+1

We need to improve our kicking game drastically, so Sam back in the halves will add to that.

what's the crack with Pryce? out of favour again?

Forget Roberts. He's looking a pale shadow of his former self. Now Cameron Phelps I would put back in at Full Back. Been playing well in the Under 20s, although he's been playing six for them. Wouldn't put Pat at full back. His tries dry up when we do that.

/Agree

In my opinion with Deacon out our best option is to add to our kicking options with our best kicker missing. Moving Sam into the halves is one solution, but our kicking game won't improve because Sam has been just as shocking as Leuluai and O'Loughlin in recent games.

Moving Richards to fullback also means we'll be missing someone with a good passing game at fullback. Pat's biggest problem at fullback is that when the ball reaches him it generally stops and he just drives the ball in meaning the wingers don't get the service they do with the likes of Roberts, Phelps or Sam at fullback. He improved a lot with this during this season but it still took him a few games to get going and he never really had the same effect as our other fullbacks.

Unless we bring in someone who has a decent kicking game, which it seems Phelps does have, then moving Sam into the halves isn't going to improve our kicking game at all and we will still have the same problems as before. I think Phelps is the better option going into this game given his form and what he offers to the team.

Roberts could be an option at fullback, which should at least allow Richards to play in his best position and not disrupt the team much but he's not exactly been great since his return from injury. If anything he's been a little disappointing, especially last week in the under 20's.

There's also Charnley, who could be brought in on the wing, but I'm not sure what that choice will offer us, since it means taking Richards from his strongest position and doesn't help our kicking game. There is the chance that Charnley could be keen to impress against his old loan club and so if he plays well then it could make a difference.

The one option which I hope is avoided completely is playing O'Loughlin at stand off. It didn't work against Leeds and I doubt it will work against Hull KR. There's just nothing threatening about an O'Loughlin - Leuluai halfback pairing.

Good assessment and post

I think you've hit the nail on the head there.

With Lockers and Tommy at 6 + 7, and Riddell off the pitch we'd seriously lack direction.

Agreed, for quite a few sets in that situation, we had players just stood round scratching their 'arris not knowing what to do, and started playing 1 up rugby.

Phelps
Richards
Carmont
Gleeson
Goulding
Sam
Tommy
Fielden
Piggy
Prescott
Hansen
Joel
Lockers

Coley
Feka
Faz
Mcilorum/Deacs

We need impact from the bench and bringing on Coley and Feka will provide that.

Also seeing that we've now lost our get out of jail card Piggy needs to be kept on the pitch for as long as poss. He's the difference maker in our side.

I would leave him till next season IMO, changed my mind about him. Let him have a top pre-season and come back blistering start of next year for the WCC.

+1

That's a decent team. Personally I'd swop Phelps and Sam around. Purely for the kicking game of Phelps.

who is going to kick goals then?