I don't see the value of moon at 6 as he's not exactly known for creating space for his wing let alone providing structure from stand off. Sutcliffe though isn't showing any signs of bringing that to role either, great carrier of the ball and could well end up as a back row or centre. Interesting to hear mcdermotts comments about needing to make the shirt his own (sounded like he's not happy that he is at the minute). Big decisions to make for the club going forwards considering the spine of the team.

Personally I'd look for a half to partner Lilley for the long term future and have ward/Sutcliffe somewhere in the back row.

He has played 90 games. Can't have played more than 20 at fullback, and he hasn't really played back row at all. I was been generous when I said 60, but it was a guess.

I agree Moon is a better centre, but he also likely a better stand off than Sutcliffe. Unless there's another option? Because the friendly is where it should be tried.

Whatever the outcome, two or three years down the line, Sutcliffe will be a centre in the game.

Tbf that's the NRL when he was around 21. SL with several more years of experience and couple of hundred games under him is a different thing.

but he's still not a 6

Maybe, maybe not.

going to be a 6 he would have played there, consistently, long before now.
i'm with seth. lets find a long term partner for lilley. let lilley sit and dictate and find a quality running half to partner him

Sutty needs 30 games at 6 to prove himself but he will have to make do with playing when the undropable mags is injured.
So I think we'll see 15 games apiece with mags injuries meaning neither 6 will get settled

Moon's the best centre we have by a long way. He grafts, gets involved when things aren't going our way, makes important breaks out of nothing, the very opposite of the centre on the other side.

I really wouldn't contemplate moving him into the halves.

I think we might be alright with Sutcliffe at 6 and Lilley at 7. You've got a runner and an organiser. Though I do agree Sutcliffe needs to do more of the "other" half back work than just running.

I do also wonder whether a long term option might be Golding and Lilley in the halves with Sutcliffe at full back.

Agree with Les Norton on Moon. He's a cracking centre and I'd keep him there if at all possible.

I think Moon is a good player who happens to play centre rather than a good centre. The reason I wouldn't mind seeing him move is because I think he could do so much more like the two tries he helped set up in the 2015 CCFinal by popping up over on the right hand side and his try in the GF. Think restricting him to just the left edge is a bit of a waste and he can be a threat across the pitch instead of one part of it.

Or more likely the same issues which stopped him being a 6 in the NRL would be apparent - namely overdoing the running instead of passing and lack of general game management. In fact the exact same strengths and weaknesses he has at centre, just magnified by being more important to the overall function of the team.

No McGuire. Moon and Singleton aren't risked with slight knocks and Cuthbertson missed out through illness. Cameron Smith confirmed as injured.

Ormondroyd and Aston return and Stevie Ward is in too. No Ferres though.

Golding
Briscoe
Watkins
Keinhorst
Hall
Sutcliffe
Burrow
Garbutt
Parcell
Mullally
JJB
Ablett
Ormondroyd

Ward
Delaney
Walters
Handley
Baldwinson
Lilley
Aston
Oledzki
JJR
Hallas

Who's going Friday night anyway?

How can Cameron Smith be injured - he hardly draws breath on the actual field.

Anyone go to the game and able to give any insight?

Any impressive/disappointing performances to mention?

Didn't go but.....

Any impressive performances were only to be expected because, you know.. Featherstone.
Any disappointing performances were purely McDermott's fault.

In other news, Cas got walloped by Batley and Leigh smashed Wigan last weekend.
Neither of those results can, in any way, be compared to Leeds' Boxing Day game against Wakefield.

You can lock the thread now lads.

On to Sunday!

Don't know the score but I've seen some Fev fans on face book complaining how they'de hiked the admission and refreshment prices only to see their team fail to score a single point.

You do realise it was the Cas academy team don't you. We are at Saints on Sunday and both coaches have said they will play their strongest 19 bar injured players. Should be a good indicator how the season will go.

Typical pre season game really, had that much rotation I don't think we really found any rhythm, parcell looked sharp, would have been nice if the referee let some of his quick tap plays run but constantly pulled it back. Ormenroyd scored then went off injured. The only thing I concluded is that Suttclife should be a loose, think he'd be much better utalised there, but each to their own on that one, depends what you want from your half, Golding looked quite slippery but ran too laterally for my liking. Ward looked strong, Watkins was quiet. Some of our kicking was terrible, would have probably expected more with how we started but as I said, typical pre season, looked just about getting players game time.

Keinhorst was the best player on the park by a mile I thought. Run some nice lines, and came onto the short ball well for his try. What a shot he put on Mariano to dislodge the ball as well, when he looked a cert to go in. Bring back summer Rugby sharpish too!

Cheers- sounds like no surprises

Bloody cold it was

Interesting Keinhorst has played the pre-season games at centre. I wonder if McDermott is getting Keinhorst game time in the centre because Moon is going to play 6.

I don't think Moon at 6 is the answer, but Sutty just doesn't do it for me. There's only so many times that stepping inside off your left foot is going to fool anyone, and unfortunately you can read a one trick pony like a book. No game control again from the halves last night, and getting caught with the ball on the last so many times, is again a bit of a worry.

ignore him.he's pathetic. some village somewhere is missing an idiot