Perm any 17 out of all our registered players and I’d still predict us to get “battered”. It’s that kind of season.

I'm not even bothered if we lose this week to be honest, basically down to Toulose not winning another game. Roll on 2023.

It is the Reserves who play this weekend, at Salford Red Devils (Saturday, 2.30pm at the AJ Bell Stadium).

The Academy game at Leeds Rhinos is next Wednesday (24th), kick off 5.45pm and is a curtain raiser to the Leeds v Huddersfield game on Sky.

As has been mentioned we have won 9 games in a row now (10 from 12 so far).

He's quick yes, and can break a tackle but he seems to go 50 metres sideways to make 5 metres forward, he's got a lot of promise but far from a first choice starter at the moment.

Thomas and Holroyd to be on the bench according to press conference

The Mikaele explanation seems a strange one, 'Just want to look at different combinations', his form has been well down in the past couple of games, which I had put down to injury, hope it's nothing more...

Riley Dean is starting the halves too. Happy about that.

Not sure about mikaele missing for no good reason. Have the coaching staff fallen out with another of their new signings?

Bad Apple?

I think we will eventually succumb to a bit of a pasting but I’m hoping the academy graduates add a bit of enthusiasm to a squad that should feel a bit less pressure on them this week. We saw in Newcastle what can happen when the players relax a bit and enjoy their rugby. Dean and the two forwards will also be a bit of an unknown quantity so I’m hoping Powell gives them the freedom to play to their own strengths.

There was a suggestion from somebody on here (I think) that Mikaele had some kind of hand injury but nothing further has been said about that. Would make sense not play him if he has a hand injury but who could possibly still play in an emergency.

The Guardian is saying that Big Tom is being left out so some new combinations can be tried out with different players. Wrench out for the season with a knee injury ,Nicholson ,knee injury but could return before end of season ,Ratchford available next Thursday for Cas game.

I posted that after seeing someone saying they’d asked for his shirt after the Toulouse game but he said he’d broken his hand and it was too painful to take the shirt off. Probably just didn’t fancy giving his shirt away!

Mikaele and Dufty were both out for the season due to injury, and then Mikeale plays the next two games, without contributing much. He shouldn't have played, using the gift of hindsight, perhaps, but he was way off the pace in them games. Dufty, however, missed one game, then was influential in the other. Good for Dean getting a run out in the halves, and others to get an opportunity. The result doesn't matter in comparison to last week, so who cares if we get battered, as long we see a glimpse of first teamers of the future.

It was me, after the Toulouse game my kids rather cheekily asked for his shirt, he tried but couldn't get it off and said he thinks he's bust his hand, it was very swollen.

So he was supposed to be out for the season with an ankle injury and then he has a busted hand. It would have been much easier to say ... we will give him a rest. It would stop people making up stories about him.
Is it the club or the Guardian who has stirred it up for no reason?
Or was he axed because he can't be trusted to look after his shirt ... soft touch for lively kids.