Then we need a plan B for when Sam is injured given, as I understand it, Hampshire just doesn't play FB and Sinfield would have thought it was Christmas if Murphy had been able to be recalled from loan.

In fact we need to vary things more than we do anyway IMO. We need the half backs particularly Smith to take the line on more themsleves so we offer a more varied threat than we do. It's a bit too predictable when Sam does play and trying to play the same way when he doesn't isn't going to work.

Given the alternatives Richards was the correct choice. That wasn't the problem. The tactics were.

Spot on. The forwards did a pretty good job defensively, but as you say they weren't making the hard yards, and we were too often kicking from inside our own half.

His change of pace these days is ridiculously slow. Never beat the first man last night on any occasion. The attempted tackle for the first Leeds try was embarrassing aswell.

Ask on the Salford board what they think of Murphy. He's been shoved out onto the wing for them and last night against Warrington he was by some distance the worse performer on the pitch.

Richards would seem the only relaistic option to fill in at full-back if Tomkins is missing.

I think it's safe to say without Sam playing and now Hock's gone, any creativity and attacking threat is long gone. Too predictable, how many times did Leeds close down the 'second phase play' because it's clear they trained to do that all week, because sadly that's all we have to offer in attack

I think he hurt himself tackling Watkins early on. After the first try he received all manner of strapping while the kick was being taken.
He then was clearly unable to run it in for a good 15 minutes or so. There was one point where he could have made the break down our right but just gave it to Goulding because he didn't have it in him.
He's solid as anything though, certainly compared to someone like Murphy so at present, I'd have him there if Sam isn't available for a big game.

Don't get this at all.
Richards wasn't kicking goals no doubt due to a fitness problem of some kind.
Anyone at fb who's not fully fit isn't going to come into the attacking line at full pace. Pat nullified Sinfield's kicking so much so he then went after Charnley where he found more success.

pat was by far the 1st choice fullback last night due to sinfields kicking threat.pat maybe old school but solid as a rock.

Richards is solid at FB. Ok not as fast or dynamic in attack as Sam but far better under the high ball and defensively

Leeds would have bombed Sam all day long and come out with something from it, so Pat at fullback completely took that attacking option away, although they did target Josh

Pat to me had a groin injury picked up around 5 minutes into the game yesterday as he was walking around holding the groin area and obviously wasnt kicking later in the game

it may have been a better attacking option to have Josh play FB, and nullified the attacking kicks to his wing, but thats only in hindsight

It was reported on Sky that Richards had a groin strain, hence no goal kicking.
Why did he play, out of position, if he wasn't fit??

Richards was a poor choice at FB, doesn't link up in the line on the second phase, we only ever really play out the back door rugby under Wane, so having no one out the back door was hard to understand.

Charnley should have played there with Richards on the wing.

But Charnley played fullback against Huddersfield and had the exact same problem. He didn't link with the attacking line well and didn't really know what was expected of him. We just ended up with a flat attacking line rather than having the fullback dropping deep and causing uncertainty. Richards was slightly better because at least he understood the role and his positioning wasn't bad.

Neither are great options as modern fullbacks but unfortunately Murphy is showing at Salford that he isn't good enough and Tierney probably isn't considered to be ready for the step up yet. I do think the club should consider sending Tierney to South Wales to see how he copes playing against men rather than boys as I think we're really lacking at fullback when Sam is out.