Bit early imo. Needs to bulk up before he plays in the first team.


Olbison, Crookes & G Burgess to get a go for me.

If we don't put out a strong team and do a Halifax v Hunslet we might look a bit stupid.

I certainly don't think we should put out an entire reserve team. However we will surely use this as the opportunity to give at least 2 or 3 players a bit of a rest and 2 or 3 young lads the chance to try to impress.

Personally, I'd agree with Lynch and Beaver and would probably rest Ox, Nero, Kearney or Langley too.

You could go with:

Reardon/Halley
Sheriffe
Platt
Crookes
Halley/Reardon
Sykes
Southernwood
Scruton
L'Estrange
Kopczak
Whitehead
Hall
Donaldson
SUBS
Godwin
Olbison/T Burgess
Crossley
G Burgess

That to me may be a little overkill on the resting and it's still a team I'd think would comfortably win the match. Bear in mind Dewsbury have lost 6 from 6 this year in the league, against Keighley, Featherstone, Batley, Toulouse, Sheffield & Widnes. They also lost to Leigh and Fax in the NRC. The only teams they've actually beaten this year are Rochdale, London Skolars and Drighlington!

While we don't want to take it too easy and end up embarrassed, similarly we don't want to take it too seriously and risk players that really don't need risking, as well as giving up the opportunity to give some youngsters a chance.

In fact, looking back on that i think i'd put Reardon at the back and Halley on Crookes' wing.

I don't have a problem with bringing in fringe players for this match but we need to keep the following in IMO:

1. Kearney
2. Sheriffe
3. Platt
4. Nero
5. Halley
6. Sykes
7. Orford
9. L'estrange

In order to make sure that the combinations above get more game time as it's only been three league games so far.

There certainly is some sense in leaving the 1,6,7 & 9 combos especially. Although I get the feeling Orford won't be risked in a game like this.

I'd be looking to rest Orford, Kearney, Lynch, Langley and Menzies.

If we cannot beat Dewsbury with 5 players missing then we don't deserve to win the CC anyway!

I'd swap Kearney on that list with Nero, L'Estrange or Hall.

don't think I'd be comfortable resting both kearney and orford. think one of them at least should play, probably kearney as he has age on his side. Same logic for lynch and langley with probably lynch getting the week off. I'd be surprised if we make menzies play in this one.

The thing is, no offence to Dews, but we should only rest players who've got a knock which would be helped by a week off. Putting a good kicking to them would help the team as we could get a chance at trying different ideas on field, little training ground moves and the like

We managed ok in pre season with Sykes and Addy and that was with very few 1st team regulars. With Godwin, L'Estrange, Sykes and Addy/Southernwood we should have enough creativity with a strong pack. As I say, if we lose to Dewsbury with a handful of players out we don't deserve to progress anyway.

Not necessarily true. Same could have been said for Tomkins, Burrow and Maguire.

I saw Paul Deacon play for Oldham and he looked like a small boy (he'd put a bit of timber on by the time he played a bit of academy for us and made the first team

This sort of game gives up and coming players a different sort of run out that a senior academy game wouldn't

Whitehead and Donaldson look miniscule in comparison to some of the giants they are playing and doing well against. It might be a bit early but we shouldn't shy away from exposing these prospects when we have a chance - this could be it

So judging from Maccas comments and common sense, you'd think it would be a few from the following list to get a rest : Andy Lynch, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford, Chris Nero, Jamie Langley.

Watch out for Dewsburys score today v Whitehaven. 10 players have walked out on the club, and refuse to play for Jowitt. I've got a feeling he won't be the coach by the time we play them.