Amongst all the disappointment of last night, the return of Chris Bridge appears to have past people by or been overshadowed by the poor team showing.

In the past Bridge has been hot and cold, but when he's been good he's always been one of our best strike players - pacy, good step aligned with a powerful fend, upper body strength and good hands.

I must admit I had my doubts about whether he could come back from his knee problems but last night answered that quite firmly, he was excellent.

I hope this doesn't signal another spell on the sidelines for Rhys Evans, though. If anyone should make way it should be Atkins so I'd be tempted to go with Ratchford, Riley, Bridge, Evans and J Monaghan as the backline next week with GOB at stand-off.

J Monaghan obviously on the proviso that he's fit, if not Atkins in, Evans on the wing.

Yes think most fans would agree to dropping Atkins.

Performed above all expectations on his first game in about 6 months, the only positive from last night. Welcome back son.

i'd go for this team for salford
ratch
riley
evans
bridge
monas j (if fit) if not then saltonstall
GOB
myler
hill
monas
wood
westwood
grix
currie

higham
laithwaite
carvs
cooper

atkins dropped, hodgson dropped, tyke dropped

Embarassing for the first try though.

Hodgson week off, surely

Chris Bridge showed he is talented last night and reminded us what we have missed. Give Ryan some time off to learn to calm down during a drama. He needs to steady his head, Riley is panicky enough for the both of them, though I'd want The Ginger with me in the trenches, heart of a lion.

Yeah, I would too.

I think this is spot on. Bridge showed some of his best last night, one of the few positives from a poor overall performance.

I would love to see the lineup suggested as well, Ratchford, Riley, Evans, Bridge, Monnas with GOB in the halves. This surely is the future.

and atkins gets thrown aside???

yes atkins is having a bad start but he normally does his style of play suits the firmer ground when he can get some steps and show his pace.

but bridge did have a good game however i used to think he played better at loose forward dont know why think its because he has the size aggression and handling skills

Bridge looked like he was carrying a lot of excess timber. In fact the ground shaking so much when he ran accounted for his first try as Hohaia was bounced off his feet.

Bridge has always been a better centre than Atkins. He runs better lines and passes better. Atkins is just a pure athlete and when he's not in top shape will look average.

Agreed that bridge impressed a lot of people. I think he's come back with a new spark for playing which i feel he slowly lost last season and his injury then didn't help. On wards and upwards for him hopefully.

Wolfinwidness said and atkins gets thrown aside???

yes atkins is having a bad start but he normally does his style of play suits the firmer ground when he can get some steps and show his pace.

but bridge did have a good game however i used to think he played better at loose forward dont know why think its because he has the size aggression and handling skills

Absolutely not, I'm an Atkins fan too but at the moment he isn't performing well. If he were, our
two best centres are him and Bridge.

Problem again of who to choose. The only answer is to play the ones in form.

I know Bridge can play at loose but I think he is better at centre. Rotation ?

Looking at the bit of open field running that bridge did last night, should make you realise just how bad his knee was last year, it was like a different person.

I think saying Atkins would be cast-off is over-dramatising it a bit. He'd be dropped so he can regain his form and confidence, it happens to all players in all sports and the best ones react in the best way.

Couple of other points - can people stop saying Atkins will be great when the pitches firm up? Have you seen the weather? We live in Warrington not Queensland and the pitches won't firm up until May.

Please, please, please not Bridge at LF. I hate this modern fascination with centres in the back-row, 2nd rowers at centre and loose forwards at stand-off. The pack is lightweight enough at the minute and until Ben H and Trent are back, we'll have to manage. Bridgey did the business at centre Friday so why move him just to accomodate a hopelessly out-of-form Atkins?