Where would you play Riddy Charlie ?

He will soon be back to his best imo. I would play Ryan scrum half.

Beswick 9/13 prob 13 usually start with Nico at 9 and have Duffs coming off the bench.

We don't really know the reasons for Ryan's short spells in the games so far. For instance, a few weeks ago, he was carrying an injury, culminating in his withdrawal at half time at Featherstone. Have Cas' asked us to use him in short bursts? John Duffy gave an interesting interview in Friday's programme, where he spoke of the necessity of nurturing the younger players - i.e. not playing them for 80 minutes, week in, week out. (perhaps he was talking about himself? )

It would certanlinly be interesting to hear Paul's take on Ryan, because things certainly seem to happen, when he gets on the pitch. You would think he would need time to get used to the pace of the game, when he comes on, but it seems like the others have to get used to his pace, instead!

I think that Riddy would be good at scrum half and Ryan at standoff. I wouldnt want to loose Greg from the fullback role, he is the best we have at that position. Martin Ridyard is going through some sort of confidense proplem at the moment. He used to have great fast hands and a blistering turn of pace from a side step. Where he is getting the ball the defenders are on top of him and he has no where to go, doesnt release the ball and just gets tackled. I know there are times he could or should have passed and thats when his confidense comes into question. In the scrum half role he would get more chances to run directly at the retreating defence and cause some trouble.

Frank to answer your question , and i know a few will not agree with me , my first choice 17 if everyone was fit and available for the Rochdale game would be .

1.Matty Russell .
2.Ste Maden .
3.Stu Littler .
4. Matt Gardner .
5.Jonny Pownall .
6.Ryan Brierley .
7.Greg McNally .
8.Rickey Bibey .
9.John Duffy .
10.Rob Parker .
11.Tommy Goulden .
12.Jimmy Taylor .
13 .Bob Beswick .

14.Ridyard .
15 , Nico .
16.Hopkins .
17. Tommy Gallagher .

I know this may not please everyone , but id give it a try and if it didnt work , there is room for a change , i hope you agree Frank?

I would guess Russell will not play so as he is not cup tied for Wigan. I would also guess that we don't get Laithwaite next week either, other than that, Bibey and Duffs back in contention hopefully...

IMO we should continue as we are with Ryan, he's a young lad and still needs some developing in terms of build etc, I think if he started 'big' forwards would target him, and although he isn't afraid to do the tackling it would tire him, where as now he's coming on and it's him who's running at tired defences.

Look at Richie Myler when he first started for the first team he was smaller than Ryan. It is a fine balance between getting them experience without killing them or giving them too little and them becoming bored and frustrated. Only the people who see what we don't can make those decisions.

I think he is better coming from the bench, I wouldnt start him however needs to be put on earlier. Against York and Swinton the game had already been won and he got 2 stints at the end of each game. If we play a team and losing and he comes on for that stint he would probably not be able to make any sort of difference as the game may already be lost. I'd bring him on later on in the second half for maybe a 15 minute spell. Then maybe Duffy at 7 from the second half to control the game then Ryan on for the last 20. We are not getting the best from him he was our stand out player in pre season! Sort it out Rowley!!!!

15 minute spell in the first half should I say*

FWIW, IMHO;

1 McNally
6 Ridy
7 Brierley
9 Nico/Duffy
13 Beswick

Agree with you apart from Beswick at LF. Our back row of Laithwaite Goulden Taylor is doing very well. Equally, there wasn't a better back row in our division IMO last year, than the Goulden, Littler, Taylor option that Basil went for. Basil also invariably started with Duffy at hooker. I agree with him on that too. Would have Nicholson or Beswick on bench. At least we have options I suppose.

Well FWIW IMHO.

1.Russell.
6.Brierley.
7.McNally .
9.Duffy .
13 .Beswick .
I would give this formation a go ,and if it didnt work nothing is lost try another formation , i feel Riddy has got intoa comfort Zone , but he will get his form back .

Can totally see where you are coming from about Riddy and McNally is a good halfback. However, considering that Russell did not get selected in Wigan's Good Fri or Easter Mon 19 man squads and did not play for us either and he is NOT injured, does that not perhaps suggest, he is not going to be playing much for Leigh. May be totally wrong, but seems odd IMO.

They probably just wanted to have everyone available for over the Easter period just in case, maybe he could have played for us if we’d have had a game yesterday and they knew they were injury free from Friday.

Don’t expect to see any DC’s to play in the CC.

No. I do not expect DCs to play in CC either.