Is that from inside the club Richie? I'd be disappointed if Hamlin doesn't feature but I guess that's competition for places in action.

Hamlin will have a place in the squad of that im sure, doubt he will feature though come Friday.just a hunch.

I guess the perceived wisdom is to give the incumbents the opportunity to retain the jersey before bringing someone fresh in but I just think Hamlin has something different which, in the absence of SOL could prove useful. I'd be tempted to give him a run. As you say, I doubt that'll happen though.

Being the first game and with Salford being at home they will give it everything.
I think we will win it in the last 20 mins through fitness and a bit of class showing through.
Tough game ahead.

I reckon Waney will go with -
S Tomkins,
Davis, Sarginson, Gildart, Burgess.
Williams, Powell,
Clubb, Leuluai, Flower,
J Tomkins, Farrell,
Isa.

FPN, TT, Sutton, Escare.

Thanks for that hadn't really been aware that SOL still wasn't fully fit.
Agree no point in playing SOL against Souths in what is a meaningless friendly.

If we beat an NRL side in their back yard, I would hardly call it meaningless. It would be the first time an SL side has done it in two decades, and an even bigger achievement now than then, given the difference in salary caps.

If Bateman and/or Lockers aren't going to be fit for the Hull game in Wollongong then I would leave them at home to try to be ready for the Wire game.

I agree but Lockers will probably travel as captain of the club and as he’s on a lot of the promotional images. Maybe they could rehab in South’s (assumingly) superior facilities.

What do we get out of it if we win? Prestige? I assume there will be no limit on substitutions and that Souths are using it very much as a warm up therefore, it wont be competitive in the purest sense. Don't get me wrong I love beating the Aussies but on this particular occasion I don't think that it will haver the same kudos as a WCC. I think that this will be the first friendly for many years as I don't think that there have been any since Saints played St George some years ago??

I understand why the club are going to Australia and I don't have a beef with the club's rationale in tagging on the Souths game if it brings in some needed income however, if we get even one long term injury with say ST, Gildart or Williams then many people will be questioning why we included this game along with the Hull game. Potentially a high risk strategy but easy for me to say that without knowing the financial details.

I'd say so, yes. I hadn't thought about the substitutions. I hope they go full strength, four subs, ten interchanges. Otherwise it's only on a par with us beating New Zealand Warriors in 2013.

The South’s game is a game that isn’t needed end of.

Exactly. Complete waste of time. For South's it is a pre-season friendly. Zero prestige in winning it and just risking our players for nothing.