I keep seeing this talk of knee jerk reactions after Saturday, yet I don't see it. If anything, most of the knee jerking has been going on in previous weeks, when some on here have been massively overhyping our performances since the restart - The most laughable being Duckie's assessment that the present squad is the greatest he has ever witnessed.

Most sensible people have simply held fire (and continue to) over this squad and Price's future until the season has ended - Saying that if we now don't win the SL title then Price should go isn't a knee jerk reaction. It's a perfectly sensible thing to do. Rewarding continuing failure isn't exactly a policy that has got us far before, has it?

Surely there is a balance to be considered when young academy players come into the first team ? They are not going to be better than the player they displace simply because they have not got the experience, and the game is played much faster to boot. If you wait for them to get better than the first choice before playing them, they will be picking up their pension, So they get game time from the bench in short snatches, and they get picked for easier games where we are still expected to win. At some point in the season injuries may allow them in, and there will be times where the two points no longer matter. So the coach balances out the cost of giving a youngster a run in the first team (and making mistakes), with the benefit of the experience they gain (and getting a new first team player).

Normally I don't think we would see a young player like Ashton get so much game time, but then again we wouldn't expect 4-5 tries in their first few matches either. Plus he is a crowd puller, people love to see him at pace running through the opposition defence. Price made a judgement call by playing him at FB and it didn't pay off. But as CW8 said, hindsight is a wonderful thing and if Ashton had raced through in the last few minutes to score and win the game, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Should you move one of the best FB's in SL just to accommodate an intern ? It does seem a bit of a slap in the face for Ratchford. But he is now 32 and has perhaps 2-3 years left at this level. But we will need a replacement at some point and that person needs to get experience under his belt. If you can still exploit Ratchford's talents, and if you can afford the mistakes the new guy will almost certainly make, then it's an option. Perhaps not for such a big game as the CC semi though.

Ignoring RD as far as possible, no one said after 1 victory that this was a GF winning team, in fact I don’t think anyone has said it. The knee jerk reaction, in my view, comes from those who kept quiet after the wins but leapt on Saturday as the end of days.

Ashton was terrific against a big physical Catalan side, which is how the dilemna came to be for semi final. Ashton is growing into the fullback role, and looks to have the attributes to be Ratchford's heir apparent. One thing that baffled me, was Stef's subbing, which made me wonder if he wasn't fit, or if he picked up a knock during the game? If anybody, it should have been Widdop to come off, as he didn't give Salford anything to worry about.

It can work both ways CH, as there were some claiming we looked unbeatable prior to last weeks two games. Thing that bothers me most, is our historical inability to be able to be at our peak in October in cooler and wetter conditions. We don't seem to be able to apply the appropriate game management when were leading in such conditions, and make the opposition chase the game.

Very likely a result of Tyrone Mccarthys cannonball tackle on ratchford knees. I can't believe he hasn't been banned for that and lineham is serving an 8 match ban for what I would say was an inconclusive squirrel grip. Unless there were other camera angles that showed something more conclusive that is. The rfl needs to get a grip, how can a potentially career ending challenge to somebody's knees be less of an offence than a ball grab? I get its not comfortable but it's not likely to threaten any careers is it.

Just play Ashton on the wing when Ratchford is available at fullback.

This is the most sensible solution at the minute. I can understand why price didn't though our back line has been in really good form recently. Mamo, charnley, Ashton, gelling and lineham too when he was available.

Anybody who has been questioning lineham must surely see the worth of having his carries out of defence and knack for sliding over the whitewash now.

'End of days'???... No, people just pointed out rightly that Price should be in the last chance saloon now.

As for keeping quiet after the wins, well, call me cynical, but considering our proven ability to implode, I think it actually makes sense to rein in any optimism when it comes to Wire - Until they actually deliver the big prize, it probably makes more sense to just ready yourself for the inevitable anti climax.. It helps soften the hurt.

Every team loses matches, league matches, Cup matches, playoff matches. If your team gives you 9 games consecutively between defeats then they're doing alright for you. That was 2 games ago, 2 games where we lost by 2 points, one with 16 of our starting 17 rested and another suspended and the other in horrific conditions that made the outcome far less than guaranteed.

Seriously just put the pitchforks away until the end of the season, it could well end in bitter dissapointment (likely) but price tried to win finals using negative tactics and it didn't work in 2 out of 3 finals for us. We weren't blown away but we weren't at the races and never looked like winning either when we lost. He went more attacking in this semi and that didn't work either but mostly down to defensive errors and lapses. At least on this occasion we scored enough points to have won the match were it not for those errors. If I take nothing more from the game on Saturday, at least it could be an indication that if we reach a final we will try to score some points.

Think I've just invented new terminology for exciting full back play?
For we all know Ashton is also an aspiring thespian.
Now now you are using math rmathematical terms to describe Ratchford.
Stick to old ye English and describe him..... Come on....

Rewarding continuing failure isn't exactly a policy that has got us far before, has it?'"

For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn
If any thyng shal wel reported be. Ratchforde very fyne at fullbacke is posityoned.
In al the land, of playeing nas his peer
Some sayde that the Coote was muche more fyne but he fumbled balles before the lyne
At Londone towne to throwe the Cup.

With sincere apologies to Master Chaucer.

And, they say Union is the game for the intellectuals! Pah...