Quote: Father Ted "Waney's selection for the opener at Widnes will be interesting. He's often sent a squad to their place with a number of first teamers out and struggled. This year he says he wants to get off to a good start.
Of the first six fixtures, in those respective games last season we won just 3 points.
I reckon there'll be no way Waney will want to lose this one. Still don't think he'll play Bowen on the plastic pitch nor perhaps Lockers. My guess for his 17 -
Hampshire,
Charnley, Gelling, Sarginson, Burgess,
Williams, Smith,
Crosby, McIlorum, Clubb,
Farrell, Tomkins,
Bateman.
Bench - Powell, Tautai, Patrick & Greenwood/Sutton
I think he'll try and beat Widnes with pace. We are faster in the backs, half backs and forwards. This surely has to be in Waney's plans to get the season off with two points?'"
This.
However, I do think that he will play O'Loughlin if he is fit.
Personally I hope that Hampshire plays the majority of games at the expense of Bowen whose defence last season was at best inconsistent which was a big surprise