I'm sick of looking back, the season starts here.




Wire by 12.

I've a feeling this is a start of a run to the grand final rovers by 30

We've turned a corner! Rovers will just sneak it.

Hope we stuff them after dumping us out the cup. But I doubt it. One point victory will do for me. Should be targeting points from this game, as I'm not that impressed with wire this year.

The Robins have named their 19 man squad for Friday night's trip to Warrington Wolves (KO 8pm).

The squad in full is:
Travis Burns
Keal Carlile
Omari Caro
Ben Cockayne
Neville Costigan
Jordan Cox
Ade Gardner
James Green
Craig Hall
Josh Hodgson
Graeme Horne
Kris Keating
Kevin Larroyer
Rhys Lovegrove
Jason Netherton
Liam Salter
Adam Walker
Kris Welham
Michael Weyman

No Eden?? Seems that Sandy has just figured out he's a liability. Or is Bennie just a better all round full back?

It's a straight choice IMO between Eden and Cockayne for full back, as Gardner and Caro currently look like our best wings. If Cockayne is going to retain his spot, Hall and Horne offer more options in the 19.

Eden needs to get his focus or concentration up. Cockayne could do with a bit more composure too. I'm not confident on either of these things happening consistently, but I can see why Cockayne is preferred at the moment.

Eden has flaws in his game but is young enough to work on them and become a player good enough for a top 4 team.

Cockayne just has flaws.

Don't know about that Stan. Cockayne does have an occasional brainfart, but Eden this year has had plenty in every match he's played in. Tbh, i'm a tad disappointed with Eden, as I thought he might crack on and become a more accomplished player this season. But from what I've seen, he's gone backwards. So I'd rather have a committed, flawed Cockayne over Eden any day at the mo.

We could have done with Langley and Poore in the side for this game.

Westwood injured, not playing. That makes it tougher.

Keep the ball away from Cockayne on the 5th tackle. In fact, maybe that's singling out BC too much .... but seriously ... I hope we've been working on last tackle plays and set up plays to last tackle. Last week was nothing short of appalling.

IMHO both have flaws but both add to the team.
You cannot buy the type of energy Cockayne adds to the team.

I would love to have a FB that was cock-up free but neither are and it's a case of 'just pick one' if you ask me. I agree with your point about Eden's age but right now their isn't a lot in it.

I didn't go due to having a hernia op but from what I have seen on HullKR TV it seemed we were more like the Bradford display with ball in hand. Maybe Agar's point was more valid then some gave him credit for.

Spot on, even though I think BC has been good at FB for the last few weeks I still think we lose a lot in attack. There is a serious case of overlooking the flaws in BC's full back play aswell. If Eden had been at the back this week all the talk would have been around the bomb that was dropped at the beginning of the 2nd half.
I do like BC's energy but I still think GE offers more in the long run.

Eden all day long for me with Ben coming off the bench to bring enthusiasm, Greg has his flaws yes but adds much needed flair and pace.

Rovers defence & attack has improved considerably since Cockayne moved to full back and I don't think it's coincidence.

Cockayne marshals the defence well and has produced a number of ball and all try saving tackles. Two costly mistakes last week but if you want mistake free you'd hardly bring Eden back instead.

On attack Cockayne just gets involved a lot more he brings the ball back with vim & energy and has produced some great cut out passes to create tries. He energises those around him and most importantly gets our speed of play up. We have been so laboured at times this season but not when Cockayne gets involved.

Greg Eden is the more talented player for sure and can produce moments of brilliance which few others could. So far this season though IMO he is well in deficit regarding pluses and minuses he has had a largely negative overall impact and I feel his confidence has been down. He'll be back some time or other but there is no reason he shouldn't have to wait, we've been doing better without him. When his chance comes it is up to him to take it.

if you can't buy the energy cockayne brings wakey owe you 20 k.

Why?

Weswood being out is a big boost for us, still not confident but we live in hope.

Not as daunting as it has been in recent seasons. Another close game which could go either way. wire may struggle without westwood

Horne starts, Hall on bench. Cox & Carlile miss out.

Wood and Harrison back and England
Dwyer for Higham

6-0 Rovers at the break.

A daunting second half awaits.

I'll retreat into a warm cocoon of mild equitable reasonableness as a defence mechanism if we collapse. But I have just had quite a strong cup of coffee and if we win, I might just go a little bit ape poop.

Our lack of creativity this season is killing us