I think that's a bit pessimistic, purely because there is a good journalistic narrative for either team winning - it's that type of game. I think you could write an article about either team winning before KO that would be pretty engaging just because it's that type of game and both clubs have been through a lot.

Luckily the real story is written on the pitch.

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

Seems an odd one.

Mullaney
Blythe
Nielsen
Purtell
Williams
Gaskell
Seijka
Sidlow
O'brien
Clough
Pitts
Olbison
Addy

Ferguson
Ryan
Crossley
Lauaki

Do we think, must just be going do size with lauaki as he does bugger all else, baile and Mellor to miss for me, hoping we would have seen Fleming instead of lauaki but we also allowed samir to go on loan who I thought was doing very well considering .

Just out of interest, why would you put Blythe on the wing? He has plenty of experience in the centre and Nielsen has played on the wing at a very high level (NRL Grand Final). Plus Nielsen has done bugger all in the centre since arriving.

Gaskell, Clough & Neilsen all have Finals experience from that squad. Will be useful in a game of this importance.

Baille & Mellor miss out for me. Mellor was just unlucky with the timing of his injury this year, he was going well. But his time will come.

I like the team that I see above. This is a game that "should" bring out the best in an experienced player. Yes, Lauaki and Nielsen haven't brought the house down yet but they have it in them and Jimmy must trust them to give it when it really matters.
I am happy with experience on the wing. Caro and Clare are for next season to me. Clare would have been my choice but I am happy with Nielsen / Blythe. If they give their best it should be better than the younger lads.

I really want to see Seijka start. He will be desperate to send Wakey down and he has started to show some confidence. All three play makers on at the same time - WOW! Even if we go up I would sign another top SH but keep Harry and give him one more season to win us over.

This is our best chance of promotion. Wakey are below strength and we are at full strength.

If they all tackle properly we then have two outstanding attackers that will win the game - no excuses this time lads!

Well below strength. I am pretty sure you will win this. Don't get me wrong I would love Wakefield to win but our results this year speak for themselves. You should be Dar too strong. Good luck.

Nielsen is better positional for me and blythe is a harder runner, plus blythe hardly brings his winger into the game when I've seen him at centre thinking he might get more space outside of Nielsen, can swap if you like that's the 2 positions that are gonna change but I'd prefer what I've put, each to their own through.

Has to be full strength no passengers for us to win

That's why I ask out of interest. I can't ever remember Blythe playing on the wing. Simple game plan for Wakey if he does, bombs/crossfield kicks/kicks in behind him. They could stitch him up like a good un. Just wondered if you knew something about him that i don't. There's more to playing wing than strong running. I just hope that Jimmy is justified in his decision, whatever that might be.

Oh no you don't. No way in this world are Wakey going into this game as underdogs, even if you have a few missing. Most on your forum still think that you have too much for us, especially at home.

Thanks for the well wishes though. Good luck to you too.

From a Wakefield point of view i'm glad Clare isn't playing. We have been done for pace on plenty of occasions this season and he would have exploited that, or at the very least nullified our only truely quick player in Johnstone IF Brian Smith picks him. Clare also has previous against us dor Cas at Belle Vue. Also happy the Lauaki is there, probably the laziest prop i've seen at BV this year and thats saying something. I think its going to be a close one but i think our forwards will just be the difference and we'll win it by 8. Wouldn't surprise me if it went the other way though, you are more than capable.

Oh right no I dont but you never know with Lowes.

Just thinking of strife power, most likely be neilsen on wing but will have to wait and see

I don't know either, just trying to think logically. Nielsen is a bit of an enigma at the moment. I'd like to think that someone who played on the wing in an NRL Grand Final knows what he's doing in that position. I also believe that he's very quick but we haven't seen it yet. I agree about Blythe's distribution though.

Jimmy will probably play Ryan there anyway ha.

Keeps us on our toes haha, will see if I can find some vids of neilsen on the wing, haven't really seen his speed yet, still not sure as to the reason of ommiting Clare but might be something we aren't privy to

JPB on the wing today in training

Wouldnt be a Bulls match without a strange selection

Certainly will be interesting to se who gets the wing slot, I assumed it would be Caro or Clare since they were both recruited late to help our push. It's a bit strange that two of the wingers we have signed up for next year haven't made the final 19, whether that is down to tactics or an injury I'm not sure.

I don't really get why Nielsen has begun copping flak, he might not be spectacular in attack but he's barely put a foot wrong in defence. I'd much rather he was centre than Blythe who is weak defensively at centre in my opinion. Don't see what Lauaki brings for this match either, I'd prefer to see Clough, Sidlow, Crossley and Ryan as our Props. Not ideal but Sidlow and Clough can both do decent minutes and they'll need to on Sat I think.

I used to watch quite a bit of Aussie NRL and Neilson was always a very strong defensive centre. More a Ben Harris rather than a Jamie Lyon

If we swap with wakey I'd take mullaly and scrutiny back I think

Not sure why you think Nielsen has been copping flak? It was a discussion about who should play wing. Putting Blythe on the wing is asking for trouble in my opinion. Nielsen can play wing and his centre play at the moment hasn't been so great that we couldn't afford to not have him there.

I can see why jimmy wants both Blythe and Ryan playing but i would have picked Nielsen and Clare as stated in my team selection earlier in the thread. I've hardly got it in for Nielsen, however uninspiring he's been.

Mullally is at Leeds next season. But yes, he's a decent player.

Ripped us to pieces last time. But lesson learned and hopefully Sidlow and Clough will be fired up to fight fire with fire!

The comment wasn't aimed particularly at yourself if that's what you assumed.

I don't 'think' Nielsen has copped some flak, I've read plenty on social media and heard it on the terraces. I had some old fella stood behind me at the Widnes match slating him most of the match. Unfortunately he disappeared before the final hooter and missed him being announced our MoM for that particular game.

I don't rate Blythe at centre at all, Nielsen won't get a decent pass all match if he's outside Blythe. The decision to go with only 1 of our regular wingers is a strange one by Lowes, as I say it'll be interesting to see his 17.

Regarding the wingers Blythe played there quite a bit when Jimmy came in. I expect him to be there on Saturday outside Nielsen (who has been a god send defensively)

I would have preferred Clare who in attack would cause Wakefield problems, but he conceded a number of tries last week. So can understand the decision although I would have preferred Clare.

Totally agree. Which is the worst, a novice winger or a weak attacking centre? I'd rather specialists in both.

Did Ryan play some of the Halifax game at centre? I know he was operating down the left channel but I'd had a few pots and can't remember. Perhaps Jimmy liked what he saw? I know he played the majority of the year at Wakey in the centre.

Soon as I read that I had flashbacks about St Helens bombing little Graham to death in one of those Finals that we should have won!

Now I've noticed Jordan Pansey's name in the Wakei squad we really need a fair video & ref - how did he ever get away with that off-side try from Sinfields miss kick = oh I remember, bent Ganson didn't understand the rules and didn't go to the video!
How to spoil a good game of rugby - employ a bent ref!

Maybe it wont come down to which players are picked; or which team plays best; but how good the ref is - oh I hope not - for both sides sakes.