I'm a big fan of Livett, miaw. I just think that we're currently stifling him, by playing him too close to the action. We ARE using him as a battering ram, in the same way we employed Waterhouse, a few years back. Get him almost on the shoulder of his centre, and push the centre and winger to the extremities. Livett needs room for HIS game to flourish. He's too much of an asset to just use him as a yard maker. Get some decent ball to him, and he'll devastate defences, like he did v Leeds, and even when he played stand off, before he got that big injury, last year.

In a year's time, a second row partnership of him and Currie will be devestating.

Going back to big game players, we've now lost 5 finals on the trot. Saints lost 5 GFs on the bounce with players like Long, Wellens, Cunningham and Graham appearing in most and some quality players appearing in more than a couple. Those first four I've named would be considered big game players/winners. In finals sometimes you just need the bounce of the ball and a bit of luck....are we being a bit harsh considering we've been close in all our lost finals bar the injury ridden Wigan final? We'll get some luck soon (but quality half backs would help speed that along).

Quite.

I think it’s time to be starting Philbin over Hill now

Whoa! That's a [ibig[/i call! I love Philbin but I think a lot of his impact comes from running at players who are starting to blow.

I can't see a benefit from that. Philbin hasn't shown that maturity to add influence as a prop as yet, however off the bench his eagerness is fresh and energising to the go forward.
We run with that until we have no other choice...then we assess his leadership attributes.

Agree with this, philbin is gaining confidence all the time and together with BMM and akauola (at least earlier in the season) adds real impact off the bench.

Hill is annoying with his poor discipline and referee moaning but we know what he can be and have to hope that he can snap out of it and just get back to what he is very good at.

We need Hill and Cooper making the yards again, like they did at Saints. Before someone points out that we lost that one too, we really ought, and deserved to, have won that game. We didn't deserve to win on Saturday.

I know Hill can be irritating but can't believe people want rid!

Not sure if serious.

Yes, Hill CAN be a mard Aris, and CAN be a penalty machine, but he remains a quality prop forward, and would improve ANY SL side

They will be able to do this against most packs, however catalans pack is IMO the best in superleague on current form. They best us in the forwards in the 22 all draw just before the split and again on Saturday. Mcilorum is playing out of his skin, he's a bit of a thug but the lad can play for sure.

Would you have played an unfit Hodgson in the 2013 final?

Open question (because I honestly can't remember), but WAS he unfit for that match.?

Fitness/illness can find you out in these big games. Adrenaline can only take you so far.
In 1990's CCF V Wigan , Brian Johnson picked Bob Jackson, who for once, didn't have his best day in P&B. It later came out, that Jackson was suffering from 'flu.

Wasn't Neil Harmon not played, because of this (only 2 subs, then) and promptly left the club?

Well he was pretty fit as far as his wife was concerned...
I don't think we'll ever know what happened between TS and Hodgson

Didn't he take a high shot at Widnes just before final and hurt his neck? Or am i thinking of another time?