maybe a case of getting a few competitive games under our belts and seeing who looks unlikely to get 1st team gametime soon before deciding who to send out on loan/dual reg ?

Well the reason I mentioned Donaldson was the three factors of his age, the position he plays being a position where we're arguably our strongest in terms of squad and last season's injury.

Don't forget this is today

I think this strength in depth is being over emphasised. Langley is out which means we're a couple of injuries or a suspension from having Addy ( is he fit?) /Donno/Crossley in the 17. Whilst we played well for periods against Leeds Potter will have seen that with Langley missing our pack was in reverse gear for the last 10 mins of the first half and the last 15 mins of the second half. Sibbitt and Koppy were both poor and Scruton and Hargreaves were only OK meaning Whitehead played 75 mins which is too long of we want him to be at his best come a semi or (here's wishing) a final

My view is that far from sending anyone out on loan we should be looking bring a forward in, preferably a prop.

tbh thikn addy will be in 17 this week. Depends how long langley is likely to be out for as to whether we need to look at bringing someone in. If its a few weeks then give addy and donaldson the game time, preferably with royston or sibbit on bench as an option in case they struggle. If langley is out for longer then we probably do need to think about bringing someone in although I'd prefer a top notch , which would give us option of walker moving into 2nd row which we cant really do at moment as he's easily our best .

The bigger issue as to whether Addy or Donaldson will be in the 17 is probably down to injury. Donaldson is still recovering from the injury from last year and was still limping at the BullBuilder event a few weeks ago. Addy copped a cheap shot in the Dewsbury game which caused him to have X-Rays to check for a broken jaw and then missed the Wakefield/Keighley friendlies.

If Addy is fit, I'd expect to see him this week. If not, I'd expect Olbison may get a chance. Alternatively, they may bring Sykes back in and play Walker in the back row. (Or even, if Herbert is back, he plays 7, Kearney at fullback and Royston in the centres)

thats the option im trying to avoid as we're weakening another area of team to accomodate langleys loss. I think sykes at isnt as good an option as walker and whilst im a big fan of royston I dont think is one of his better positions either. As we havent heard anything since about addy's injury I was assuming he was ok to play (dont think he was mentioned in injury uppdate in t&a a couple of weks back either).

I might get shot down for this, but I think that an option for loose forward would be Sykes. He would be protected in defence because he would be in the "middle four" instead of being on the fringe where he is often outpaced, he runs some very good lines, and he can occasionally pick out a nice pass.

Assuming Langley is out then I'd hope to see Addy starting at loose. Look good when he had his chance last year and I agree with Mat, no point in moving too many people around. These guys are there as cover so use them.

Also if Addy starts I get my name read out

I agree if Addy is fit, I'd definitely play him at Loose. But if he isn't, I can see the positions being jigged around rather than playing Olbison.

That's no slight on Olbi, as I think he's a really good player and would like to see him get the chance. But just a hunch tells me that Potter would be more likely to shift Chev than play Tom.

If addy isnt fit and presumably donaldson too then royston to LF and no one else needs to move. That said if all fit I'd prefer our kids to get the chance at LF and keep royston on bench as backup.

I thought Connor would have given this another plug in the T & A!??

Is this deffo on?

Team will probably be announced in T&A tomorrow or Friday. Hope it's Addy in for Langley.

I've managed to change my plans last minute so I will be attending.

Strange that they've not plug'd it in the T&A so I'm not expecting a huge turn out. But, compared to previous seasons there's not really the rabid fans demanding to know why the club was spectacularly failing and what they intended to do about it.