Well Saints named Moore as he was appealing his ban. If they'd not named him and he was successful with the appeal he'd not be allowed to play

thats fair enough. but now he's failed in getting ban overturned they've withdrawn him and named someone else in the 19 in his place. Should that be allowed or should they have to stick to the 19 they originally named and now have to pick a 17 from the remaining 18?

It's no different to replacing a player who's unavailable due to injury. They're allowed to do it within the rules so it's not a problem IMO

are they though? what are the actual rules with regard to the 19 man squad. I've never managed to find them anywhere. I was under impression it was more a guideline from RFL rather than an actual rule ( at least that was common comment when leeds did similar last year with lee smith). But I also though only valid reason to allow a player named in 19 to be changed was an injury.

I've had trouble finding anything about it either. Wanted to know where we stood last week if all 3 of our returnees brokedown Sat/Sun. All I found was this:



Squad Announcement System



• Before each Engage Super League and Carnegie Challenge Cup fixture, each Engage Super League club must announce a squad of 19 players it will choose from for that match 48 hours before a game.

• Squad announcements will be made by 2pm on the appropriate day.

• Clubs cannot announce players who are not both correctly registered with the RFL and confirmed as a member of a club’s first team squad.



Had a table with what day the squad is to be announced (Wed for Friday games). No mention of replacing people in the 19 man squad. Vague rules as ever!

Sinats fans don't know whether to be confident going in to this one. The Leeds game was a blast, but before that we've looked poor.



Watch out for Big Francis Meli continuing in the centre. Its a big talking point about whether that's his better position than wing - he certainly adds a lot in attack, but could your lads out-think him when he's defending?



It will also be interesting to see how the Uber-young pairing of Lomax and Gaskell will go in the halves. Can they give another good display, or were they running on enthusiasm last week? Lomax is the box of tricks, Gaskell is the steady hand and the kicking game.

No Kyle Briggs tonight as Mick potter keeps the faith in the same 17 that ended Castleford's 100% start to the season last weekend.

How do you know?

Can understand leaving Briggs out this week. Not best game to introduce a new halves pairing tbf. Thought walker would be in though.

Potter said he would pick on form at the start of the season and the 17 from last week didn't put a foot wrong.



Briggs ultimately needs to win his place back into the 17 with the side playing well at the minute, plus how harsh would it have been on Sykes if he had been dropped for this game after his defensive effort last week?



Walker won't be risked I suspect so he'll be back next week for the game against Harlequins.

I thought Briggs would feature as I thought we might need his kicking game, but I couldn't think of a single player who deserved to miss out after last week.

Considering we've taken far better teams to Saints and got stuffed I see no reason to suggest we won't get thumped tonight. Apart from the odd blip where we've won, a good stuffing is traditional.

Ah but we're not taking the team to Saints are we, we're taking them to Widnes

Show some faith

I still feel we could do with Briggs for his kicking alone. Not taking anything away from the win last week, the kicking game was pretty average, in fact at times poor.

i think that if its true briggs and walker been left out its a poor decision by potter im afraid. Our kicking was still extremely poor last week vs tigers and if we do that against saints we will get hammered simple as. I know it would have been harsh dropping sykes but for me he is too inconsistent and saints will target him tonight. Poor decision if this is true. And im sorry to say but i can see us getting hammered tonight

Mind games per chance?



And all due respect Mick, but I can't see Potter giving you the team news hours before kick off.....

I think it is merely speculation based on his interview from yesterday.

Just setting off and the nerves have just started to go.



I hope to catch the second half of the U20 VC game, will give us some indication if Sykes is going in at FB if Briggs is out there.



Everyone making the trip over, have a safe journey and COME ON YOU BULLS!!!!!!!

Heading on the train from Sheffield to Widnes in an hour and a bit...starting to get very excited for this one and hopefully will have lots of banter with the Saints fans I am standing with. If we keep the defensive effort from last week but see some better open play kicking options from Herbert I think this is going to be a tight one that we can win!



Hope everyone enjoys the game who is going and have a safe journey! COYB!

I hope this rumour of briggs and walker been left out is a wind up. Its going to be a walkover for saints if thats the case

I would prefer Briggs in the team but I don't think he's the difference between getting hammered and being competitive.



If we give up as much possession and give the ref' as many excuses to march us backwards in defence as we have lately then we'd get hammered whoever's in the team. Minimise those unforced errors and we certainly stand a chance against a side that looked competitive against a team with no forwards.

Heading for the Packhorse myself shortly.

Eastmond suspension lifted, could he play tonight?

No. He wasn't included in the squad.