Owen can also cover fullback, so maybe smith might be moved into centre. Either way gives us more options and more experience in the backs.

Agree prop been hammered down that flank many a time.

Don't think you can quite write Higson off based on that 1 game. Yes at the end of the game he was poor defensivly however that's very out of charicter for him, how many times have we seen him put big hits on players making a break? Might be wrong but this season I think Higson/Worthington or Pownall/Higson has been stronger defensivly than Kay/Armstrong. I rate Higson as a winger more than a or 2nd rower where he didn't do nesrly as well. He's powerfull & quick, a poor man's Ryan Hall. However I think going full time he's bulked up which has slowed him down a bit, he could almost do with losing a bit of strenght & gaining some more pace but that is being a bit picky.

Without pointing fingers at individuals - maybe it's more to do with defensive patterns - we are currently leaking rather a lot of tries, out wide, and we are very vulnerable to the high kick to the corner. Presumably the coaching team is working on this aspect of our play.

Over on the Saints message board, they all (those who have commented, at any rate ) seem to be complimentary to Lewis Charnock.

Don't think Kay, Pownall or Higson lack pace. If you are looking for rockets then most of them at our level either can't catch, can't tackle, can't read a game or even all 3