If you mean by distribution getting the ball in play yes I agree he does but have yet to see him making or creating a gap from play the ball, for me he either gets on in back row on merit

I’d be happy if Ashurst did play but he hasn’t anywhere near hit the heights of 2018 again. I see him as a solid SL player these days. He will do a decent/good job consistently. I just think Batch has been running some great lines, looks to have gained a yard of pace and has been in top form so it’s purely that I think he deserves it on current and recent form. If we are talking 2018 Ashurst he would be in the starting line up in a heartbeat but I think that boats sailed.

Last 6 or so games when batch came into the right SR for an injured Pitts the defence tightened up and it just looked much improved in attack and defence.

I agree Trojan, I just think Batchelor always makes an impact of the bench, so I would rather bring him on when bodies are starting to tire a bit, Ashurst plays 80 minutes effectively. To be honest I don`t know the best way to play Tanginoa? Does he play the full 80?

Yes Tanginoa definitely plays full 80. He sometimes fills in at prop in second half I believe.

I’d be happy if batch was on the bench and came on to rotate with Ashurst also. It’s a selection headache for Chester really but I feel Pitts and Ashurst are too similar players to have both in the team. Your solid professionals and steady Eddie types but won’t create too much. There’s an element of looking to the future too with players like Batchelor and Crowther who need regular game time. I firmly believe they can have excellent careers given the game time and to me their ready now.

Just to clarify though it’s not negative against Pitts/Ashurst. They are solid professional players and I’m pleased we have them in trinity shirts. Who ever pulls that shirt on will get my backing. It’s a team game and you can tell how hard the players have worked in training. They all look fittest I’ve seen them.

Who ever does take the field so long as we stick it to Leeds I’ll be happy

.

Leeds will come at us hard. We need to throw whatever they do back twice as hard especially in the forwards.

Going on express saying we have judt the 3 players out id go with

1,hampshire
2,tommy
3,billy
4,reece
5,senior
6,miller
7,lino
8,fifita
9,Crowther
10,arona
11,batch
12,kelepi
13,westerman

J wood
Green
Ashurst
B walker

Would like to see Hampshire as hooker ,know it will not happen but too good to leave out of 17

FB for me, Walker has not yet imho proved to be as good let alone better.

Is Liam Kay fit if yet he gets in ahead of Senior for. Senior proved last season that his defense needs working on.

Surly Hampshire at f/b if fit. Apparently the latest injuries are down to training on a new all weather pitch according to C C.

Not quite what he said, he said due to swapping between grass and artificial, not quite the same.

I'd argue you could say exactly the same about Kay on last years outings. I'm happy with either tbh but it will take a while to replace what was a good partnership between Lyne and BJB.

Couldn’t disagree more tbh mate. While Senior did have a few ropey moments early on such as running into touch and failing to take a few low ground balls I thought he was quite good towards the back end when he’d had a few games under his belt.

The reason I put him in ahead of Kaye was purely defence as i remember correctly Kaye had a shocker or two conceding 3 try’s in one game (I have Leeds in my head but could be wrong). It may have been an off game but in his very few appearances last season it left my highly suspect of his defensive positioning.

The other reason is in the Dewsbury game Lynne and Senior scores a good centre/wing try so seem to be developing some good understanding.

Of course if Kaye gets the nod I hope he has a belter and he’ll get my support but for me Senior gets the nod purely on what I’ve seen last and pre season.

He’s got the 5 shirt though and obviously Chester and the coaches know best.

True, although Kay didn't get much chance to shine before getting injured, his defence did look suspect, worse IMHO than Senior and when you consider the difference in experience it's a concern.

Agree, it says he only had 6 games in 2020. I thought it was less. He can certainly score some try’s as his record speaks for itself but your correct in saying he didn’t get much opportunity to show what he can do.

I’d be happy with either to start on the right wing to be honest. I just think Senior offers that bit more. Big shoes to fill from BJB.

How good is it to actually chat rugby though?!

I have just read the article again and no mention of changing from grass to 4g
We have been training on a new 4g training pitch and it's caused a few soft tissue injuries, calf strains etc.

I must admit that I hadn’t seen those injuries, and thought that Hampshire Was injured. If that is the case he will definitely get the FB spot. Regarding Kay and Senior I wouldnt mind either although I still think we will miss BJB more than we think for the amount of work he used to get through. Whichever one plays he will be under pressure from the other one.

You might be right, I think he says it on his Trinity TV interview I’ll check.

Bloody hell i agree with you lol.....

It’s not a “new” 4G pitch they’re training on, it’s Dewsburys 4G pitch which is around 4 years old now, they also train at Belle View so are training on both Artificial and grass

I absolutely agree with this

I’ve being wanting to see Hampshire tested as a hooker for some time now as I think he’d be excellent, certainly from an attacking point of view especially if Woody is on the last year of his contract

Lots of half in the nrl convert to hookers really successfully (Peter Wallace and Ben hunt)
It seems that Chester has finally settled on jowitt at fullback and I think we are all hoping that Milky and Lino are going to make a really successful long term halves partnership which

Hampshire is an excellent player and I’d love to see him in a settled position long term in our team

Is see Hampshire as natural fit for both parties playing him at hooker

Agree with this completely

Assuming everyone is fit then Hampshire isn’t going to play , I d say he’s second choice full back , second choice stand off and probably third choice winger. Tbh he’s one of the few players we have that can create something from nothing and really needs to be in match day squad. Kyle wood is probably in his last season so why not give Hampshire a shot

I certainly think Hampshire has the attributes to play at 9. He could certainly take advantage of some quick ptb too.

However, this is the sort of testing and training that needs to happen in pre season and not experimented on in a superleague season unless we have no other options through injury.

If we were at full strength I’d take advantage of the 2 week loan period and get Hampshire 2 games at a league 1 club at 9 and see how he goes. Less risk, we get to see how he could go as a 9 and he gets to stay match fit.

I said previously that 9 looked our weakest area after prop with our main 9 in his twilight years and our second 9 seems to pick up a few injuries. I certainly think it needs some investment next season though Bowes looks promising for the future.

Hampshire is a tough one. He’s too good not to have in the team but it’s very hard to find a place for him all the same.

You mean third choice FB if Walker plays?

I personally think he’s second choice and Walker third, I suppose we will soon see what CC thinks.

I agree about Hampshire at 9 but it’s odd nobody has ever played him there, maybe coaches see something we don’t. For me he is ripe for conversion, maybe the player himself isn’t keen.

He most certainly wouldn’t be the first HB to make the conversion.

Closer to home, didn't Kyle Wood start out as a half back