And we were 18-0 up after 12 minutes with no Ratchford involved...does that mean we dont need him?? No it doesnt but as has already been discussed he will get his chances this season and its up to him to prove he's worth a regular place in the 17, but at the moment I dont see the point in changing a winning team.

Same team who played Celtic.

I would hope that a young, inexperienced, but undoubtably talented player faced with not being picked ahead of an established, experienced and not out of form player at an early stage of the season would show the maturity to realise that it's a squad game and we can't play everyone all the time and not get too upset about it in the knowledge that their time will come.

I've got to agree with EVERTON1, Paul was rubbish on Saturday and last year when we went over to Yarkshire to play Fev after Paul had worked for the BBC he was useless. Give Ratchford a game I say, it cant do any harm, we're not expected to win.

We are not expected to win no, and yes don't get me wrong I would rather see Ratchford, Turner etc playing rather than Paul, but what's the point in changing a winning team? Plus, the said inncident was last year and I'm sure McRae will have had words about that.

This anti Robbie Paul stuff is nonesense. Best football brain in the club by far. Ratchfords time will come. Best time to play Trinity without Brough, Latte and Richard Moore.

so if he has the best football brain at the club where did it go last year and on saturday he is now past it sorry to say.go onto wigans forum the sam over there with regards to give sam tomkins a chance.been watching rugby for 30 years a it pains me to see so many overrated aussies and kiwis taking kids places.reduce the salary cap to 1 overseas player no kopak no federation rubbish no i can play because my great uncle bulgeria was married to a woman from england rubbish when we won the ashes how many aussies and kiwis where over here not many it pains me to see aussies and kiwis over here just to boost there pensions

Doesn't stop the best teams in the world rotating and come on Danny we were expected to win that one and its not as though we're on a 10 match unbeaten run. I've nothing against Robbie Paul and beleive he has a great rugby brain but a massive loss of pace. When alls said and done its up to Mcrae not the opinions of fans on here though so whatever he decides fair enough.

Has anyone mentioned Stefan Ratchford yet? It appears that he fallen off everyones radar over the past two weeks.

One of the reasons we fell off last Sat was that aswell as taking off the entire front row we also took Swain off, from getting fast play balls, allowing Alker to dictate, we were then left slightly on the backfoot whilst the subs caught up to the pace allowing Celtic to stabalise and get back into the game. McRae needs to stagger his subs more (even leaving Mal on) had he done so I suspect the impact would not have been as severe.
As for the Ratchford debate then yes he will be a very very good player for us but for now you don`t change a winning team. His time will definitely come, though i`m not sure his best position will be hooker. After all, all the moves etc which stem from the play the ball will have been run with Paul & Alker. I have reservations like everyone re the latter but for now he will stay
Oh & despite us generally playing like headless halfwits when we play Wakey away I expect to us to finally get a win over there on Sunday

You don't change a winning team but you can tweak a few things that didn't work, like the subs and timing of them, but I would put Ratchford in for Paul, and let his kicking game add further fire power to our play.

Excellent post redhope.

Paul was on the bench as hooker.
In fact, I worry have we another hooker who can pass like Alker (please no posts on faults) and tackle like Alker.

I would swop Sidlow for Lulu ...otherwise the same.

same team that beat celtic for me, if you drop someone from a winning team, apart from if they are injured, is going to do nothing for there confidence! People are calling for nash to be dropped, that was his first competitive game for a long time, give him a chance for god sake!

Pretty much the same team for me.... More bothered about the prospect of taking half the Pack off at the same again - that didn't seem to work for me???

Tough one this. We've won our opening game so the temptation is to keep everything the same but what's good to see is that any changes we make could even improve the team. It's nice to think that we're looking to strengthen on the back of a win and it's not a knee-jerk reaction to a bad loss. I'd probably go for last week's 17 but I hope we get a chance to see Stef/Sidders/Jewitt at some point over the next month before we start meeting some of the perceived stronger teams when we may have a few injuries and need to utilise our squad.