keinhorst has been cleared of a suspected eye socket fracture according to sky. Pleased for the guy

I would've picked Handley. Pick him at RW and Briscoe to LC and tried Moon at hooker. Can't be no worst than going with 1 HB, or Keinhorst like some suggested or Burrow.

He has good hands, can pass, I think he could be a dangerous runner from dummy half and is a reliable defender who MIGHT even be able to defend in he middle, he copes well physically even when he has to defend further infield when Burrow and McGuire have both defended outside in the past (if not we could revert to the Burrow plot of letting him defend in his own position. Whilst he's had a good season I don't think he's the most vital of the back 5 to keep in place and others like Briscoe (or Keinhorst) could do just as well supplying Hall outside them. You could also easily swap him and Sinfield around if it's not working as hoped or even just to mix it around during the game.

If we have to go left field thinking with no Aiton, Burrow or Sutcliffe and Ward not trusted then I think that would be the best bet.

Plus with Ablett inside him, it is not like he is seeing much ball, despite his danger.

When I said "distribution" that refers to the passing ability long and short fast and delayed. Most decent half backs have a full range of passes. Aiton's performances were not that good the previous season and I think his style this season was developed on the training field.

Roby is in a class of his own and like JP is something of a freak. McIlorum has a good aggressive defense and go forward but IMO iffy distribution while Houghton puts in high tackle counts with quite poor distribution - you may recall he perhaps cost Hull the game the other week against us with bad passes. IMO one of the reasons there are so few top "proper hookers" is because we ask too much of them. In seeking a replacement for Aiton we are not overwhelmed with choice are we?



Great if they can do both but IMO the priority is distribution and dummy runs.



Yes but most sides pick 3 forwards on the bench one of whom is often a hooker who comes on for 20 minutes. If your starting hooker could play the full 80 you replace the 20 minute not so good reserve hooker with an extra decent forward who can play longer spells and spread the tackling duties around.



This could well be true but it is equally possible that his passing i'snt good enough.

If only Danny Buderus were available!!

Won't be surprised what so ever if McDermott has realised his problems and Golding starts in the stand off position.

Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Golding McGuire
Garbutt Sinfield Peacock
Ablett Ward
Cuthbertson

Lilley Delaney Singleton Leuluai

Walters Burrow

"tried Moon at hooker".



What are you on about...................... if you were really on the grassy knoll in Dallas, Kennedy would still be alive because you'd have thought a spud gun would do the job

Similar to Frosties.

Hardaker
Briscoe watkins moon hall

Sinfield McGuire

Garbut Lilly peacock
Ward ablett
Cuthbertson

Golding delaney leuleui singleton

I think sinfield is more affective at 6 than 9

moon at hooker? I would question why. he's never played there before so why do it in a huge game? you can't experiment in such a big game.
mac has obviously never fancied burrow at hooker hence his limited game time there. without aiton there is no back up. a poor oversight for me.
as to who plays there if burrow is fit start him on the bench with ward at 9. sinfield can still jump into dummy half as he did at hull.

A, we know Ward sn't going to get picked.

B, experiment....isn't that what we are doing naming Cuthbertson at hooker and going minus a HB? If Burrow isn't fit then we simply ARE in the experiment stage. Asking Golding or Lilley to start (and miss Sinfield's kicking game at HB) is just as big an experiment given their very limited experience.

Someone who can be dangerous when he gets the ball (Moon) but can suffer from service over on the left, being more involved doesn't sound too bad to me.

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
29. Lilley
6. McGuire
8. Leuluai
13. Sinfield
30. Garbutt
12. Ablett
14. Ward
19. Singleton

7. Burrow
10. Peacock
15. Delaney
17. Cuthbertson