may need them at the back end of the season and neither played a great deal of minutes.

I’d rather see Eckersley over Thornley. Thornley has a few games this year so has to be Zach’s go. Id like to see how Cust goes from the start too. I’d go:

Field
Miski King Wardle Eckersley
French Smith
Hill Cust Ellis
KPP Faz
Smithies

O’Neill Mago Dupree Nsemba

Hate it when teams do this, we're in a lose lose situation. I hope we can switch on mentally because there's every chance points difference could be the difference between a home/away play-off fixture.
Absolutely no doubt HKR's gameplay will be to chuck the ball around anywhere like it's a sevens fixture and we need to be ready for it.

13 changes to the KR squad, the lowest squad number in there is #17

Just the 1 change for Wigan, Shorrocks in for Douglas.

Reserves also have a game on Friday (also v HKR) so everyone should get some game time.

We won't get top 2 IMO. Saints have a far easier fixture list and we have Catalans, Leeds and Leigh away. Not impossible but I'd be surprised.

I have a horrible feeling we'll end up in a 3rd v 6th fixture with Leeds who have beaten us in knockout fixtures three years running.

Definitely play a full team this week anyhow and approach it as a test of attitude and some more practice for the halfback partnership.

I'd go full strength and look to put a big score on them. The team get a rest next weekend so that should sort out any bumps and bruises.

We should’ve played another 2 young prospects at least, it’s basically a reserve fixture anyway.

Shorrocks coming straight back in after losing us 2 of the last 3 games he played in is madness to me. It’s not like he’s our best player.

I wouldn’t rule us out yet. I agree that currently Saints fixtures look better but that could change depending on form and who needs what going in to the last few weeks of the season. Look at Wire, they’ve been easy beats recently but if Holbrook comes in, you’d imagine they’ll be revitalised. Wakey looked an easy game at one point but a difficult one now. Leeds away is never easy but you feel the wheels could come off of they get ruled out of the play off picture. Leigh could drop off a cliff after the cup final and so on.

Give Farrell a fortnight off, some back row combination of K P-P, Shorrocks, Nsemba, Smithies should be good enough

I’d rest him too, wonder who’d be captain?

Smithies? Smith? Marshall?

We need leaders to start emerging that’s for sure. I am happy with many aspects of the team and feel we have some qualities in the team that Catalans, Saints etc do not but they kill us in terms of experience, leadership and know how. It’s my main worry going in to the back end of the season. Guys like Tomkins, McIlorum, Pearce, Lomax, Roby etc have been there and done it many times over. Liam Farrell has a huge burden on him in that regard (and I think it showing).

Yeah it’s a worry. I’d guess the “leadership group” at the start of the year included Cooper, Isa and Powell. Who are all missing

We need someone to step up.