Hopefully he'll perform to the required standard and then it's a moot point anyway. Do people really think that a SL coach waits to select a player in a weakened team to 'set him up' ? I highly doubt that to be honest - I really do.

Worst thing for Miller has probably been waiting to get out and play another competitive game (his last one being the 76-18 reversal at Hudds). They always say after a defeat like that players just want to get out on the field and right the wrongs. He's had to wait longer than most.

Agree,says it all when we tried to sign Luke Gale, probably shattered Miller's confidence.

Interesting quote from Radford in today's HDM.

“I’ve told the players I won’t drop anyone who performs well and performs to their ability. That I can guarantee.”

So ,does this mean Yeaman does not start tonight??

Yeah, but I think it is (almost, at least) entirely unfair to state that a halfback has had a 'good solid pre-season', but that he's been left out for his defensive efforts in the one game he got any time behind the first team pack. A first team pack that failed to dominate in the game anyway, hence the defeat.

Oh, you are a naughty boy Weaver!!

Radford is not going to drop Yeaman
Also reading between the lines of his press interviews theres two player's that will be very disappointed and a few that played last week didn't take their chance to impress.

I hope Miller seizes his opportunity tonight I really do. He’s got talent of that I’m sure. My biggest concern though his ability to impose himself on the team/game. I’ve watched him closely when he has played and he seems happy to coast/take a back seat and only sporadically get involved, that’s not a good trait for an scrum half. However it will be tough for him this evening and he can’t be totally judged on tonight’s performance. He’ll be playing behind an understrength pack and facing two quality halfbacks.

He didn't have to 'wait' to set him up in pre-season, merely ensure that the vast majority of his game time was behind a second string pack. And let's face it, if he's already decided that he doesn't rate him, what better way to confirm his assessment than to throw him in when he's on a hiding to nothing?

I think if we'd have nicked a couple of late tries last week, Miller wouldn't be getting a look in this week. He's playing because Radford has very little choice, IMO.

Totally agree. I'm not saying that Jacob is the definite answer to our problems but he's surely entitled to stake his claim and to do that he needs more than a couple of matches. I hope he has an absolute blinder tonight.

I think that's my major doubt. That and some of his passing can be a bit wild. There's no lack of effort though, and his support play is excellent. He did show some nice touches last year with ball in hand, he just needs to make them more consistent and cut out some of the errors. Once that starts to happen, there's a good chance he'll grow in confidence and start to lead the team a bit more.



I don't necessarily think that's true. He seemed really keen last year, but struggled a bit with execution at times. I don't think having Holdsworth in the side necessarily helped him, either.



I think any player being brought into the side at halfback needs a minimum of four games to settle in. I hope he gets it.

Ah, so was that the team you expect, not what you'd like to see?

Whilst you can't go so far as to say he impressed, Arundel was arguably the pick of 1-7. Admittedly that didn't take much, but he was definitely the best centre for us, and so deserves another crack IMO. Yeaman and Crooks should be fighting for one place.

Getting OT for a minute.

I was always under the impression, that a team's best defensive centre, played at right centre.(as the opposition would attack predominantly down left side,as its more natural to pass that way)
and the best attacking centre played at left centre.

Always puzzled me, Why has Yeaman always played left centre???

Isn't that part of an unavoidable problem? With 2 or 3 wingers unavailable, there's no one else - Talanoa would have been centre otherwise.

Radford has a full quota of half back options available so has plenty of choice. I felt for Miller at Featherstone second half - didn't go to any of the other friendlies so can't comment. It's worth pointing out that this isn't Miller's debut - he played quite a few times last year so that would be included in the overall judgement of his abilities and form. Fair play to Radford saying that he felt a bit sorry for Miller last year being thrown in at the deep end on arrival - something many of us on here have said. Wasn't easy for him.

Here's his chance - Radford has already dropped Shaul and Crooks completely, subbed Yeaman and benched Rankin in the six games so far - and who knows how we might line up tonight in the backs. So I personally don't believe that there is a witch hunt against Miller in any way - others have been treated in similar fashion. Miller needs to be given a few games to get up to speed and show what he can offer. He looks like he can play at the line which is very encouraging. He needs to show he has a quality kicking game and can organise and dictate. Fingers very much crossed.

Maybe you're right to some extent, but I can't think of anyone else (Pitts, maybe?) who has been given very limited opportunity to shine in pre-season, then left out for the entire season so far. It'll be interesting to see whether subbing Yeaman was a token gesture or not. If he plays tonight, I'd be quite tempted towards the conclusion that it was.

Will he be given a few games though thats the question

Agree with this completely.

With all the conspiracy theories flying around at the moment it's good to read a bit of common sense.

I'm not sure suggesting that a coach doesn't rate a player and has limited their opportunites accordingly qualifies as a 'conspiracy theory'. I mean, it's not like it's never happened before, is it?

I'm not sure what you're getting at. My point was that Arundel should have one of the spots with Crooks/Yeaman fighting for the other, rather than Crooks & Yeaman both playing & Arundel being the one left out.

Also, I think Talanoa has done fairly well on the wing, so I think we should just leave him there. Nothing about his game suggests to me he'll be better at centre.

So NO pressure on Miller what so ever tonight.

Hey Kid, your crap, you can't defend, but because I'm under pressure you will have to perform to perfection against the most elusive player in SL.....If you fail BTW I will blame you.



This will not end well for anybody.

All I'm saying is that the choice is very limited - (Crooks or Yeaman) and Arundel. With a full complement of wingers then I think Talanoa would be an option for centre.
I agree that Arundel should be playing.

Should you care, thought you had given up on Hull and RL?

Spot on

I'd play Arundel and Horne, and leave out both Crooks and Yeaman.

I think that might happen tonight.

+1