Whats everyones thoughts on the Catalans game? Got to start much better. Our weakness will be the pack against there and we need to defend much better.

Team I would go with.

1.Evalds
2.Carney.
3. j.Griffin
4.Sau
5.Johnson
6. O'brien
7.Dobson
8. Koppy
9.Lee
10.G. Griffin
11.BMM
12.Jones
13. Flannagan.

14. Tomkins
15. a.walne
16. Lannon.
17.Forster/Krasnniqi.

We all know pack is light we need to leave Joseph out and have someone younger in. When we get weller back that will be a big boost

We seem to falter against teams with big Packs, ie Hull F C and Hull K R. Catalans must have the biggest pack in Super League. I fear the worst

Drop Jospeh and give Krasniqi, Forster or Haggerty a chance <repeat ad infinitum>.

I agree. Need younger prop instead of Joseph who can last longer on pitch.

What approach would you have for the Catalans game?

It would be interesting to know just what Watson thinks Joseph gives us compared,say,to Krasniqi

This may upset some on here but I think we should play Tommy Lee at stand off to bolster the tackling with GOB at full back & Evalds on the bench
We beat Cas by getting the ball out wide & GOB was integral to that. We will not beat the Cats up the middle so an expansive game is required. We also need a better attitude than last Sunday.
Comparing this season to last we have victories against Saints & Cas but beat Cats so need a victory. Another on Monday would be fantastic.

Doesn't upset me, I had my concerns over moving h O'Brien from FB to SO as the team was already suffering through the absence of Lui. By playing Evalds, we then distrupted two key positions within our and it shown.

Everyone can see what a revelation O'Brien has been at FB this season, it was a big call and one that ultimately backfired by moving him. Having O'Brien in the defensive line gives the opposition an easy target, Hull KR exploited it and Catalans big men will do exactly the same if we don't change things for Friday. Gaz's defensive frailties aren't obvious from FB (infact he made some great tackles at Cas) because in affect once the opposition break the line, you don't expect your FB to prevent a try.

I would approach the game similarly to how we saw Widnes destroy Hull at home a few weeks back. Ride the early storm, move the ball outwide and stretch the defensive line at every opportunity and turn their big men around with deep early kicks.

that is another option. We get a better kicking game with o'brien at full back as he more time to kick as defence is further away. Evalds off bench is the option as if Catalans tire we can use evalds pace in an attacking mode.

looking back I think we will go with this. We looked very weak in defence on sun and with Richards on the left wing having tommy lee at stand off on the right will improve this.

interchange.

14.evalds
15. a.walne.
16. lannon
17. kraniqui

Thought I'd read that Jones was injured?

I'd not have Tomkins or Joseph on the bench, trust in Evalds pace and eye for the gap coming off the bench and keep the ball alive when possible in attack to wear the Catalan pack moving around.

For me Griffin can play big minutes and Walne as the size and fitness to do the same.

I'd also be kicking early in the tackle count to turn them around and again tire them out.

I agree with this.

Joseph also needs dropping. It's like watching an old leather sofa in a Salford shirt trundle up the pitch. I'd go so far as saying that the sofa would be quicker and more effective.

To be honest we need to be rapid out of the blocks, our strongest pack needs to be implemented straight from kickoff,so Flanny needs to start. I'm in favour of starting the match with Evalds at No1. Why. Well i don't think the problem last Sunday was in attack, it was more of an Attitude problem especially in our ''D'' .Evalds didn't have a great game well neither did O'Brien at Hull FC remember and we kept faith in him. Don't get me wrong a fully fit squad O'Brien would be my Fullback however with Lui's injury i feel we should give Niall another shot as it won't do his confidence any good dropping him, the lad needs nurturing and given another shot to make amends. If after 30 minutes we're struggling then change the dynamics back to O'Brien to Fullback, Lee to No6, and Tomkins to No 9. But for me Niall should start to give the lad a decent shot at redeeming himself. Attitude is the main key factor this week for sure. Not who plays Fullback.

That's a fair point, Stan, and correct. Regardless of positions if they get the attitude right the rest will fall into place.

We all know attacking is not our issue its defence where we need to strengthen. Defence is a big one this week. Catalans a very strong team. There wingers will also cause problems.

Should be a good game and hard to call who will win.

Tatics this weekend should be putting as many bombs up towards Broughton as possible and make sure the kick chase is good.

FFS......,Phil Joseph in the 19 again!!!