Time to look forward

London will see this as a great opportunity to post a victory against a depleted team also desperate for a win.

While usually you would expect this as a banker for a win, our current situation and how deep we are into our squad, makes it no banker.

Ligi is back
Carlos is a maybe?
Don't know on Houghton, think he may miss this one.

Hopefully we get some rare luck on the disciplinary front, we certainly need some.

Staveley earned his starting place for next week. I think if he Lane and Ligi start in the back row, it could be worth having a look at Okunbor in the 3 quater line, especially if Barron is out.

If Nu Brown gets shafted again and Houghton isn't back, then Balmforth and Hodgson will have to share the hookers role.

Could get low on troops. Thought Mac did ok in the centres. Do we give him.an extended run there ?..

Battle of the attacks...two tries v one try. Hard to say what London are truly like as they've had a tough start v saints and Catalan, we should be beating them, but who knows with our 2024 team...depends on the disciplinary outcomes this week I guess and if we picked up any more injuries

it's got 36 all written all over it.

Fingers crossed if London happen to score 1st the crowd don’t turn on the team. Sadly though I think this may be the case.

Worst case scenario?

Walker
Martin
Litten
Okunbor
Mcintosh

Harman
Smith

Brown
Houghton
Ashworth
Staveley
Sao
Lane

Gardiner
Bursell
Balmforth
Diakhate

See what today brings but I’d be amazed if we don’t end up with some more bans

It'll be the biggest miracle of the year if we don't get any bans. Hoping common sense prevails with Nu Brown but I doubt it

If Nu Brown picks up a ban then NOW should be the time for players to strike.

The strength of feeling across the world of rugby league needs to be harnessed to make sure changes happen now.

Gary Carter suggesting there will be some clarification on accidental collisions today. Probably a few days too late. They might actually admit they got it wrong. Which doesn’t help us.

If it means changes are made for the good of the game then so be it.

But there was so much wrong with incidents in the games over the weekend that much more needs to change than clearing confusion over head clashes?

From Steve Mascord

A ZOOM meeting between Super League captains will take place on Wednesday to discuss a new players’ association in the wake of the high contact crackdown by the RFL. Salford skipper Ryan Brierley, also a women’s soccer player agent, put the call out on Twitter and must have received a positive response. When we approached him at Salford Community Stadium last night for an interview, he told us to ring him on Thursday. Despite some calls for industrial action, the first step will be for the group to appoint their representatives and call for a meeting with the Rugby Football League. To an extent, the euphoria around the Wold Club Challenge has lowered the temperature of the debate just a little. But it was only 24 hours before that Nu Brown’s dismissal had the mercury bursting out of the thermometer. If the players want to give up their time to unionise - without subs - then they can get things done. If they’re trying to have a paid union, history shows it’s difficult.

Not difficult at all, just affiliate to an existing union such as Unite and elect their own representative but and it’s a big but trying to get individuals to put their heads up above the parapets to be shot at by the authorities. Every player would need to join and be in total solidarity behind the movement. Unionisation is still very much frowned upon, even in this day and age. I know from personal past experience.

Can’t confess to watching much more than our game over the weekend (mainly because of how it is at the minute) but I agree, Donaldson been one, that would have been a red round one.

I will be astounded if Nu Brown picks up a ban, the uproar that would unfold would be incredible.

Worst case him, Sutcliffe and Hoy pick up bans (from what I recall). Sao and Houghton back, Carlos 50/50.

Wouldn't doubt our ability to muscle up down the middle, but where our points will come from is a huge worry.

Can’t see Carlos being back he said round 3/4, so I’d always take it as the latter with him.

Wouldn't trust the RFL.

Thought we looked fairly a lot better with ball in hand against Warrington.

Fancy us to win by a couple of trys.

I don’t trust them either,, I can see him getting a ban. Rightly or wrongly….wrongly obviously.

As you say Davey there is so much more wrong than just a case of confusion over head clashes. There seems to be a big issue in terms of not just the level of consistency and interpretation between the officials but also a level of inconsistency/interpretation with the same officials during a game.
Then there is also the same issue with Cliche Cullen and the MRP in the way it adjudicates as there is still very little if any transparency in there decisions/punishments/sanctions reached by them.

All in all the lack of any true accountability of any sort and at any level or dept within the RFL reeks.

Its just not something that a minor clarification will address or resolve.

On to the game on Sunday, its difficult to know what position we will be in player wise until the MRP meet. I would hope that the RFL, Officials & MRP come to their senses and admit to Nu's red card being a cataclysmic clusterf#*k but I won't hold my breath such is their inability to get or do things right. We could well see Brown given SOS but in exchange see Sutcliffe, Hoy & Gardiner banned.

Think Houghton is back as we played on the Thursday when he failed his HIA and we play on Sunday which is over the two week period, worst case scenario

Walker
Martin
McIntosh
Okunbor
Barron
Harman
Smith
Brown/Sao
Houghton/Balmforth
Ashworth
Staveley
Sao
Lane

Balmforth/Hodgson
Severs
Laidlaw
Diakhate

Best Case Scenario

Walker
Martin
Carlos
Sutty
McIntosh
Smith
Hoy
Sao
Houghton/Brown
Ashworth
Ockunbor
Staveley
Brown/Houghton

Balmforth
J. Brown
Gardiner/Laidlaw
Severs/Lane

It says a lot that nobody can name a probable team until after the MRP meet such is the level of confusion and inconsistency as to what deserves a ban these days.

To say the sending off was diabolical is an understatement, but to the letter of the law it was correct. It carries 3 - 4 game ban. Big problem now is the rules. Do they change the rules or abide by them? I don't think they will change the laws as that would be a joke. I think for next round they will though.

You have obviously seen these Head contact rules, can you share them with us?

If Nu Brown is given a 3-4 game ban I will not be going to another game or even bother watching another match on Sky till things change.

He is a Rovers troll, doubt he will be here much longer.

He's the reincarnation of Keith but lacking Keith's legendary wit and intelligence.