No point turning up then. Pretty sure every member of the Wakey team should manage at least 50%

We have to play Ryan.

After the way Wakey released him and left him in the dark, I think he has a point to prove and he will take some stopping.

He's had a great couple of games and personally I think he's worth a quota spot for next year. The guy never takes a backward step.

Tell Jimmy. We already know.

That's just what your missus told mine

Exactly my point, I think Ryan can do as good a job as Luaki at prop for the 10-12 minutes he's on.

Change Ryan for Olbison/Blythe/Addy/Pitts

Wakefield are favourites and rightly so I would say. I think they definitely have the edge in the pack so we really need a massive effort from our guys to give our playmakers a chance. Out wide I'd say we might have a bit more pace and skill.

Last time I looked we have 8 start, I'd say that's probably fair.

Wakey are still the favourites. We are massive underdogs. We have absolutely no chance. No point going really.

But we are all still quietly confident - but don't tell anyone! Shush, keep it a secret that we might just win on Saturday.

My heart says Bulls, my head says Wakey, my liver says "Is it ok if you don't have a drink tonight".

The latest available odds are;



I'm actually shocked. I assumed that Wakey would be massive favourites but the bookies are only just favouring them and we are an average of a miserable 2/1.

So the bookies now see this as a very tight game indeed. Anyone who genuinely believes we have no chance against a SL team should absolutely lump on at 4/9 as that's an incredible price for a certainty.

Our pack bullied Salfords a few weeks ago... O'Brien controlling the ruck... Gaskell and Mullaney out the back... Plenty of skill on pace in the fringes... As I said, if we turn out with the right attitude I feel we will edge out Wakey.

Certainly wouldn't claim it to be easy by any stretch but turning up 50%??

I hope that's the attitude your guys turn up with

Squad

Adam O’Brien, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Alex Mellor, Dale Ferguson, Dane Nielsen, Danny Addy, Danny Williams, Epalahame Lauaki, Harry Siejka, Jake Mullaney, Jay Pitts, Jean-Philippe Baile, Lee Gaskell, Matt Ryan, Matty Blythe, Paul Clough, Steve Crossley, Tom Olbison

JPB hat-trick hero. I can feel it in my waters!!

No Clare or Caro. I assume Blythe will play on the wing then?

Only 1 winger named and no obvious cover for Jacobs Mullaney...

Although if the past few weeks have said anything there may be changes to the 19 man squad named.

That seems certain, although an outside bet may be Purtell or Nielsen to sure up the defence out wide? With Baile or Ryan coming in at centre?

Wakey squad:

Max Jowitt
Reece Lyne
Bill Tupou
Joe Arundel
Tom Johnstone
Jacob Miller
Pita Godinet
Mickael Simon
Michael Sio
Nick Scruton
Danny Kirmond
Danny Washbrook
Chris Annakin
Anthony Mullally
Andy Yates
Ali Lauitiiti
Anthony Walker
Jordan Tansey
Scott Moore

So power and defence at the expense of out and out pace? Lowes has told us very clearly what sort of game he's expecting. Presumably as a Wakey fan said earlier we will aim to match them physically and in so doing stifle the abilities of Godinet etc.

Well that's surprised me. Thought we would need a bit of pace out wide but defence is obviously a concern for Jimmy. I reckon it will be Blythe in the centre with Nielsen on the wing. Nielsen no slouch and has played on the wing but I can hardly see him backing himself on the outside. In fact, I don't think I've actually seen him run forward yet?

So Jimmy's philosophy was: Hmm, I can't decide whether to play Blythe or Ryan. I know, I'll just stick one of them on the wing!

Ryan will probably get Blythe bench spot.

Notice there's no Lee smith for Wakey. Another player who had a good game against us last time out.

If we don't beat that Wakey squad, we don't deserve to go up.

I think that goes without saying ha

Just to add, I think Nielsen played on the wing in one if the Grand finals? I know that he's played many times there anyway so no lack of experience.

Surprised to see Lauaki retain his place after being an utter liability against Leigh and having zero impact against Fax. Expect Wakey to gain easy yards as he gives away another couple of soft penalties.

Plenty of players in that Wakey squad that are good enough to hurt us.
Mullalley in particular worries me, our forwards had no answer to him last time around.

Despite everything that has gone wrong for wakey this season, and even more so this week in particular, I'm still expecting them to win. It's set up perfectly for them to overcome all of this season's troubles and emerge victorious on the other side, I can practically hear the journos writing the articles already.

Or maybe I'm just a pessimist

Against Halifax it was very noticeable how many times they got a quick PTB and ran at Lauaki and broke the line with ease, either with a quick off load to man backing up or cos he was still getting back the 10 or 8 depending on the ref