We have successfully negotiated our way through to 2nd in league, semi final of cup - phase 1 complete. We have completed this whilst missing a number of key playerspositions at various times - Myler, Carvell, Briers, Monaghan We have shown that our squad players are more than capable of stepping up and filling in.

We now enter phase 2 of the season with Myler and Carvell nearing comebacks - excellent timing for semi final and the league run in then the play offs.

Looking just fine at present

I was thinking abut this earlier and how in 4 / 5 weeks time it will be the equivalent of us getting three top class signings mid season by getting Carvell, Myler and Clarke all back from medium to long term injuries.
And each one of them will be fresh for the 2nd half of the season.

lol

Will we be able to compete on both fronts?

Last year we were in great form at this point of the season but having the added distraction and extra fixtures of the cup semi and Wembley derailed us and we lost 6 out of 7 in the league and that blew it and we missed the playoffs. The semi final could be a big disaster for us because if we have Saints or Leeds and lose in a tight game, that sort of thing usually deflates us for the next few weeks....alternatively if we win all eyes will be on Wembley and we will sacrifice the league for it.

At the start of the season I thought the best thing I wanted us to do was defend our CC title and we are only 2 games away from doing that, but this is a delicately balanced situation....we are at risk of ending up disappointed in the semis or final, melting away to 4th or 5th in the league and putting up a halfhearted show in the playoffs.

The deflation following a big defeat appears to be a thing of the past. We have come back strongly on each occasion this year.

Massive boost to get Myler back I think he was just finding his best form so far for us and linked really well in the Cup game with Briers while getting injuried.

Carvell will give us alot more power up front and Clarke can step in to cover for other places.

Nice to have the players you mention coming back, but lets hope the others aren't too fatigued & that we don't get injuries in key positions. Lets face it if Mozza, Briers or Monas is out for a long time we will be short handed & could suffer.

Yes but any team would be hurt without quality players like them. Would Saints be any good without Cunningham and Graham, or Wigan without Richards and Tomkins? I don't know but we've got them and with them were alright!

Rather chuffed were in the semi-final of the challenge cup and second in the league , at the start of the season if someone would of offered this now i would take it , theres still a long way to go in the season , and having clarke myler and carvell back for the latter stages in the season will boost the chances of adding more silverware

just thinking so you think clarke as a future at the club , we have got too good hookers in monaghan and higham we have got plenty of half backs/scrums - brier myler grix bridge , lose forwards , harrison , grix , vinnie ,

if clarke got back into the team where would he play ?

Don't know. Never really thought about it.

he could go in at hooker, loose or second row as every forward usually comes off for a bit although westwood did 80 yesterday so clarke could replace once of them however who would miss out ? from our squads this year the subs would probably be

wood
higham
solomona
grix/harrison

So why should clarke go straight back into the 1st team, upto there is no place for clarke I don't see any reason why grix or harrison should be dropped.

For me both Grix and Harrison have proven themselves good enough to be in the 17 each and every week.

Agree can't see any place for clarke, woudn't be suprised to see him move on at the end of the season

Don't think he will move on. If I was his agent I would be saying to Jon you are on a good contract , see it out and then move on.

If he moves on now he probably won't get as good a contract as he is currently on because of his injury over the past 10 months