He was suspended for Widnes and will serve the last game of his suspension v Leigh.

Looking at the team named, there’s a lot of speed and mobility, similar to last year, but need to get on the front foot and win some momentum to create space in the middle. I don’t like saying it, but that perfectly suits Russell’s game. Human pinball who wins a lot of rucks coming away from our line.

Ashton has worked hard on this, and is a great ball carrier. I just hope Thewlis has continued to develop in this area, hopefully aided by being brought into Wane’s England squad last year. Nothing against Russell, I just hope that these two do enough to not require resorting to (in my opinion) a negative move.

To be honest I was just wondering where he was. I think you're right, more of a project signing to see if there's some promise there.

This is our trouble. We are improved by a journeyman player like Russell (I've no axe to grind with him). He wouldn't improve Wigan or Saints. Shows how far we are behind.

Miski up until last season was very much seen as a journeyman, but took his chance, I'd take Russell over Saints third winger whether that be Bennison or Ritson.

Ashton I think if he already isn't certainly has the potential to be the best winger in the league, I wouldn't swap him for any other I think Thewlis is a very talented player, and is the right player for us at the wing position, I think he is an improvement over Russell but I'm also happy to see Russell in for cover.

It is a squad game I think Russell is a decent back up player and could reasonably stake a place as a starting winger in a number of other super league clubs.

Decent back up, yes.

Which clubs do you think he could stake a starting place in? How many of those clubs have SL Title ambitions?

Admittedly it's those clubs at the lower end of Super League who may not hold realistic title aspirations.

My points were that it was said "We were improved by a journeyman player" and this was a sign of how poor we are in attitude to other clubs I disagree, I think it is a postive that we have a back up of the quality of Russell. I'd say any squad in Superleague would potentially be improved by Russell, any that for a number albeit on the small side and non title challengers, the 17 could be improved by Russell.

To support this I think he is better that Saints third choice wingers Bennison and Ritson, and Wigans (who is widely regarded as the team to beat) have a young academy graduate as their back up who has had some injuries, granted they could shuffle their 17 and a number of their players can play wing.

Our issues are not with our wingers this season as others have pointed out.

Yes, fair enough. I was meaning in reference to our starting 17 being improved by Russell as a "human pinball" and a way of relying on to "get momentum". I think he is a useful squad player for us when injuries strike.

Where do you think our issues are for 2024?

We are going over the same debate about Russell that was discussed before he left and then again when we re-signed him.

His major issue in my opinion is his poor try scoring record.

To win games, you need to score more points than the opposition, with Russell on the wing we are reducing the odds on doing that.

I think our issues may be strength in depth - particularly in the second row - and size in the second row as well.

We've had a team with a poor try scoring record for quite a few seasons.

Fair enough, firstly before I do moan I'm feeling quite positive about our 2024, and feel we are in better shape than the Powell era, but,

Past our Starting Props I feel there is quite a drop off there, and I'm expecting a lot from Musgrove

Depth at second row again quite the drop off when we get to replacements and like Musgrove expecting a lot from Fitzgibbon.

Half backs, we are very reliant on Williams, Drinkwater cannot have another season like last year, high hopes for Hayes but I want him breaking into the team for the right reasons not having too because Drinkwater is terrible, Powell could go there, but that doesn't give us a long kick game.

In the back line I'm quite happy Centres are improved although we are down two already, I'm a bit worried over Tai given what's been said about fitness, 1 year seems a good idea.

On the whole though can't wait for Saturday and to see how it all goes.

Hmmm. Top half of the tries scored table most years Even top two 21. Even in the dire season of 22 we where far higher up the try scoring table than the actual league table.

Also tries scored isn't the only indicator of success the last two seasons of their Grand Final winning 4 year run Saints weren't anywhere near the top. Not that I want us playing the soul crushing, boring, edge of legality rugby scum helens do.

It's resilience and determination in key moments in games that get you trophies, a quality we have had sadly lacked and not just in a few seasons unfortunately.

Russell seems to be very good at ‘bending’ the line but I honestly can’t recall him ever ‘breaking’ the line. A good winger should do both and close games can be won by wingers who can do the latter. A handy squad player but I’m hoping our game plan encourages wing play as demonstrated by Ashton, Thewlis etc.

There is a WG article asking what we expect from the friendly.

For me I would like us to look structured amd threatening when in the oppositon 30. I hope we will not see the one out drives, tackle 4 panic play and then high kick to King.

I would also like to see us aggressive taking the ball in and completing sets calmly and methodically.

Finally I am hoping we have got some basics right. Passes from DH not being over the head of reciever would be good. So would playing the ball correctly.