Team for Saints

I think we need to go all out for the win and I’m sure Smith will do so. The three main reasons for this are:

(i) You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you can be eliminated next week
(ii) You definitely want to put Saints in the position where they can be eliminated by one of the Hull sides before the semis (as unlikely as that may be)
(iii) You want to bury the Saints “hoodoo” ASAP and don’t still want it hanging over us in an elimination game or a final.

It’s about playing the percentages.

With that in mind, and with a “horses for courses” mentality, I can see Smith leaving Myler out again and putting Bridge in the halves. This will allow him to leave our very effective three-quarter line intact and let Monas play at 9 where he should be. He’d have hooking backup from Clarke and then, for me, it becomes a straight choice between Vinnie or Higham for the last bench spot. Personally, I’d choose Vinnie for that place but can accept that it could go another way, e.g. if Smith wants to use Higham as reserve hooker with Clarke coming on at 13 or in the second row from the bench.

As Magic Piano has said, we shouldn’t be worrying too much about covering Saints’ threats. Smith will have got all that covered in the video sessions from the last time we played them and their last couple of games and it’s not like we don’t know where they’re dangerous. I’d like us to focusing on where we’re going to punch holes in their defence and come up with some good set moves and clever ploys.

I just hope it doesn’t lash it down again. It only takes a few high bombs to get put down early on and players could start to lose confidence.