With Gill injured it really shows how paper thin our centre resources are. Who do we bring into that position? Another dual reg? The rumours linking us to Baitieri and Butler are all very well but we have no depth at all in the threequarters. We need another centre at least.

Yes agreed if Gill is out for any period we have a problem. A proper loan for at least a month is needed but I suspect we won’t get this from SL until after Easter (assuming they still play twice over Easter, I’ve lost touch?)

Funny how our club lurks from having nothing but wingers and centres to not having enough. No real halfbacks to a condrum of what we do when Walkers back(although after yesterday's showing drop them all)
Balancing a team and getting cover for all positions should be a coaches priority before the first game of the season. Not a fan of the dual reg and it showed yesterday how it can mess up a team. I genuinely belive D.F.J would have had a better game. He is always enthusiastic and we really missed some one with great go forward.

We only have two centres at the club and now one of them is injured (hopefully not seriously). It's such a crucial position, particularly defensively as we showed yesterday when Butler was filling in and was pulled out of position easily. Not sure how another loan player would influence who we could pick in other positions, I think we're only allowed a certain number of DR and loans in one 17 - can anyone confirm? Yesterday we had three DR and two loan players in the 17.

Does Max Clarke come back from his loan spell at Doncaster, or has that ship sailed?

Dunno. TBH he didn't look that great in pre season but he may be our only option.

Problem we've got is our next league fixture is a tough away game at the Shay. Be a baptism of fire for Myers. GFJ could maybe go on the wing and Blackmore at centre.

I'd personally rather one of them have a shot than Ruan.

At least we have an "easier" game this week for one of them to get their confidence up.

Ruan looks completely disinterested and has offered nothing in attack or defence in his two games so far. If he's wanting to get in Rohan Smith's plans he's not going to do it in a hurry playing like this so I don't see why we should carry him. I'd bring back Brad Foster in his place if he's fit, at least Foster carries the ball strongly.

GF jnr isn't quite up to championship standard yet in my view but I'd definitely bring DFJ in for Roberts who certainly doesn't need another derby game after yesterday. If Blackmore is fit he might get in over DFJ. We missed some strong carries yesterday as too many players opted to run sideways. My worry with Blackmore is his habit of coughing the ball up in the tackle.

Said all preseason its a mistake going in with only 2 senior wingers and 2 senior cetres. Myers and Clarke bith unproven youngsters,
Gilly done a hamstring so you would imagine a few weeks out.

Injuries are killing us already

Max of 5 loan players in a match day 17. I believe only 4 can be DR players IIRC.

Those numbers apply to the 21 man squad too

So a club in theory could have 5 loans and 4 DR in a 17 or 21? Nine players? Bloody hell.

We're up to 5 so plenty of scope.

I'd just play Myers. Rather than playing players out of positions.

No it's definitely a maximum of 5 loanees and DR combined, of which a maximum 4 can be DR. So you can have 4 DR + 1 loanee, or 2 DR + 3 loanees, etc.

So we were up to our limit with Ruan, Tindall and Roberts on DR and Rogers and Roby on loan.

I'd be keeping Tindall if possible but would be looking from existing players to cover second row and wing. DFJ and Blackmore for one wing spot. Myers at centre and Foster back into the second row (if fit).