Just read an article on the Souths website and we're basically playing their second team on Saturday by the sounds of it. They're holding players back for their charity shield game the following week.

I've mixed feelings on that news tbh. I was thinking the game was a little pointless anyway but that was when I thought we were playing their first team. It now seems even more of a non event in a way but at least now we can probably go with a younger team and an extended bench (which is what they've said they're doing) without the fear of a heavy beating (hopefully).

I certainly wouldn't be taking any risks now and would probably go something like-

Escare
Davies Sarginson Burgess Marshall
Tomkins Shorrocks
Nuuausala Powell Sutton
Isa Farrell Bateman

subs
Tautai Navarette Hamlin Paisley Ganson Mullen

Gildarts leg looks like it could do with the rest and I certainy wouldn't be risking the older lads like Lockers, Leuluai, Flower and Clubb. I'd go with one of Tomkins or Williams and with Williams having been involved in the World Cup Id probably leave him out.

We went to Redfern to watch Souths train last week and the players and coaches all came over and were happy to chat and mingle with us. They were really good with the supporters and took ages with us. I spoke to their head coach who confirmed he plans to field a young side to see how they go against us.

He also said that letting Hamlin go was a very tough decision because he’s a great player with a great attitude and an ‘incredible engine’but they’ve invested heavily in what Souths see as the 3 best young players in the NRL.

SW has also confirmed that every player in the squad will get some game time over here and that Lockers and a few others (not named) won’t play.

You wouldn’t get that in football! This trip bus have been amazing for people like yourself who’ve been lucky enough to go.

I bet Gabe Hamlin is revved up for a game against his mates now.

Nothing to be gained by risking anyone with any kind of knock. Let the fringe players have a run. A couple of first teamers could benefit from a bit of practice. Did we take any spare centres? It would be useful to be able to put the performances of Sargy and Gildart in perspective.

You’re dead right mate, it’s been incredible. I’m out here with my 70 year old Dad after my Mum died last year and the memories of this trip will last us both a lifetime.

Souths train in an open public park at Redfern and the local kids go to see them before school for pics and autographs etc. CST had arranged a tour of their facilities with their general manager which included their back office functions etc just next to the training park, they have a great set up.

They said that the stadia (such as ANZ) fight to have clubs play there and pay the clubs to bring their home matches to them. A far cry from us paying to play at the DW! Win Stadium only saw 5 games played there all last season because of it.

The win v Hull was really the cherry on the cake!

The big stadia that pay for games help create dreadful atmospheres though. There's nothing worse than 20k or so at ANZ, which we see almost every week. The whole event would be much better at the smaller suburban venues.

It’s trips like yours that make this game so special imo. I know everyone wasn’t best pleased with this trip but it’s been a huge success for me. I know we miss out on a home game but its been worth it. I really enjoyed going to the stadium watching us last Saturday morning. It felt like we were watching a special occasion and I can’t say I enjoyed myself any less then I would’ve done on a freezing Friday night at the DW.

Enjoy the rest of your time over there

For me this game is about keeping momentum, drilling combinations and not risking those who are injured.

Looking at this, we need:
-Sam Tomkins playing, to solidify his link-up play from fb and also when he plays right half back when Escare comes on.
-Escare needs to play to ensure his link up play is sharp from fb.
-Powell needs to play to improve his combinations from right half back
-Marshall, Gildart need to improve their partnership, as well as Sarg and Davies.
-Williams need to play for his link ups on his left edge.

So IMO all first choice backs need to play.

Forwards?
-Flower needs game time after his layoff last season.
-Happy to rest Clubb
-Happy to rest Lockers
-Tommy needs game time as he's adapting to a new position
-Sutton needs more minutes
-Hamlin needs game time in the first team, as well as Naverette
-Isa needs to start at 13 to work on link plays if he's Locker's fill in,
-Joel needs game time

My team v souths:

Tomkins
Marshall Gilly Sarg Davies
Williams Powell
Sutton Tommy TT
Faz Joel
Isa

Escare Hamlin Narrarette (Poss Wells)

Anybody know if Wells has travelled? I’ve not seen him on any photos at all. I really like the lad but he seems to be very much on the edge of the squad.

Not sure how many of our young bucks have travelled but for me all of the players who have travelled and didn't play on Saturday should be down for playing ideally in the starting 13. A good chance to benchmark themselves against guys in similar positions with regards to experience and presumably age.

Oh right, didn't realise it's an extended bench.

Mullen Field Ganson and Sharrocks are there so I assume they’ll all be playing.

Escare
Davies
Sarginson
Gildart
Marshall
Williams
Powell
Sutton
Leaulai
FPN
Farrell
Bateman
Joel

Tautai
Hamlin
Naverette
Field
Mullen
Sharrocks
Ganson
Burgess

Can we borrow some of these https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9014817 a few decent players there!

Can we borrow some of these https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9014817 a few decent players there!

I thought this "pure" friendly was general knowledge, I heard about it last week, messaged some mates who have travelled over and they were all aware that it wasn't a competitive match and were disappointed with that.

Personally, I think it's extremely poor for the travelling contingent, but suits me with Warrington the following week.