As good a servant as Danny has been, for me Brown is the better hooker and is just as sound defensively. I'd also go with Balmforth on the bench as he offers a different threat as he has a bit of pace about his game and is quite a smart player with some guile that we are badly lacking.
I'd like to see Ligi actually given a run at 13 which is the position he was brought in to play but was moved to prop due to us having a lack of quality and size when he arrived.

So 1 to 13 would be pretty much same as you have but with Brown in at 9 instead of Houghton, Hoy in the halves (subject to any internal discipline issues) and Sao at LF with Ashworth as a starting front row with Ese'ese.

Bench would be Bullock, Gardiner, Balmforth and Lane.

Think at best Hoy will be on the bench and probably no chance of Balmforth been included sadly.

No chance in the world Houghton gets dropped out the 17, I'd be amazed if he doesn't start hooker, think it's in his contract.

Unfortunately I don't disagree as just think we are now back to playing a player for the sake it, rather than the overall picture and balance of a 17 that takes to the field. Looked to have more cohesion and more organisation at Warrington with Hoy/Smith even with a very inexperienced team and a man down.

Sunday seemed a deja vu moment under Hodgson with strange team/bench selection along with the non use of players on the bench.

Can see the points about Houghton and he certainly needs to be spelled. But I think more pressing problems are our halfbacks.

Problem is we just simply haven't got any quality in the halfback positions and in all honesty we are back to having makeshift halves until Trueman is back, who can hopefully have a good injury free run the rest of the season. Though I do think Morgan Smith is doing a decent job for us currently so Trueman/Smith may prove a good pairing.

Having seen the difference specialist halves can make and given the need for a geniune specialist half, knowing we were already resigned to not having Trueman back until at least Easter, then Clifford returning home it makes the recruitment decision to give Houghton an extra year and also sign Brown a poor one and possibly a poor/complacent contingency plan. I know that the game here is not awash with 6 & 7's but we always seem to be the one club that struggles in this area of recruitment.

But it just makes me wonder if the club has not learnt anything from previous poor/lack of halfback appointments and trying to put square pegs in round holes that its tried so many times until we had Kelly/Sneyd and latterly Trueman/Clifford, granted they didn't play much together but the quality and specialty was most certainly there.

At least it sounds like we are trying to prep properly for the game, going over the day before.

Should be better but I do wonder if less flights out of season were a factor. Hopefully this mini break helps with the team building!

Regarding the dilemma whether to play Houghton or drop him altogether. He was MOM and also included in the SL team of the week. I definitely would like to see him spelled but just don't think he is our main problem. 100 % it would benefit us having another hooker to come of the bench to spell him.

You seriously believe that
Its more cost cutting.Cant blame Pearson for that in the position we are in
Before Leeds started to use a chartered aircraft all the teams did this then most started to follow Leeds and use a chartered flight to fly back the same day
Two and a half hour flight is nothing.Lunch in Perpignan,afternoon rest,play the game and sleep on the flight back

You say that, but better service from acting half can make your halves look better as they have more time, and are not having to get the ball at knee height or head height

What are the flight details for this weekend?

You clearly saw more than me. Yes the odd one does but mostly he's on target.The halfs had plenty of time on the ball to do something but it was usually just a pass inside. I'm just saying someone who gets MOM and gets into the weekly SL team is perceived as someone who should get jettisoned. Again I will say he should not be playing 80 min. Yes we need Brown or Balmforth to free things up. But still think Houghton has a part to play

Booking a hotel for what 50 people including the backroom staff isnt cheap either though. But as said earlier time of year may be a factor on the flight booking/chartering, Humberside airport wont even be open after a certain time for example.

I would start with Houghton at 9, Sao at 13 with Brown on the bench, bringing him on at the 20-25 minute mark when the game intensity level drops as impact hooker (similar to the way rovers deploy Parcell). I would then spell Houghton and Sao at 13 through the remainder of the game.

I just think we will get the maximum effect from Brown in that scenario which, as a NZ international, we really should be exploiting to its fullest. Danny undoubtedly still has a significant role to play for us, his vast experience for one, but he needs to be used correctly and not be thrashed for 80 minutes every week, which we have done for the past ten years plus.

Behind that, I'd have Walker/Hoy/Smith at 1/6/7 and stick with them. There are no other obvious combinations at the moment (until Truman finally returns), we require stability in the middle and need to persevere with this to try to establish a working relationship. I don't know what went on with Hoy last weekend, but chopping and changing the halves every week will only exacerbate the problem.

Think they are flying to Carcassone on Friday back Sunday

I agree
expect to see Hoy back at 6 with Smith and Brown at nine if Tikering Tony has settled down
No balance at halfback with smith and Brown and with Hoy we do see more speed with more chance of creating a break

Ryanair?

You honestly believe going in a day is more expensive than an extra night or two, hotel, food etc, will not be cheap for a big group of players.

I really hope you aren't this miserable in real life, I'm honestly not sure why you bother following the club, when you never post anything positive (and despite been lots of negatives, there are a few positives) and just argue and moan about everything.

If I was this negative about something, I'd look for something else in my life.

Guarantee that chartering an aircraft is more expensive than what the club are now doing
Whats miserable in pointing out that in my opinion its cost cutting and i did say under the circumstances i dont blame Pearson
Furthermore if they are going out on the flight i think they are then its a very early departure therefore the coach will have to leave at an unearthly hour so there would be no preparing the team like you say on the Friday as the players will not be in the best condition to train having been up and around since the early hours of Friday.
A decent Hotel in that region this time of the year is about 50 euros so 15 rooms for say 30 players/staff would be 750 euros x 2 1500 euros
The flight is still available return for less than £100 so thats £3000
Food is an unknown but given the Eastern Airways flights from Humberside were £10000 Its still alot cheaper
I would also expect the clubs travel agent to have done deals with the airline on the ticket price and bagage,the same with the Hotel in France

If I could be bothered I'd look back and I imagine you complained about the club doing a day trip and the effects of a pre breakfast Saturday morning start and coach/flight a few hours before kick off.

Always like Houghton in the team . He reads the game well, grafts, darts - never understood the criticism he gets. We alway do better with him on the pitch. But Brown is a hooker and we need to see what Balmforth is about at some point too

Ah but you forget that his FAMILY have invested heavily in the club, sometime in his waking memory, as he stated on a previous occasion when he was called out and it appears to me as though he believes that because of this the club and supporters owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Due to this not forthcoming he also believes he should have a say on how the club is run and belittles everything and everyone connected to the club whilst having huge appreciation for our nearest and dearest rivals. As the saying goes “Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned” that goes for LGBTQA+ and men too.

Little emoji there too for him

We could have flown out on the weds or thurs and he would still have moaned…he just wants to moan about the club all the time.He comes out with the odd post that is good but 99% of the time it’s rubbish….i did say what I thought should have happened to him but got deleted by the resident gestapo

Absolutely guess work his figures, you have no idea what hotel they are staying in, what flight they are getting, training facilities booked, how many meals, where the meals are, other transport costs and personal expenses.

You are just making it fit you agenda against the club.