After it became apparent at the weekend that nothing has changed in our game and the same old problems persist, I'm now all for giving Wheeler a go at stand off. Won't happen like, but hey.

1. Wellens (Made a couple of mistakes last week but was good with the ball, I thought)
2. Lomax (A chance to cement a position in the absence of probably our poorest player)
3. Gidley
4. Pryce (Has pace, power and footwork, which we've been lacking in the 3/4s for ages)
5. Meli
6. Wheeler (Can pass and kick ... good qualities for a stand off to have)
7. Eastmond
8. Puletua (I'd rather see him in the second row but our hands are tied)
9. Cunningham
10. Graham
11. Clough
12. Wilkin
13. Roby (Not something I'm terribly keen on, but worth a go, I suppose)

14. Flannery
15. Fa'asavalu
16. Fozzard
17. Moore

FWIW I think we're up against way overhyped opposition on Sunday. Bradford have a tremendous back row, good half backs and nothing else. Their front row is light on numbers and their backline is bottom 3 material, so I think we should win but we shouldn't necessarily take it as a sign that everything is fixed.

Would love to see that side run out at the weekend. Much more skill and pace across the backs.

Great looking team, Dux, but where's our organisation coming from?

Where's it coming from now?

I think Eastmond is a capable organiser and should be trusted with more responsibility. At the moment he, Pryce and Wilkin are just getting in each other's way. Also, Eastmond and Wheeler have played together in the halves for years, so I reckon we'd see a much slicker outfit with those two running things. They're young and they'd make mistakes, but we're currently ending 50% of our sets with a mistake, so it's hardly a gamble.

I'd like to see

Wellens
Lomax
Gidley
Pryce
Meli
Wheeler
Eastmond
Graham
Moore
Fozzard
Wilkin
Puletua
Roby

KC (as interchange prop)
Flannery
Clough
Faz

it isnt going to happen, but that's what i would do

completely agree Dux, Eastmond and Wheeler have played together since they were 13, so will combine well

Good question! We don't look organised at present so I would say nowhere.


I don't know whether Kyle is being given the responsibility and not matching up to it or not being given it in the first place because we definitely don't look organised. I don't blame Kyle for this, not one bit. He's new to the role and will take the season to adapt to it. But there should be a clear organiser on the pitch so that everyone knows where things stand and there just doesn't seem to be one.


True. I'm all for giving it a go myself especially bearing in mind that we aren't performing well under the current set up so we've nothing to lose. However, I don't think that's going to happen under Potter. Alas.

I suspect either the coach or his teammates are trying to make it easier for him. Very often on particularly important plays the ball will go to Pryce or Wilkin when they aren't really in the best position. The result is generally poor.



Sadly I think you're dead right there.

1 Wellens - still up to the job but should have more support in defence
2 Lomax - needs experience and team needs his pace
3 Gidley - should improve with faster winger to support him
4 Meli - much stronger attacking than defending. His size and storming runs should be more of a virtue here.
5 Wheeler - here for same reason as Lomax
6 Pryce - needs to buck his ideas up to keep this but lets give him a little more time to gel with...
7 Eastmond - ought to stay here to make 7 his own. Organsing will come when team mates all do their part.
8 Graham - can`t fault him. Regular interchanges to keep him fresh.
9 Moore - needs to settle at 9 so he can improve confidence and get more involved in play.
10 Fozzard - needs to step up. Regular interchanges with Fa`asavalu.
11 Clough - excellent workhorse. Good stamina on this lad so keep him on for as long as he`s up to it
12 Puletua - I`m undecided as yet. Steady player but still needs settling in team (?) so keep him here
13 Wilkin - want to see more creativity, he`s well capable. Remember him at 7?

Roby - versatile interchange. Remarkable at 2 v Hull.
Cunningham - regular interchange with Moore.
Flannery - cover for 11-13
Fa`asavalu - cover for 8,10,11,12

1-13 I`d like to see as regular spots. We need consistency in positions, giving each one chance to settle and exploit their individual strengths. Where a player is out, not muck about changing people around, rather, replace with squad and interchange players.

I see many players down on confidence but with more spritely wingers, fresher forwards and more inventiveness at the front we should see more interesting gameplay.

Apart from that... Potter out!

I remember Meli having one exceptionally good game for Samoa at centre in the world cup.

His weakest point (fielding kicks) would be less exposed there.

I know he was winger, but v Hull in the CC is one of his most memorable charging runs in my mind. I think he should have more opportunity to do that. He`s not fast enough or able to field kicks well enough for a more defensive role. Given his size and knowing he has a fast winger in support ought to improve his play.

I think Meli to centre has got good potential, as has been said uses the best parts of his game and negates the worst. Soliola to 2nd row, lomax to the wing, fast, can catch and plenty of protection having Meli as his centre

Hoping the pile of spat dummies will slow the opposition down?

Mmm, I have a feeling that it would mearly be replaced by "defending the centre channel".
Defending at centre is a difficult job, you're defending against pace and you tend to be responsible for marshalling the guys either side of you.
Vinnie Anderson was a real enigma, good defender in the back row, good when you put him on the wing, [iterrrible centre[/i. I think Meli would fall into this situation.

If he cropped up in the back row, a la freddie, I wouldn't be dissapointed.