I think he was injured for the Salford game which perhaps is why Tommy started the game. Might be reverting to French at FB.

Smithies will be available for the Saints game. He was given four game ban (2x2) He missed Cas (a), Salford (a), Toulouse (h) and will miss Wakefield (a)

Neither of them are props and wont hold their own against Saints in terms of making yardage particularly from within our own 20.

They might not be props but they're both better at gaining territory than Ellis has been thus far (although I like Ellis - hard worker, durable and perhaps another couple of gears in him yet).

They are not for me as I say from within our own 20 metre area.
I do agree that Ellis is far from the finished article but is capable of high minutes at prop only bettered by Havard in the current squad.
Hopefully Partington may be available for Wakefield on Sunday.

Does Ellis have trouble gaining metres?