I cant believe that some people have seriously put Hampshire at Stand Off. I have seen little that makes me think he should be in the 17 never mind making his first team Stand Off debut in a Challenge Cup final.

Has Big Pat Richards pace totally gone this season?
I know he,s never been lightning but have noticed recently he seems to be totally unwilling to go outside an opposition winger.

Hull KR away this season?

Tuson did go the full length as well though carrying a chest freezer on his back!

With the current form of our half backs, I see no reason why we shouldn't have Hampshire on the bench... Imagine being a tired forward faced with the prospect of stopping BOTH Sam Tomkins and Ryan Hampshire on a pitch as wide as Wembley. As someone already stated earlier, he who dares wins. It just might work.

I'd have him on the bench as well tbh. He's had a few first team games now and I don't see the need for a back up hooker when MM can play 80 mins.

They'll have Shaul playing fullback who has 7 first team games under his belt so why not? Hampshire would give us a lot of options, especially if we're chasing the game.

I mentioned earlier in the thread that one option would be to bring on Hampshire at fullback and move Sam to stand off to mix things up a bit if it isn't going well.

If we need a plan B I don't see what we would have to lose, and as you say having those two on the pitch at the same time would be a handful for any team.

He's not been the same player since he got injured in the '10 final. He still has positives, his strength, finishing, aerial ability, defence and kicking (drop outs, goals and drop goals) are all up there with the best in SL so he's worth his spot, particularly in a final where we'll be glad of his experience. After this season is definitely the right time for him to leave though. I'm looking forward to seeing Burgess and Manfredi get their chances to shine (unless we sign someone top class like Briscoe)

The pitch at the new Wembley is apparently the same dimensions as the Halliwell Jones (according to Eddie prior to the 4N match against the Aussies anyway)

The pitch size, as lined for association football, is 115 yd (105 m) long by 75 yd (69 m) wide, slightly narrower than the old Wembley, as required by the UEFA stadium categories for a category four stadium, the top category.

The Halliwell Jones is apparently 120 x 74 yards

Should the 19 man squad be announced today?

yes


but changes to the squad will probably happen before Saturday 3pm