You think you've got problems? You lot have a U19's and reserve team out near enough every week and still compete in games.

Swap you Tony for Shaun Wane any day of the week.

I was Mr Knee jerk reaction last season. This year is more of the same, except we are playing better rugby, even if the results aren't going our way. We had entire back line out, from 1-5, two first choice props missing, and the a full second row in Bateman and Tomkins. If you put any other team in the league in the same position with the injuries going on for so long and they are in relegation trouble, not 4 points off the top 4.

Do you think Saints beat us with their entire back line, start props and second rowers missing? Do you think Wakefield beat us with the same missing? And Wigan at near full strength? I don't.

We should have a much stronger idea of whether we will make the play offs after the next round of fixtures. We play Hull FC and Wakefield play Salford. If ourselves and Salford win then the league would read:

4. Wakefield 20
5. Hull FC 19
6. Wigan 18

Which looks fairly manageable to me given that we play them each again in the Super 8s. However, if Wakefield and Hull FC win then I really couldn't see us pulling it back:

4. Wakefield 22
5. Hull FC 21
6. Wigan 16

Despite all that, you weren't too shabby last season.

Think the Challenge Cup has always been the main aim this season and Waney will have one eye on the next round when deciding who plays and when.

Having said that, think it's too early to give up on the play offs just yet and with a bit of luck on the injury front, we'll be in the mix so to speak.

He's quite is quite happy at Cas playing with the team who are top of the league and playing an attractive brand of rugby.

i would break the the bank for tony gigot, perhaps i did overreact after a terrible result but mark this we are only a couple of losses from the worst season for a very long time.

We may be a couple of losses from our worst season in a long time but we have to look at the reasons for it. I know it's an easy excuse but that reason is simply injuries, the sheer decimation of the squad, particularly in the backs is unprecidented. We would struggle to improve the squad within the cap unless players are leaving.

Gigot is a full back or centre. We have Tomkins & Escare for full back and Gelling & Gildart at centre with decent cover in Burgess and Bateman. Imo Gigot would be a very poor use of cap space unless players are leaving. If we're are looking to break the bank for anyone I'd sacrifice either Gelling or Gildart for a goal kicking centre but I can't see how else we could realistically improve whilst staying within the cap.

We just need to ride this out and hope we aren't too far from the top 4 when/if we get somewhere near a full squad. One thing we can be immensely proud of is the way the youngsters and squad players have filled in and fought for the club. History has proven that it is rare for a youngster to come into the team and play consistently well for a sustained period, they fade quite quickly and this is beginning to show for us now. There are simply too many of them having to play and are having to play too many games.

I would guess Wane's full strength side is something like:

Tomkins, Burgess, Gelling, Gildart, Manfredi, Williams, TL, FPN, MM, Flower, Farrell, Bateman, SOL, Clubb, Sutton, Tomkins, Powell. 9 of those were missing last week and a similar number have been missing for all but the first month of the season, when incidentally we were playing quite well.

It's only 11 years since you played Wakey at your place in what was a relegation four-pointer at the time. You've had some very average seasons since, broken up by the occasional very good one.

You might be four points off the top four now, but its the top four after thirty games that count, not 23. Will Wakey last the course? Probably not, in reality, and I'd be happy with sixth.

This time last year you got hammered at Wakey (I'm sure there was a reason) and only beat us with a last minute try at your place. The only change this year is the venue. I expect to see you in the mix when you get your players back.

Did not say that he was not happy playing for Cas which was a great move for Zac I was just replying to the info which said who would you go for is Sam was crocked.

Do you think that Cas will pay a bumper fee for Zac next year when is lone spell is over.

yes once they get their money owed from solomona

No bumper fee is needed - it was agreed by both clubs before a ball was kicked this season, he'll be our player from 2018 onwards.




The money from Solomona doesn't matter and has no affect in the signing of Zac, the potential cash from him isn't guaranteed anyway.

Any update on where Wakey will be playing next season?

Sod's law that you would have your best season only to upheave to pastures new!

What amazes me is that we have not decided on a scapegoat yet. Last time we had an injury crisis like this Kevin Brown got it and we lost a, then, potentially fine player. That said I cannot imagine us carrying this roster into next year. Already three lads know that they will be leaving but that will still leave us with four or five wingers. At least we will have another centre available unless Higginson gets the boot. I do not think that there are as many u19s comming through as in previous years as lads like Ganson and Worthington have another season at u19.

Wouldn't mind betting Hardaker was paid for against St Helens in the cup with a near sell out crowd of 5,200 and a bit.