In his Challenge Cup final with Leeds, Tony Smith left out Barrie McDermott and went with NO props on the bench vs. a mediocre Hull side in 2005

He does make some strange decisions. That one didn't turn out well.

You have to back Tony Smith and his selection, from a personal point of view i think it weakens us as we have no out and out pace down the middle. Losing Monaghan from around the ruck will weaken us as will Myler's backing up anything that moves like McGuire and Webb do for Leeds.

Clarke gives you a basic game from hooker, Monaghan draws defenders in and creates gaps like he did for Vinnie Anderson in last years final. I wonder how much sentiment their is in the selection of Clarke after he missed out last year, it seems Myler has given way to accomodate Clarke. Our strongest combination at hooker is Monaghan/Higham IMO, Higham comes on and gives you that energy so he wouldn't be competing with Clarke for a place as Clarke in't an impact hooker. It would have been Monaghan v Clarke to start at hooker, the only way to accomodate them both is to do what Tony Smith has done and drop Richie Myler.

I'm not convinced in Monaghan as a 7, you also lose that world class play from 9 which he brings to the team. It can be switched during the game which i'm sure it will, you have to feel for Myler as its a tough thing for a young kid to take.

Anyway, i back Tony Smith fully as he knows more about the game than any of us.

The one not to go for the two points was more so.

He chanced an injured Keith Senior against Hull in the 2005 final which backfired as well, he was never fit.

Testiment to how well V Anderson has been playing. Plus, it worked v well without Myler against Catalans.

The worry for me is we try and play it too much in the forwards. There is obviously an advantage in the pack, esp with Peacock and Burgess on the sidelines.

King and Atkins are in great form out wide though. A more conservative gameplan, based on set completion and physically battering them may well work, but I have my doubts. I think this approach has possibly been the reason we are 1 out 6 against Leeds/Wigan/Saints.

To be honest, as long as we control the ruck area, and stop Maguire the game should be won. Silverwood allows quite a bit of messing around at the play the ball, so we need to slow Leeds down, in the Wigan style.

For the first part that is silly. He is in the team on form and ability.

As for the second part. Absolutely correct.

So what your saying is that were a stronger team with Clarke at hooker over Monaghan ? It boils down to ability like you say, its who has the ability to move us around the pitch better between the 2.

Since Monaghan reverted back to 9 we have looked a totally different team, i'm not convinced that we are that same team when he moves back to scrum half.

Monaghan is lightening fast around the ruck, he draws players in and creates gaps for others and he has some big defence in the middle. Look at Monaghan in last years challenge cup semi final and final, at hooker the guy just oozes class on the big stage.

If Clarke has the ability to move us around the same way as Monaghan and to control the ruck in the same way on saturday then i'll be one of the first back onto this thread to congratulate him and to eat my words, i just don't see it happening but thats just my opinion.

Clarke deserves his place in the 17 which i agree with, i'm not convinced that its as a starting hooker though. He will never have the same effect on our team as a starting 9 than Monaghan does.

I'm not so sure we needed to tighten up down the middle by dropping Myler, he is no worse in defence than Rob Burrow is or most scrum halves in SL. In fact he's actually made some great covering tackles since he arrived.

I can't see Leeds wanting to take us on down the middle anyway with Peacock out, i think they will attack our fringes by getting the ball to Senior as often as possible with Webb supporting the line and McGuire on hand to recieve the ball from any breaks.

Yes, and so did I...

Too right. I cried.

Ritchie is/was our future...will he now now respect Smith more or less for this? Vinnie however is off so couldn't give a !!

I've just watched the SF again, Clarke & Monaghan literally share hooking duties from set to set. In some sets Monas will dominate from 9, Clarke in others. I'm sure in some respects, it's harder for defenders to pick them up in moves, given the rotation.

I'd never in a gazillion years leave Myler out for Higham, but he has. He's not an impusive bloke, so there'll be a logic & a thought process behind this decision, and I guess we have to suck it and see.

This is two years on the trot now that allowances have been made for Higham, so TS obviously rates him highly. (For some reason)

It's an interesting choice but I completely trust Smith's decision. He's hasn't yet steered us wrong so I've no reason to doubt him. If we lose, we lose. At least we'll have made 1 cup final this year and are on course to make another (possibly)