If everyone is available and playing well


Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
Mcilorum
Dudson
Farrell
Hansen
O'loughlin

Flower
Crosby
Tuson
L tomkins

Lauaki, Hampshire, Powell, gelling, Burke, Taylor all to miss out I think.
I think Wane toughest call will deciding on lauaki, Taylor and Crosby. Taylor has been excellent recently but got a feeling he'll go with Crosby

It will be the props that will need the most thinking from Wane for sure. There are two certainties in that department IMO and they are Mossop and Flower. After those 2 we'll need to choose another 2 from Taylor, Dudson, Crosby and Lauaki. I seriously don't get Dudson at the minute, he's powderpuff IMO and gives too many penalties away. I'd rule him out and probably plump for Taylor and Crosby.

The other selection issues will be left centre (Thornley for me) and if we should play an extra forward on the bench or a back up hooker/half (I'd throw whoever we play a curve ball and stick Hampshire in).

I thought the only player that was poor yesterday was Thornley. Gelling is a more stronger centre. Gelling should be in there. Apart from the saints game he has been solid. I would play Taylor over Crosby aswell.

Did Thornly do much wrong? I didn't notice that he did but I was a bit squiffy!

Noticed some good offloads in the 2nd half on the replay.

I would think the team he picked for the Semi will be the one for Wembley I hope so.

Gelling in for thornley, taylor in for dudson.

Crosby for Dudson and toss a coin between Thornley and Gelling.

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Gelling
Richards
Green
Smith
Flower
Micky mac
Mossop
Hansen
Farrell
O loughlin

Dudson
Taylor
L tomkins
Tuson

There's 3 games till then so a lot can change, I'd use Huddersfield in 2 weeks as a dress rehersal for the final. Then rest a few v Catalans and get a good look at Gelling, Thornley, Hampshire, L.Tomkins, Crosby, Taylor and Dudson to decide on who gets to play left centre and the 3 bench spots at Wembley.

On current for Taylor should be in there. He's got to keep the form over the next 3 weeks tho and we should hit some form now with everybody fighting for a Wembley spot. I'm surprised a few think Thornley didn't play well. I thought he did well. Hughes, Gelling & Thornley will have to really up it in training etc to get the nod for final. It's good to be talking about strength in depth!

I agree with your post, and there is an old adage that your forwards set the platform for the rest of the team, it’s still true, and for me has been shown to be so in most of the games we have lost this season. We need to have an injury free run for our props for the rest of the season now, and not just for the CCF, and considering the luck, or lack of it we’ve had in that department all season I think we are entitled to one!

Taylor will be a cert on his form of the last two games. I wouldn't rule out Lauaki. It's been an injury plagued year for him but he's been excellent when fit. That would be a gamble though with the final being against Hull. I'm sure they'd target him!

I think it should be Mossop and Flower starting with Taylor and Crosby on the bench. However can see Wane going with Taylor and Dudson off the bench with Crosby missing out.

One thing is for sure we will be getting 100% out of every player over the next 3 weeks

Tomkins
Charnley
Goulding
Thornley
Richards
Green
Smith
Mossop
Mcilorum
Flower
Farrell
Hansen
O'loughlin

Taylor
Crosby
Tuson
Powell

So far I have 12 spots nailed on, the other 5 are up for grabs over the next 3 games. Where there is a / I have put the player I would pick on current form first:

FB 1 S.Tomkins
RW 2 Charnley
RC 3 Goulding
LC 22 Gelling/17 Thornley
LW 5 Richards
SO 6 Green/32 Hampshire
SH 7 Smith
P 15 Flower
H 9 McIlorum
P 10 Mossop
SR 11 Hansen
SR 12 Farrell
LF 13 O'Loughlin

S 16 Tuson
S 19 Taylor/20 Dudson
S 26 Crosby/20 Dudson
S 32 Hampshire/23 L.Tomkins

Dudson should be nowhere near the team.

1. S Tomkins
2. J Charnley
3. D Goulding
4. A Gelling
5. P Richards
6. B Green
7. M Smith
8. L Mossop
9. M McLlorum
10.D Crosby
11.H Hansen
12.L Farrell
13.S O'loughlin

S. B Flower
S. S Taylor
S. C Tuson
S. R Hampshire

That's how I would go if the game was this weekend, especially harsh on Logan Tomkins as I think he's progressed massively recently but purely because of his versatility to play 1,6 and 7 I'd go with Hampshire due to recent injures to the players in them positions. I like the impact Taylor and Flower bring of the bench and his footwork IMO works better against tired forwards. Mossop and Crosby due to there size would be my starting props. Dudson's form hasn't been upto his standards earlier this yer since returning from injury.

Sorry to be a Bore fordy BUT!



It's 4 weeks and 3 hard games between now and then, lots & lots will happen in the mean time for both teams.

That's the worry for both teams isn't it. We look in good shape at the moment injury wise but that can soon change. They will need to manage the teams selections carefully between now and the final and try to strike a balance between giving the lads enough rest but also trying to build some form.

The Catalans trip will be interesting. I'd probably be looking to leave Tomkins, Richards, Smith, McIlorum, Farrell, Hansen, Lockers, Flower and Mossop at home but will they do that or will they want the full side to have a tough hit out?

I'd take a few of them to France. Tomkins, Richards and O'Loughlin need to be wrapped in cotton wool for the next few weeks as a loss of any of them would be huge and could cost us the final. The others, I think we have players who could step in and play in those positions if needed. I'm all for getting some form at this stage of the season, but we need to be clever about it. As annoying as it is, top spot is relatively unimportant now as long as we're top 4, so I would take dropping a few points if it means with have both bit of silverware in the cabinet come October.

I'd play the full side v Hull K.R and Huddersfield bar giving Farrell a rest v Hull KR, we want to get back into the habit of playing well after all (which we haven't since Magic Weekend apart from when we play Widnes and London who both completely rolled over from the start). Huddersfield in particular could be a good dress rehearsal for the cup final.

Against Catalans I'd rest quite a few, that's not just because I'd want to avoid injuries to key players either, I'd rather have a fringe player giving it 100% to try and force his way into the Wembley 17 than an established player giving it 50% with his mind on getting away from that big French pack unscathed so he can play at Wembley the week after. For Les Cats I'd go:

FB 35 Tierney
RW 2 Charnley
RC 17 Thornley
LC 22 Gelling
LW 5 Richards
SO 6 Green
SH 7 Smith
P 21 Taylor
H 23 L.Tomkins
P 26 Crosby
SR 4 Hughes
SR 16 Tuson
LF 29 Burke

S 20 Duson
S 30 Spencer
S 32 Hampshire (to play in the halves)
S 38 Powell

Bit unusual going for 3 props on the bench rather than 2 and a second rower but Catalans are a big pack and I wouldn't want to risk any of that star back row combo of Hansen, Farrell, O'Loughlin

Id rest lockers, sam, charnley, green, smith, hansen and farrell against catalans. Finishing top is irrelevant. The cup must take priority before the play offs.

Green's form has been very ordinary since his injury, he might be better for the gametime

The good thing about the Catalans game is whatever side we put out they should be pretty desperate to impress. There will be a few players playing for a cup final spot.

I'd also play a full team in the next two matches.