King already has shown a vulnerability to repeated injury.
Crosby didn't feature much in 2016 so I am surprised that he is not fit until March 2018.

So we have an injury issue of our own and then we compound by signing injured players, or players needing pre-season surgery.

A lot of our expectations for a better 2018 are based on the new recruits filling the void of the 2017 post season exodus.

With Patton and Brown in the halves vs Huddersfield another defeat is likely on the cards.

Does anyone know for sure that Roberts is out?

Giants are missing
cudjoe
wakeman
symonds
lawrence
walne
mellor
simpson
wardle
and possibly Mcgillvary

yours is a minor blip compared to us.

PS: The legends bar at the stadium will be open from 6pm, it's a HGSA members bar but non members and away fans will be admitted for £1, beats the long queues at the Ropewalk

Yes

Ratch copped a load of stick because any decent last line of defense would of made the tackle...and he didn't. Irrespective of whether Atkins and Russell were also to blame for allowing the initial tackle bust. Not the first time he has done that either i might add....

It's not just missing the tackle though is it? If you can't make it then at the very least slow the runner down, make him break stride/change direction - I think he's now into double figures with these kind of misses. The only improvement is that at least he didn't deliberately pretend to be fooled by the runner's footwork in order to avoid even attempting the tackle.

It is a big weakness of Russell in that he can’t turn easily. He gets stepped, as well as struggling to defend grubbers into his corner (certainly last year). I expect Brough to kick him to kingdom come, and also to expose our current massive weakness under the high ball (across the park). That’s not just based on last week’s game but also on pre-season where we didn’t seem to communicate or compete for the high ball. A tad worrying I’m sure you’ll agree...

I like your posts mate...but that is a load of tosh pal.

To point a finger at a fullback and say to indicate he should do on his own what 12 men in front of him couldn't is wrong.

Brown + Patton in the halves?
Jeez! add another number to the L column. 2nd game in and I am already depressed.

Its harsh if its an isolated incident, but it isn't. The 12 men in front, whoever misses the tackle should take the blame, correct. However, IMO this scenario has happened too many times. His tackling is shocking at times, so questions should be asked. Some may think i am being hard on Stef, but its just my opinion.

Wire to put a clear 12-20 on them.
We must be a better with a fit Patton than with an unfit Roberts.
Wire will improve on last week because of it.
Easy win.

No mate...it isn't harsh.
It's plain wrong!
The roll of a fullback isn't to drop in behind the defensive line. It's not like he's a goalie. He stays in the defensive line, perhaps marshaling it too. If he drops back the line is weaker.

He may drop back towards the later in the tackle count if he anticipates a kick.

The best fullbacks in our game do the least tackling, many of them being converted halfbacks.

Michael Withers fb at Bradford was told he was to make no attempt to tackle wherever possible by Mathew Elliot. The roll of the fb had changed to one of an attack spine of backs away from that of the traditional 6 and 7.

Well if Patton is in the halves tonight it really is last chance saloon for me,because if he doesn’t shine tonight then he will only ever be a back up half. He as had more than enough chances to cement that spot.

All i have heard about Stef,from someone who knows him, is that he only plays fullback because Smith asked him to do so as a stop gap after Hodgson left. Apart from Russell no attempt has been successful in getting a proven quality fullback.

Steve Hampson would have tackled him for sure, and Radlinksi to name just 2. Basically any full back with a modicum of tackling technique.