Smithies has received a 1 match penalty notice. I'm not sure what this was for exactly? That's a blow.

No mention of Singleton from the match review panel which was a common sense decision in my view.

Looking at all the charges across the league just confirms where we’re at now and that is the game has become trial by tv. If you’re on tv, you’re far more likely to face issues. Last week there were 6 charges, with us getting 5 from our tv game and this week there is an absolute mountain, which is a result of the extensive tv coverage.

No idea who our forwards will be 4 missing and 1 gone home.

Unlike Sky lol

Smithies is a massive blow. I was at the game at had watch it back and didn’t notice the incident either time.

The battle between him, Byrne and Havard - young academy products vs Kasiano, Vaughan and McGuire 30+ year old NRL imports would have been fascinating.

I have little to no confidence in Mago and Singleton.

If we had Field playing id back us to pinch it.

Wire look the best team in the league at the minute and are at home so they are rightly favourites.

Should be an intense game in front of a big crowd!

Just seen he smithies incident, it was like a mini hip drop. Correct decision to ban him

Ellis to 13 IMO to replace Smithies.

We’ll have no Clark, Dufty, Bullock, Harrison, Dudson (no loss), Mikaele and Philbin. We will be struggling.

Currie will slot straight in on the left and mark King very well. He's rapid, safe under the high ball and better in defence than Mata'utia. Easy straight swap for Ratchford who's also been superb this year at centre.

What's wrong with Dufty?

Fair enough. At what point in the game did it happen?

Just had a look at the end of the game nothing wrong with him that I could see unless he slipped on a bar of soap in the shower.

Phil Clarke said he is no good.

Broken thumb apparently.

Aye, it needs taking out of the game. I get his and Knowles desperation to stop the attacker but just hold on for dear life and hope your mates help you out or concede the offload. Risking shocking injuries like Cooper sounds to have picked up isn’t something any player in the game should want to do.

I love how Wire fans are trying to convince us you’re totally busted. I’m not sure on Dufty but you’ll still have a class spine, with Williams, Drinkwater, Walker and Maguire in it (and maybe Dufty and whoever else might come back). You’ll still have the best prop by a country mile this season in the front row, along with Kasiano, who was superb at the weekend. The second rowers are fine and have been in great form also, pace on the wing, first choice centres etc.

We’re missing plenty as well but there you go, that’s life and we’ll drop the next player in there and see how we go.

Looking forward to it.

36:24 roughly, tackle on Wesley after he escapes a couple of defenders

Yeah Wire fans trying to claim they are the underdogs because of few our their weaker front rowers are out.

They are 4 point favourite with the bookies due to being at home and their excellent start.

They are scared to death of having to put an academy player in the team and not some expensive import.

There will be one if not two academy prospects on the bench on Friday and there’s been one on the bench pretty much every game this season. You’ve just lost one of your better props a 34 year old wire academy product and are absolutely desperate to sign JWH….so come on.

It’s going to be a big battle of ‘we’re in a worse spot with injuries/suspensions than you’ this week. The truth is both sides have lost players and it takes a bit away from the game but it’s still one to look forward to. They’ll have something closer to their first 13 out but we’ll probably have a bit more experience on the bench (in saying that I wouldn’t mind seeing us matching Harvie Hill up against their couple if young forwards likely to be playing).

I’m probably in a minority but I never mind seeing Wire do well. I love the ambition the owner has shown over the years and having another good rivalry for us is no bad thing. It’s a shame in a way that it’s not at our place. We’ll take a couple of thousand over but they’d have probably filled that North Stand at the DW, for the first time in years.

Thanks

Which is going to be great for you longer term and will actually do you a favour. As I say above, you’ll be stronger in the first 13 but we’ll have more experience on the bench (presuming Clark, Bullock or Harrison don’t come back?). You’ve had a great start to the season and there’s no need to get the excuses in early because realistically, neither side will have any on Friday night. The absences are much of a muchness.

Thank you for a sensible answer.

We’ve not been scared to play Matty Nicholson first choice this season. Thanks for bringing him on, he’ll be a cracking player.

Very glad academy prospects are playing in these games. Also not making any excuses as I think we’ll beat you.