Peacock and Ablett both rested as well as Watkins and Hall. Moon injured. Squad in full;

Zak Hardaker
Ben Jones-Bishop
Danny McGuire
Rob Burrow
Kylie Leuluai
Paul Aiton
Jamie Jones-Buchanan
Stevie Ward
Brett Delaney
Ryan Bailey
Ian Kirke
Mitch Achurch
Tom Briscoe
Liam Sutcliffe
Brad Singleton
Elliot Minchella
Josh Walters
Robbie Ward
Ash Handley

Says Peacock (back) and Ablett (elbow) are the reasons they miss out.

I'd go

Hardaker
Briscoe (probably see him moved over to the left wing though)
Handley
Sutcliffe
BJB
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Aiton
Singleton
JJB
Walters
Delaney

R.Ward
Bailey
Kirke
Achurch

Handley and Sutcliffe in the centres then, presumably? Unless the ill-fated experiment with trying to turn Ward into one is to continue.

Could always put Kirke at centre.


Didn`t he start off there when in he was at York?
Then again maybe not.
Stick to Sutcliffe and Handley.

Surprised we're resting so many backs. If the 19 stays the same:

Hardaker/BJB

Briscoe
Sutcliffe
Hardaker/BJB
Handley

McGuire
Burrow

Leuluai
Aiton
Singleton
Delaney
Achurch
JJB

Kirke
Bailey
S.Ward
Walters

Thought Handley was a fullback/winger? If he's ok at centre then yes put him there with BJB on the wing so Zak can stay fullback.

1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
15. Delaney
28. Walters
20. Briscoe
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. Aiton
17. Kirke
11. Jones-Buchanan
19. Achurch
21. Sutcliffe

14. Ward S
16. Bailey
23. Singleton
26. Minchella

Anyone else have a sinking feeling that this could backfire on us?
It smacks of Tony Smith-like tinkering, it cost us then, it's cost the wolves too this season.
Watkins has looked below par though recently.
I'd put Zak in the centres with Handley at full back.

It could well backfire, but then again I thought that if we go full strength then too many minds might be on next week and not getting injured and not properly focused so it could've gone wrong that way too.

As I mentioned last week, whilst the starting 13 for the CC Semi looks fairly certain the bench spots are still up for grabs IMO. Hopefully we'll see the likes of those who are fighting for them (Bailey, Kirke, Singleton, Walters, Achurch, Ward, Sutcliffe) play with an intent to make sure they get a gig vs Wire.

I think we should line up like this:

Kear, Williams, Arundel, Blythe, Henry, Gaskell, Gale, Manuokafoa, O'Brien, Sidlow, Olbison, Pitts, Donaldson.
Addy, Mellor, Ferguson, Fakir.
Baldwinson and Conroy to miss out.

This is essentially the derby that doesn't matter, I did get a bit giddy after beating Wigan and tip Bradford to win by two - and now seeing the squads I'm that little bit more hopeful. But honestly, I think *ahem* home advantage will see you through this one. The couple of extra days may also make a difference as to how many.

I'm a little worried looking at that team really. There are a lot of vital cogs missing from that squad. You could argue that 4 of our 6 most influential players are missing. Time for others to make a name for themselves