This seems to be cropping up n I completely disagree with it.

People are classing Lima as a loss, or a player missing from the squad which could of helped win the wcc tonight. Possibly he could. But he was not part of the squad which got us to that stage, he isn't a loss for the wcc. If I played in the gf then was dropped for a new signing for wcc...I'd be heart broken! Lima is not a loss or missing player because he hadn't Earnt the right to play tonight! Hoffman also.

How do u guys see it?

He is the replacement for Palea'aesina.

Finch is the replacement for Riddell.

They earn the right to play in it by showing what they can do in training.

exactly, three of the GF winning team weren't playing tonight, one injured, two left the club, so when you hear that Lima has been running rings round others in pre-season and having a pretty decent start to the season, then you have to think he deserves it.

Of course it was a loss not having Lima available and having him in could well have made some difference. History has shown that we're better off having 4 props in wherever possible and given the fact that Fielden was injured it would have been absolutely stupid not to pick Lima had he been available. You don't win titles by being sentimental.

As for Hoffman, despite some of the comments I've read about him tonight I think he works very hard in defence, takes a lot to take him down and his performances so far have imm justified his signing and selection. I have no doubt that if enough players were outperforming him or Lima then they would have to improve to keep their places. When new signings are made if you're going to go down the line of always sticking with established players regardless of ability or form there'd be less of an incentive for fringe players to improve and it'd be pointless making any signings in the first place. Madge has shown that he is willing to drop players if they don't perform.

Dont understand the criticism of Hoffman myself, thought he got through alot of work!

Me neither he was like a machine, I'd love to see the stats for him he got through tonnes of work and seemed to play virtually the full 80.

Hoff was really good AGAIN for me. Summed him up when he got clattered, was in cloud cuckoo land for a few seconds and could hardly stand up, the trainer came on and he just waved him (her?) away. Legend.

Pretty simple. Had he been available he would and should have played especially with Fielden out injured.

Squads inevitably change at the end of each season and so we could not field our GF winning team even if we had wanted to. By your logic Hoffman should not of played and for that matter neither should Mossop or Tuson.

And to add to that by the same philosophy several of the SGI players should not have played as they have only joined the squad in the off-season.