Can't see Hodgson getting back into the side now after yesterday's performance! We were awesome, briers shouldn't get banned, if he gets one match he can use his EGP and get off with it

Do we have any remaining A-team, U21 games or whatever they're called, so that Myler can get some game time under his belt?

Involving Myler, who's not played a full match since Wigan nearly 3 months ago, could be a MASSIVE risk, in such an important game.

In Smith we HAVE to trust

I can see Lee being banned for next weekend's game, but no longer than that.

Tricky one this, Ratchford has advantages over Hodgson (better defender, returns kicks brilliantly) but Hodgson is far better joining the line and picking out the defence breaking pass.

My thoughts exactly......

Also the current betting for the Grand Final is

Warrington 6/4
Wigan 9/4
Leeds 4/1
Huddersfield 8/1
St Helens 10/1
Hull 25/1

Saint look a good each way bet at 10/1

Interesting odds, them

Wigan looked v. effective on Thursday
Leeds wont be as poor again, as they were for the last 60 minutes of yesterday's game
Huddersfield looked "shot at" on Thursday. Great for 10 mins, then dross. Maybe they've been this season's "flat track bullies"
I'd want a bit more than 10's for Stains, but not to be ruled out (I didn't see last night's game).
A good effort by Hull on Friday, but wont figure in October

which leaves us......

Has that Widnes debacle been a mataphorical "kick up the 'arris" that we needed

Since then, Silverwood and Stains did their best, but to no avail
We overcame the elements and a horrendous penalty count against Cats
We've just beaten the GF specialists

6/4 is extremely stingy, considering we have to win 2 games to win. I'm out. I'd just bet on singles. It's not like we've an outstanding play-off record, have we?
I'll be happy with the trophy, though

Correct. I'd like to see how many metres he made yesterday. as well as his kick returns he also made a lot of ground from quick play the balls at acting halfback.

Just like he did yesterday?

God I agree with this fella.....

Myler is a top player but Smith is prone to rewarding players as he has found out before . Carvell and Grix have also fell for this. It's tough, but what a position to be in.

Difficult one... I'd hate to be in Tony's position! Some extremely hard decision to make if everyone if back fit! However he has proven in the past he has the balls to make the big calls that come off!
Grix must play full stop! But do you lose harrison and his work rate! I think this goes unnoticed by the majority of fans! We seem a more stable team with him in the middle! Grix however has him covered easily for skill and is more likely to create something!
Watching the last few game I'm afraid if I had to pick a week forward in all honestly Moz wouldn't make the cut!
Full back wise I'd take Steff aswel! His speed and agility with kick returns put us on the front foot allowing the forward to build a platform in better field position! Hodgeson has the brains for the game but the body's past its sell by date!

Cooper is going to be dropped! Which is disappointing as its by far his best year but just highlights the strength of our squad!

It's very hard to change a team that won so impressively as we did yesterday. On the other side, it's hard to not play Myler and Hodgson when they're available, they're fantastic players. I think you could make a huge push for Myler to play but not Hodgson, not playing Myler means playing Grix out of position which isn't ideal for the biggest game of our season. I don't think you can drop/move Ratch.

If Smith's prepared to bin off Hodgson for next season, I can see him dropping him for the rest of this year. Ratch is the (very near) future at FB, so he's gonna get this test at some point, and I can see that being this year.

However, IMHO one of the reasons Smith is the best coach is SL is that he will pick a team to play an opposition, unlike say Cullen, who would always go with his best 17. Horses for courses, so against a tight defence like Hull, I'd pick Hodgson over Ratch. However, against a strong kicking team like Hudds, or Leeds, Ratch for his better kick return. Against Saints, I'll play, cos they're pants, and we'll win easily anyway

Grix is the one I'm worried for. In our top 3 players this year I think, but could he , maybe like Ratch, fall foul of 'Appo syndrome'? He's not in our top 2 halves, or best 2 centres, and Westwood, Waterhouse and Harrison are all likely ahead of him for starting back row spots. Which means he's vying for a bench seat-8,9,10 are dead certs, and as above Ratch or Hodgson likely to get a shot, for variety reasons. Unless we're against a big forward pack (Hudds) where it's likely to be attritional (and therefore 4 forwards on the bench) I fear he might miss out on a final spot agian (assuming we get there of course!!)

For me, Ratch and Grix have earnt their spots though, and I hope to see them in the 17.

Nice to be in a position where this is an issue though, both from the point of view that our squad is this good, and that they're all fit. Just need to perform for 160 minutes now!!!

I would think grix is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Hull have beaten us twice off the back of their good kicking game... surely ratchford at FB for this game.