Heard exactly the same around 3-4 weeks ago. Was told it was very unlikely he will play for the club again. If true surely we should look to offloading him as soon as possible.

if thats the case, then come the end of the season our overseas position could be :
eric - let go
gelling - let go (I assume his contract is up for renewal)
green - keep
paddy - irish (keep)
H - uk? (keep)

potentially we will only have 1 overseas player registered, and cash in the bank from the loss of Hock, who was budgeted to be on this years bill/
certainly room for manoevre if the right players come available

I'd give all the returning players a game on sunday if they are 100% fit, something like:

1. Sam
2. Manfredi/Burgess
3. Goulding
4. Thornley
5. Richards
6. Green
7. Smith
8. Crosby
9. McIlorum
10. Mossop
11. Hansen
12. Farrell
13. Tuson

14. Gelling
15. Powell
16. Hughes
17. Dudson

Give Flower and Burke a well earned week off. Wanes going to have a headache for the trip to Bradford if everyone comes out fit.

I think we would be far more likely to see Hughes to 4, Thornley to 5 and Richards to 1 if Sam got injured rather than throwing an untested half back in there.

It's not a case of throwing in an untested halfback at fullback but more us using every opportunity to find Tomkins replacement whilst we can. Hampshire is a talent who could play that modern day fullback role 'eventually'.

I'd give him a shot and line up-

Hampshire
Thornley
Goulding
Hughes
Richards
Green
Smith
Crosby (give Flower a deserved week off)
McIlorum
Taylor
Tuson
Farrell
Burke (give Lockers the extra week)

Subs
Mossop
Dudson
Hansen
Powell

I'd go along with that, the best thing about these injuries we're getting to the forwards is that there's no doubt it'll serve us well in the longer term.

Unless players are injured if leave it be, if players are brought back into the team ie Mossop and Hansen then that's expected. Players like Charnley will want to play every week and will be fine doing so as long as they aren't injured.

Interesting, seems a lot on here are now in favour of resting and rotating players, the exact same thing I was hammered for saying a few months back.

If Wane thinks Mossop and Hansen are fit enough to play this weekend then they should. Give Burke and Tuson a well deserved rest. I'd also play Sam powell at hooker again with Logan on the bench.

Possibly but I think the rotating is more concerned with the younger players who probably would benefit more from being given rests.

Personally I would not play all the returning players (assuming they are) - they will not be match fit and also run a risk of breaking down and leaving the team struggling - better to play one or two and ease them in gradually - less risk that way.

After the Hock debacle it seems Wane is trying to axe the... how best to say it... timber carriers in our squad.

Cue responses of "he's just got a fat face" and "the horrid Widnes away jersey added 10lbs".

Then when Charnley gets injured in the play offs we either have to play 2 players out of position or throw Manfredi in the deep end. In 2011 we came up short because the pack was burned out and in 2012 we threw Murphy, who had played only 1 SL game, into a semi final to deal with Sinfield's kicking. We need to learn from these lessons and rotate the side, under the current system there really is no excuse not to