Its often said on here about not having any impact players on the bench.
Tonight was a prime example
Bowden apart a bench of Fash,Thompson and Connor is hardly going to rip up a defence
I know we have Hadley back next season but he is more of a defender than runner.
We are definately short of strong fast second row who can give us some impact off the bench and bust tackles.
Radford should also make a decision at Right centre either Connor or Griffin so we can have the extra forward on the Bench.
No point taking Griffin off every week after half time to give Connor a run and not use Griffin again.

2 seasons ago our back row and bench was ellis, pritchard, manu and mini. Next year it will be manu, mini, hadley and washbrook

1 from Watts, Taylor and Paea will play 13.

Paea will hopefully add that impact next year and it would be nice for Masi to continue his improvement and fulfil his potential over the next couple of years.

Well the suggestion is that Watts goes to LF as Paea comes in. Pritchard got some criticism and Hadley's been excellent in a very competitive Wakefield side. I think we'll go something like:
Shaul
Talanoa
Carlos
Connor
Faraimo
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Bowden
Manu
Hadley
Watts

Paea
Minichiello
Green/Fash
Griffin

I know we've got some upgrades and some to squeeze back into the cap but are we back at full cap after losing Micheals, Ellis and Fonua and replacing them with Paea and Faraimo?

It sounds that way. Fonua was a "project" so quite cheap from what I gather; we've been pursuing Faraimo for a few years so likely to be more expensive. Paea will be on a good wedge to come back. Year on year we've added Hadley, Abdull and maybe Miloudi, plus Kelly was on a discounted contract in year 1. Makes sense that we'd be there or thereabouts.

Fonua a project ... he was playing for Melbourne first grade !

Thought Fash and Bowden were great off the bench, thats without Manu and Green aswell.

Next year we have Paea, Hadley and possible Abdul to add in,plus the young lads will be a year older and more experienced.

I don't think it's a big issue.

Not convinced having Connor on the bench is best idea though

Connor should start every week ahead of Griffin that was my bug bear last night.

Maybe Griffin could move to the bench as a second row interchange and Connor start at right centre?

pritchard didn't excactly rip trees up but we will miss ellis, we have micky and Hadley coming in to replace them, plus maybe abdull,if all fit we could have a bench of green Bowden Hadley, and one of abdull washy turgut masi fash, not to bad at all imo, don't get this droping griffin to the bench, again last night he was along with fonau our best back, made ground every time he got the ball,

Not heard that one before, well, maybe a hundred times or so.

Me neither I thought Griffin was a handful for Wakey and has been consistent of late and performed well. Was surprised Radford didn't take Kelly off for a spell in the first half and put Connor in to be honest as he just wasn't in the game at all and couldn't keep hold of the ball.

Kelly imo had his worst game for hull, but the kid has been great for us and every player has one of those days, the other thing with Kelly he could have a mare for 79 min then go the full length for the match winning try, wondering if he had the same bug manu had?

Agree with you as think Kelly has been fantastic most of this season and last night was probably just one of those 'bad day at the office' performances. Think both Kelly & Sneyd had poor games compared to their usual standards but after the past few weeks not surprising they have an off night just both on the same night was inconvenient of the the pair of them

. Just thought with Connor on the bench Radford may have just taken Kelly off for a period in the first half to give him a break.

Frank's stats tell a different story.

We certainly didn't get enough minutes out of him, but the yardage he'd achieve in his stints off the bench was valuable & hasn't fully been replaced.

when I saw him play rovers in his first match I was drooling at what a beast he was,but for me apart from one or two games he just didn't make enough impact, Wembley to me was typical frank, one good run then nothing, big disappointment for me, but everyone sees things different,

Always look a better and more creative team when Connor is on but I thought Fash and Bowden did well last night myself! As for Frank in the first couple of games he played wide out almost in the centre channel on the left were he looked unplayable, releasing slip passes and running at the centre and winger after that he was channelled more into the centre and for me lost his impact.

thought Bowden and watts where immense, really like the way Bowden is playing, as for fash my main concern is that for a prop he just doesn't look big enough, he tackles above his weight but never really bends the line, saying that a good bloke to have round the squad,

Let's not be too harsh.

This squad has just retained the Cup at Wembley and are three wins from being the best team in the Northern Hemisphere and then we'd have a crack at the World Club Championship (if it's on next Feb?).

Yes, we can always improve, but we work very well with the squad we've assembled and our game management is now at a different level to any time I can remember.

Also impact isn't just about strength, it's also about having someone who can kick goals for fun, kick a match winning drop goal, a 40-20, create a try with a break, catch a high ball to score a try, defend our line and not panic with 15 minutes to go throwing out silly passes.

All of the above have been a standard within our play over the past two seasons and I trust Radders and his team to make sure all 17 places are filled appropriately next season.

I thought Bowden was superb again last night. He's become very difficult to bring down and always seems to steal more metres in the tackle.

Think he's really starting to mature into the role and alongside Watts and Taylor our props are something to be feared

I agree. Bowden has been a great impact player this season and makes a lot of yards when he comes off the bench.

Sometimes what you look for in a game and an opinion you form isn't quite the reality.

Last year his average meter gain was second in the forwards behind only Scott Taylor, his number of carries were the 5th highest forward (more than Mini & Ellis), total meters 4th highest forward.

Knows how to put his shoulder is aswell does Bowden. He's come up with some brilliant hits this year. I really like him.