To be fair the duals do help make the numbers up and Blythe can play in a couple of positions which helps in squad rotation which in todays game is very important to keep the players fresh not to mention cover for injuries.
It would have been good to have had another forward on the bench last night (wonder why no Gorski?) and I think if it had been a league game he may have used Blythe as an impact player running wide, which in the latter stages of the game would have been great for us. But its all opinions, the main thing is we didnt appear to pick up any major injuries and with 8 days 'rest' we should be quite fresh for Sheffield.

Fair comment Fred, but it does seem hard on the lads who gave their all (and a bit more) last night. If the DR system wasn't in place, then I still think these lads would be up there, and a lot of the credit has to go to IM for the confidence and improved skills he has given these lads. Hope we can keep him.

Somebody most definitely does NOT have to be dropped for Nanyn. Who would you drop from that team? Nanyn's defence in our league against inferior players, is suspect to say the least. Could you have imagined him last night. He is a fantastic points accumulator, but if we had a table charting the number of soft tries he has let in with soft arm waving he would still be in deficit regarding career points. He would have to have averaged a hell of a lot more points a game than he has to be in credit. Before somebody says his goal kicks could have won it for us last night, do not forget we would probably have conceded a hell of a lot more points with him on the field. He seems a nice bloke and he has talent, but for him to be an automatic selection in our team, before Evans, Littler, Higson, Arrmstrong and Blythe, is out of order. I do not mind him playing, because he is a good player, with talent. However, all this talk about him having to be a permanent fixture and an undroppable player is wrong. The goal he got at Fev to equalise was fantastic and I cheered loudly and congratulated him when he did it. However, some of his first half defence was abysmal. He made up for it so well done, but I CANNOT agree with those who seem to think he should be an automatic choice for Leigh.

Bad head, sore throat and a massive smile this morning.

When was the last time there was a serious debate about what is our stongest 13. We are now able to swap and change, rest players and cope with injuries and still perform at a great level.

Keep the DR's we need a big squad to cope with the demands of what we hope will be a long season all the way to the play off final. Don't limit IM's choices I hope he has this kind of problem selecting his team for as long as possible.

I'm always proud to be a Leyther, but nights like last night certainly help.

I'll leave it to the coaching staff to pick the team , no team could expect to play every week with the intensity we did last night , every player raised their game defensively and I have no doubt if Mick had been playing he would have done the same

Defensive RL comes down to three things , fitness , strategy and mental toughness , eventually one or more of those things will let you down , that is why I expect us to field a totally different team next week , with several players rested and us fully using any and all DR players available

Let's not forget we are a part time team , we don't have a large squad of players and we still have a long way to go , Sheffield are no mugs , they have made a strong start to their Championship campaign , after using the NRC as their pre season

Let's just enjoy , without putting more pressure than is necessary on players who are putting all into their performances for us

Thank you lads

your right Tony it isnt about the strongest 13 anymore it's about the strongest squad and as we have our (arguably) two biggest 'names' (RH-P and Ricky B) sitting in the box behind me numbers (talented ones of course) are important

Of course it is a squad game, but when Nanyn is fit, I get the impression that the majority of people believe he has got to play. I am simply saying I cannot agree with that. On the subject of lifting their games Starbug, Littler has played a massive amount of games in Super League at centre . It would not have been any different to him last night than it has for the majority of his career. You can lift your game against a team from a higher league and come out pumped up, but that will only take you so far. To compete with arguably the form team of Super League for the full eighty, took more than just extra special efforts. You have to have the quality in the first place. Defensively, Littler and Higson are just better than Nanyn. I do not believe it was purely about just lifting yourself. As I say, for Littler, for example, last night, was the norm , rather than the exception in his career. The game obviously starts with defence and in that area I thought we were much improved. Well done Leigh. Arguably, the best team over the eighty did lose.

I think Nanyn's return will depend completely on the situation in the forwards to allow Littler to go back in to the second row.

Nanyn's defence this season has improved beyond recognition I reckon, by the way.

I agree with you on both accounts Matt. Mick was a defensive liability but I have seen him stop certain tries this year. Every time I think about our performances this season the hair stands up on the back of my kneck, my whole body tingles and a big grin appears on my face.
Come On you Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeigh.
Get In There.

I agree. Nanyn's defence is far better this season than last. He also adds more going forward this season. he's made some very important plays and is much more than a goalkicker for us.

Littler has been superb all season in the 2nd row and I'd play him there once Mick is available. Put thornley on the bench as an interchange prop.

I'd disagree , the game for me starts with attack , and yes Littler has had to play at that intensity for the most of his career , but most of the others haven't , and I have no doubt that even Stuart hasn't managed to play that way every game , if he and his Salford teammates had , they would have had more success than they had

In quite a lot of games to come this season Matt, even If Millward does shift Littler back into the forwards where he has also been superb, Nanyn will still have competition for the centre spot with several other quality players. We all know it is a squad game and that we should value every member of that squad. That is why I stressed that I am happy to see Nanyn play. However, this season competition for spots in the centre is much healthier and when up against the likes of Blythe, Evans, Littler, Armstrong and Higson, I do not believe he should be an AUTOMATIC choice. Of course, we know that sometimes the duals will not be available and that some people do not like the system. However, IM obviously favours the system and I support him on that. By the way, I also think Nanyn's defence has improved in SOME games this season. Let's hope the healthy competition will drive him on. I would love nothing more than to see him play well, but he has got some very good competion for his place in the team this year IMO.

We could go on forever here Starbug. You think the game starts with attack. I think it starts with defence. We are both entitled to our opinions. The main point of my post, is that Mick should have to fight very hard for his spot this year. He is up against some very good players and it should not be a given that he plays. With regard to Littler, he only knows one way to play and that is giving his all and fighting to the death every week. In addition, just playing with intensity would not have produced an overall performance like we got last night. You have to have a certain level of quality and we have that, whether they have played as many games in Super League as Littler or not. The vast majority of the team has had some SL experience. Players such as Mills and Nash up front plus Hill, who we all know would take the SL by storm was a tremendous lift. Without a certain degree of quality across the pitch, we would have got absolutely bounced last night. Intensity alone would not have been enough. One of the aspects which impressed me so much, was the control we had. We did not play in a frenzied, desperate, playing above yourself way. The best team arguably lost. Do you remember the score between Batley and Catalans last season? Catalans are also arguably a much improved outfit this year.

I think the competition for places has played a big part in Nanyn's improvement. What happens to the duals is anyone's guess as they're all on the fringes of their SL squads.