what frustrates me more is the predictability of our wingers taking the first few drives, defences are aware and setting up for it. if we make decent yards out of dummy its all good but when they are tackled early its hard then to get out of our own half

I just wish they would mix it up a little but maybe Matty n tom go at dummy half and pass the ball to a forwards running on to the ball would surprise teams.

Matty Russell passing from dummy half is a recipe for disaster but I take your point about mixing it up. Hopefully Penny and Ratchford back soon. As a side point I've been really impressed with Livett so far- looks really good.

I like Atkins, hes a big strong unit but the lad has never been able to pass.
whether a simple draw and pass or a quick hands catch and pass......

so his one handed backdoor pass to the feet of Lineham just made feel ill last night...

Rhys Evans made every wrong decision he could possibly make last night both in defence and attack...awful

Tom Lineham wowed us with another two foot barge over try....truly entertaining (thats not a pop at Lineham by the way who was the only player to come out of last night with credit)

And people keep saying on here "we should be winning in the cup finals" but we won't when we have deficiencies like we do in our squad.

The only 3/4 you have who any other top 6 team would want is lineham and I'd include penny in that. ratchford is a good player but is wasted in the centres. rhys evans seems to shuffle like my grandad every time he gets the ball and russell is an out and out full back

1. Gidley
2. Linham
3. Ratchford
4. Atkins
5. Russell / Penny
6. Brown
7. Patton

Russell's is anything but an out and out fullback. In fact he is anything but a fullback, full stop.

Correct with the funding and stature the club has we should have won the GF.

See the thread on Tony Smith to understand the concerns of why we have a side, in his 8th full year of leadership, with the deficiencies you mention.

Livett looks like he's itching to get a run at centre. His versatility would be useful too.

No disrespect to Evans but after a performance like that it would only be fair to drop him and let Livett have his chance. I think even Savelio at right centre would be moe effective.

Bobby Moore the kit man would be more effective than Rhys Evans!!!!

Yes, that must surely be the end of Rhys Evans at the HJ when his contract expires this year. Watching in the South last night I saw Livett racing up the right channel and draw his man perfectly, before passing to Evans to put him in quite a bit of space. Evans made decent ground before being tackled, but in stark contrast to Livett he seemed to have his eyes fixed to the ground as he picked up speed rather than looking around for support. You couldn't hope to see a clearer example of what a centre should be doing and you just felt that here were two players going in opposite directions at the club.

If Evans plays next week then he is clearly un-droppable. Rank against Catalans and Castleford.

Evans, plenty of heart but absolutely no rugby brain. Nowhere near good enough. Commentators saying Russell is usually reliable under the bomb, eh?? About as useful as a chocolate graham steadman . Russell is fantastic at returning the ball and that's it. When we have lots of go forward he will look quality but his overall game is weak. My ideal back line would have lineham and atkins on the wings with 2 decent centres brought in.

Is Toby king no longer in contention for a centre spot?

Yes, but injured against Catalan. Should be a good chance for Harvey Livett to show that he is better than Rhys Evans.