Quote: Conroy "Yes I think the majority of players that have missed games were injured HOWEVER they haven't been rushed back this year and have been given the time they needed to recover. How many 'setbacks' did players have last season compared to this? Sam and Lockers for example would 100% have played in that match against Huddersfield last season.'"
Fair point but I think they would have played this season v Hudds if fit enough and would have been rested v Cats. The reason I think Lockers didn't play was simply he wasn't fit, not caution because I don't think Wane will have viewed having key players missing so much prior to the final was a good thing.
Whether by accident or design we can't say our players should be tired for the play-offs but I think we have a had a very unlucky season with injuries. To come out of it with a CC win is fantastic.
What I don't think has been so good about the "resting" is the inconsistent selections of replacements. Where has Burke gone for example? Seemed the logical choice when Lockers was out and given Lockers was always due back at some point (i.e. he wasn't out for the season) then Burke was in little danger of over exposure especially given he is so good. Instead we have had Tuson and Hughes playing 13 in recent weeks (IIRC). You could flip a coin to try and guess who was in the centres. I think the team being more unsettled than it need have been has contributed to our poor league form of late.