Yes, not a clue what has happened there. It isn't a rule change.

Would assume the rest of the first team squad is either injured, suspended or out on loan

We’re running out of players.

Next week against Wakefield is worrying with no Hastings and presumably Bateman and or Farrell

Yeah I was thinking that as well.

Very dumb rule which doesn't take into account how many of your squad is already injured.

Concerning if that is the case. A small COVID hit and we could be down to 16. I would be surprised though, didn't we literally just send Halsall out on loan? Surely we wouldn't do that if it left us with 20 fit players (including two returning from injury).

Halsall played last weekend and will probably play this so his two weeks minimum will be up and he'll be available for Wakey. Maybe that's the reason he and Clarke were sent out on loan, to give them game time.

Huddersfield have only named a squad of 17 for the Salford game this weekend. It wouldn't surprise me to see the England v Exiles game cancelled and /or some Super League games.

We are fulfilling our academy fixtures aren't we? I don't understand why those lads don't get drafted into the 21.

Last weeks U19's game at Wire was postponed. U17's play at Leeds tonight (Live on Leeds You Tube Channel)
U19's v Wakefield is still on as far as I know on Saturday.

I don't see any point in drafting anyone in who isn't going to play and keeping the teams apart seems a better idea for Covid purposes.

Guess they’re in some sort of bubble now away from the academy or else surely we’d have just given one of the academy lads a night out on the field warming up with the first team. A lad like Matty Nicholson or Alex Sutton who played in pre season would’ve been next in line.

I don't think only naming a 20 man squad is an issue. I think it's just a calculated risk to ensure our fringe players are actually players. It's worth pointing out that without these loan deals most of these players would have been limited to 2 or 3 games in the space of 2 years.
We might need to delve deeper into the squad in the next few weeks but until then surely it makes sense for the fringe players to actually be playing? If we recalled someone from their loan for this game they probably won't feature, then we'd have to set up a new loan deal for a minimum of 2 weeks which is 2 weeks in which those players can't be recalled, or keep at the club for the next few weeks where they won't be playing. It's after the Hull KR game where it might become an issue.

As for the team for Hull KR, I'd go with;

Hanley
Manfredi
Bibby
Gildart
Marshall
Hastings
Leuluai
Singleton
Powell
Partington
Isa
Farrell
Bateman

Bench: Smithies, Havard, Byrne, Smith

Nicholson picked up a six match ban from the 1st U19 game at Bradford.

I wondered about that. Did he play in the next game before the ban started? I thought I’d saw him and after seeing that incident he’s been banned for I was staggered he was playing (but I presumably was mistaken). It was a shocker of a late challenge that.

Knew I'd forgotten someone. Hull KR have a very dangerous left edge so he's guaranteed to start. That throws the bench out the window because we can't drop Smith. Probably Bullock or Havard to miss out instead.

Smith has to play as he is our best goal kicker other than Hardaker