As we are getting close to the middle eights I suspect he will be keen to start Siejka, and that Mullaney will play full back. Surely Matty Blythe has to be getting a run out and Henry has to be most under threat. Some interesting options in the backs and half backs. I feel that Mendieka has done enough to start with Addy as insurance on the bench.

I would honestly say that Uaisele is the weakest of the Wingers/Centres. He just seems to go down far too easily and doesn't run directly enough for mine. I guess the counter-argument is that a Henry and Blythe combo might be a bit lightweight.

Yeh I understand we probably won't see him until the regular season is almost over now. As long as he is fit for the Middle 8's then I'm not too concerned.

19 man squad:
Adam Henry, Adam O’Brien, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Dale Ferguson, Danny Addy, Danny Williams, Epalahame Lauaki, Etu Uaisele, Harry Siejka, Jake Mullaney, James Mendeika, Jay Pitts, Jean-Philippe Baile, Matty Blythe, Paul Clough, Ryan Shaw, Steve Crossley, Tom Olbison.

Id go.

Shaw
Williams
Purtell
Henry
Uaisele
Mullaney
Addy
Sidlow
O'Brien
Clough
Olbison
Ferguson
Pitts

Crossley
Lauaki
Mendeika
Blythe

rest to miss, bit wary of Mullaney as he is just back from injury but only other option is Mendeika at 6 with Baille on bench, rather not rush the injury returns back just yet

Eight matches left. Next five should be winnable without Gaskell. Last 3 are probably a bigger challenge and should we still be without him then let's hope we are safe in the top 2 by then. Maybe the news blackout is necessary regarding how bad his knocks are as he would be likely to receive extra ' treatment' from opposition players when he returns. Recently he seems to have had his fair share of suffering. I'm hoping he makes a swift recovery but maybe it's a great opportunity for someone else to run things.

we also have Peterson who i have seen yet to play, Jimmy must have a big plan for the rest of our squad

I thought we had a bit more structure with Siejka and he was definitely improving. Having said that our performances in the last month have probably been more complete. I've gone with,

Mullaney
Uaisele
Blythe
Purtell
Williams
Mendieka
Siejka
Sidlow
O'brien
Clough
Ferguson
Pitts
Addy

Crossley
Lauaki
Baile
Olbison.

I've kept Addy on the pitch as he gives us a bit of organisation and a kicking game. Mullaney is our best full back, Siejka is a scrum half and Mendieka a stand off so in the absence of our best player it might be best to go as close to how you would if Gaskell was fit. . If Mullaney pulls up. Mendieka can go to FB with Addy filling in at 6.

One mistake I thought Jimmy made was bringing Mullaney straight back in when he pulled injured again (against Sheffield?).

I'd go;

Shaw
Uaisele
Henry
Purtell
Williams
Mendeika
Addy
Clough
O'Brien
Sidlow
Olbison
Ferguson
Pitts

Mullaney
Baile
Crossley
Lauaki

Blythe and Siejka miss out. I've noticed whenever we get players returning to the squad they tend not to play unless necessary so that's why I've only gone for Mullaney. We should have more than enough if we stop cocking about trying to score on every play.

I think Uaisele's age and experience helps Henry, Adam certainly seems more consistent and less likely to brainfart.

I can't see Jimmy bringing Blythe in and then not using him. If he wasn't going to play then he'd be at Oxford with the other guys. He'll definitely be in the 17 I think.

Tbh I probably would pick him but I was trying to second guess Jimmy! I'd also be happy to try a Mullaney and Siejka half back partnership but I doubt Lowes would go for that.

I'd imagine that if Siejka is fit then he'll play tomorrow, especially as Gaskell is out Lowes won't want to be playing many games without either first choice 6 or 7

Talking of half backs.....Sammut has left Wakey. Where next ???

Meant to be going to Workington. Although I've heard Leigh mentioned as well.

I never understood why he went to Wakefield in the first place, if stability and security is what drived the move then it was an odd choice. I'd have thought he could look a little higher than Workington though, not sure what need Leigh would need for him but you never know.

Leigh have acquired some higherquality players this season so Sammut would obviously improve them further.

Jarred, even with his known flaws, is an outstanding, SL quality talent, the fact as he was hardly the player Wakey were needing when they signed him doesn't really change that. Behind a dominant pack, in this division he's be a great asset to any side, imo.

Well that was a banana skin dodged. Very poor first half where dewsbury handled weather much better than us. We improved as it got drier but TBF we also benefited from a couple of dewsbury errors. Won't have helped that we were playing a new halves combination. Think Henry will be lucky to keep his place next week after some poor decision making.

We lacked direction and leadership this afternoon. Dewsbury came at us all guns blazing and quite frankly we were lucky to come away with the points

Lucky to win that. Thought Mullaney was by far the best player on the pitch. Blythe needs a run of games to get up to speed.

Not a great performance but another two points.

We got the 2 points but we were second best for the first half and for a good part of the second. We were lucky at times their cock up for the Addy try and that 40-20 not being awarded were key moments.

Was it me or was that ref bloody awful. PTBs took forever and teams offside by miles.

Credit where credits due, Dewsbury were very good. In fact they'll feel gutted to go home with nothing.

That said, Addy and Mullaney didn't work as a pairing, although individually they actually both played well (if that makes sense). Looks like we missed Gaskells organisation more than I expected. Presumably Seijka in next week to get the team around the park better.

Best side probably lost today and Dewsbury will definitely feel like it was two points lost. They kicked better, made good yardage and were generally more enthusiastic for the win.

We never really seemed to find much cohesion with Mullaney and Addy at halfback. Obviously going into any game without either 1st choice halves isn't ideal but I think it highlighted just how exposed we could be if we were unlucky to lose both halfbacks again later in the season. We're probably asking a bit of Siejka to just slot back in given the time out with injury but you'd hope we'd have enough class in our side to get the result at Workington.

If Gaskell is going to be missing for another few weeks then we'll need somebody to step up and lead the side from 6/7 because I don't think either Addy or Mullaney are the answer particularly against better teams like Featherstone that are coming up. I thought with a few exceptions our kicking game was pretty pants and Dewsbury were much more effective at gaining the territorial advantage.

Pleasing to get the result though and I thought we should some good character to come back from behind.

I can't remember seeing a team offside at the PTB so consistently as Dewsbury today. The ref was terrible and it was laughable when he penalised US for offside right at the end.
It was a big concern that we had no creativity without Gaskell, worrying rumours on Facebook that he has a broken jaw. Please God no. The thing that stood out for me in such a tight game was our poor in play kicking game. How many last tackle kicks of ours went dead for a 20m tap? Addy did this almost every time, Mullaney was slightly better but their kicking game beat us all ends up. This needs some serious practice.

One hooker, no halves and no bench option and guess what? We have a squad of 31 and 6 weeks before the middle 8's we need a total brainfart by Dewsbury's full back to save us at home.
Has Gaskell broke his jaw or is he back next week to partner Siejka after recovering from a couple of knocks? This is silly.
What have Fleming and Tahroui done wrong btw that we needed to sign Crossley whilst having played most of the season without a scrum half?
I'm perfectly aware that injuries happen and can be disruptive but I thought the situation on the pitch reflects a little bit of muddle off it. Maybe this is too negative as I thought with Gaskell playing we were progressing but today was dire.