Well it's not been a dogmatic approach to use as an insurance policy against injury, but more a tactical approach to be able to change up our game. The insurance approach gives nothing to the team other than taking a man out of the match and tiring out other players.

snip

You think that was tactical last night? I don't think so. I think Gaskell was there as an insurance policy but against Hohaia's performance rather than injury. We were not winning the battle until Gaskell came on for those final ten minutes. And after all, we played in the same way last season but Moore would come on playing the role Hohaia played last night. We look better with Gaskell on the pitch and he should play every week.

Nope I thought it was tactical.

If it wasn't tactical - and was insurance as you think - then why wasn't he on the bench against Bradford?

About time you got something right

Brilliant

I will turn that back on you, since I don't believe it was tactical. If it WAS tactical, why wasn't he on the bench against Wigan? If ever there was an opposition we needed to confuse, Wigan was it but instead we stuck to the same combinations in spite of repeated beatings.

I think the decision pre-match was strategical.

Perry was injured and Gaskell was the next best player fit to play.
But was used Tactically during the match.

If Perry was fit Gaskell would probably not have got a look in.
Had Gaskell been on the bench and Royce was in charge, he probably would have not got any time as they were only there to cover injury, not to be injected into a match to make a difference.

I was told flangan was due to miss out last night until Perry pulled out and I think past history shows gaskell would be starting if Royce was still in charge with lance on the bench

I think it's a good to see a coach pick his team that he thinks is best against the opposition and not just picking the same 17 every week.

Maybe he's watched the tapes on Salford and thought Gaskell would do them damage in the secound half.

It worked anyway.

Whereas I think it is good when a coach learns that a given 17 don't work and so adapts accordingly, which clearly hasn't been done in the case of Wigan so I don't see how it would be done against anyone else.


IMO it worked because Gaskell needs to be on the pitch but no doubt he will be disappeared again.

I have absolutely no idea how you come by that conclusion! A back for a prop?! And for the last ten minutes only? Makes no sense IMO. Didn't Gaskell physically replace Jones anyway? I don't remember Jones being on the pitch while Gaskell was on it.

Gaskell come on for clough tp went prop Wilkin second row roby loose lance hooker Jones play full game

Rush also changed the team for the bulls game at Langtree as he wanted the biggest pack out there to steam roll them and that worked.

Sometimes changes to to team selection are needed depending on who we playing and not just swapping the team around just for the sake of it.

Your correct, we've not yet picked the right team to beat wiigsn but I'm sure every defeat has been a learning curve and with a little luck we will get it right at play off time.