So…

But if a rough ride for everyone at trinity recent weeks.

The coach, the players and the fans are all feeling it. There needs to be a win incoming and soon.

Saints look a little wobbly lately but they still have an excellent group of players and will be tough.

The reality is vs KR we were missing 9 x players from starting 17. Any team would struggle with that. That said there are things within control such as intensity in defence and improving ball retention. Two key areas that cost us vs KR really. Post yard metres from KR was simply unacceptable added to turning over the ball cheaply.

Only time we looked threatening with ball in hand was a 10 minute spell in second half when we upped the tempo and the ball went through plenty of hands to the edges.

So we move onto Saints…

Mash said that Bowden/Kalepi/Gaskell/Smith are 1/2 week away. Hood should also be back.

I wouldn’t play Gaskell at halfback or Full back. Mash seemed excited to have him back next week but he is just not a pivotal player and the best combination we have had this year is Smith/Lino. It’s clear Mash rates Gaskell but even he surely sees his limitations despite his effort. We need continuity at halfback and I think best we have is Smith/Lino. At least there’s points in that and the kicking looks more effective (Salford away).

Part of me thinks should we throw out a few rotation players and rest/prepare for an absolute must win vs Cas. We could have a lot of fresh bodies going into Cas (bearing in mind we have a short turn around d going into it again).

You want to win every game though so I just don’t know.

This will be a tough game. Thoughts?

Anything said about Jordy C?

Need to put out the strongest available 17 every match.

Was Morgan Smith injured this week? How many of the missing 9 may be returning?

Be surprised if more than 50 supporters went over there considering they’ve cancelled the coach.

That almost galvanizes me to go to be honest. It's too early into the season to have thrown the towel in
completely, however dire it is looking!

It's back on now. The club have just released an offer of £30 for a ticket and coach travel to Saints. Available in the club shop from Monday morning.

That's good news.

Nah they’d have to offer me more than that..

Interesting that the members free draw (tickets and transport for two people) on RWB Facebook has 68 entries so far. So we have a minimum (because some have already stated that they have made other arrangements so haven't entered) of 136 fans still interested in going across the Pennines and supporting the team on a Friday night, against the World Champs, surrounded by hostile scousers, whilst we are playing 5hit.

According to today's League Express we should have some bodies back for Friday....Smith, Crowther and Proctor should all be back AND..... ...

possibly Gaskell too

Genuinely good news is that Kelepi and Bowden should both be back for next week's crucial clash with Cas though

I wouldnt risk any of them no matter what team we have we aint gonna win lets focus on cas

Yep, was thinking the same myself

Technically yes but game day will be 12 days since his failed HIA so he’ll have had no full training sessions prior to the game. I’d be tempted to leave him until the week after.

I would play the reserves, save the better players for the Cas game. I cant see us beating Saints but if we don't beat Cas either then Mash has to go as that will be 0 from 8 and we will be a minimum of 2 wins behind anybody else and with a much worse points difference with a third of the season gone.