Howarth is only versatile if you consider him playing turd in all those positions. He's good at being mediocre in a number of different roles.

As for predictions...

Who knows?

On paper you'd say Saints, but like most things RL, the team that doesn't 'turn-up' is going to lose.

Saints by 8.

I hope we make a good fist of it to entice the floating fans who'll be watching it on the tellybox.

any injury news update? noble on bbc website said Darrell Griffin and Shannan McPherson went off, Jake Mullaney picked up a knock . Hope Mullaney ok as i thought he's been great in the last two games

Don't worry faddy - Howarth can play in every position so we've got cover at full-back.

I don't think it is very easy for young players in this day and age,with the demand for immediate success and the player pathway difficulties.
Young players should be given every encouragement and blooded correctly.
I could provide a link of all the young players through Wigan Academy,some selected to represent their country,and you could have followed their career path;not all of them instantly successful,in the same code,or the same country.
I could also remind you that a certain round-ball kicker,soon to 'earn' 300k a week,was treated with utmost caution at Everton by David Moyes.
I could remind you of a poster on here last year stating Theo and Marc Sneyd were not Super League standard.

rlHERErl is a happier reminder of the potential of Stuart Howarth - note the opposition.

2 former hookers in Nathan Brown and Brian Noble have selected him for first team action.

I hope our supporters take their voices to support our players and the Super Josh mascot on Thursday night and our young players take all the accolades.

He isn't in the squad named today.

Brian Noble will choose his side from:

1. Jake Mullaney, 2. Danny Williams, 3. Martin Gleeson, 4. Junior Sa'u, 5. Francis Meli, 7. Tim Smith, 8. Adrian Morley, 9. Tommy Lee, 10. Lama Tasi, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Gareth Hock, 13. Harrison Hansen, 14. Theo Fages, 16. Andy Dixon, 17. Shannan McPherson, 19. Matty Ashurst, 23. Greg Johnson, 24. Stuart Howarth.

according to saints website this is the squad. im suprised that Junior in the team as he was 50/50 and chase was almost fit. theo had a cracking game last week so lets hope he does the same again.

Yes,you're right,he is a bit of a scapegoat primarily on the back of the soft interception.
However,the better question to ask whether he's good enough and he isn't.
He's ok as an emergency but not as a 'first choice' interchange player.

No Griffin or Rapira either. I expect we'll see Morley and Puletua back in for these two, with maybe Andrew Dixon back in for Jason Walton to give us an extra forward on the bench, and possibly S'au and Meli instead of Meli and Williams on the left.

Of all the posts on this forum, you have a pop at the spelling in [ithat[/i one?

How is he being made a scapegoat?

He isn't being blamed for anything!!

People are simply pointing out he's crap regardless of whatever position he plays!!

scapegoat? No, he's just not good enough. I've said this for the last 2 seasons. He's had one decent game in a Salford shirt and that was the friendly against Wire the other week.

Phil Bentham to ref. Can anyone pick him up?