I know we can not make long term plans but players already signed for new clubs are in my view less likely to put a full shift in.Players still on our books but out of contract may be inclined to either put themselves in the shop window or play for a contract. Its a bloody mess to be honest and can be distracting.

Based on their performances and BS bringing in late recruits I think the 17 for the Middle 8s should be....

Jowitt
Johnstone
Arundel
L.Smith
Lynne or Tupou (dependant on Hudds performance if he plays?)
Godinet
Miller
Scruton
Sio
Anderson
Ashurst
Washbrook
Simon (Start with 3 props need as much go forward as possible)

Subs. Mullally, Lauitiiti, Walker, McShane

I would agree, though Kavanagh should be bracketed with Mullaly and Molloy also in that group
Of course Smith has to be on the edge of the team too depending on Godinet's fitness.
Lyne hasn't played wing all season and I seem to remember him having some stinkers there. Not sure what I'd do with him as he is a threat when he gets it right.

Really ??????
Reece Lynne has now become a liability for me....on one of Cas' many rampaging runs down our right side, he got outpaced by Oliver Holmes FFS !!

He came to us with a reputation for being a speedster, but how many tries has he scorched down the pitch for ???? ...answers on a postage stamp please !!

Zippididoodah zippideeay - of course the lad has pace but we all have different perceptions of pace. If all the p's were together would there be too many p's? I don't think he can run.

So for Huddersfield and beyond I'd be looking at something like this:

Jowitt (should be given a chance as the only natural fullback we have)
Tupou
L Smith
Arundel
Johnstone

Hall (to be replaced by Godinet when fit)
Miller

Scruton
Sio
Anderson
Ashurst
Simon
Washbrook (I prefer Washy and Simon this way round, allowing Washbrook to defend in the middle and Simon to use his hard running further out)

Subs:
Mullally
Walker
Lauitiiti (I think if Ali is going to play he needs to come off the bench when defences are tiring for us to see the best of him)
McShane

Reserves:
Crowther
Kavanagh
Howarth
Annakin



I'd give Jowitt a game or two now and see how he goes, if he's struggling then we can look to put Hall back there if/when Godinet is fit again.

I think Lyne had pace, but has unfortunately lost it, be it as a result of injuries or bulking up too much. Oliver Holmes was pulling away from him at a rate on Sunday.

Based on MC's comments in the press release, Tupou has been brought in to add competition in the centre although i cant find any record of him playing there?

I noticed Craig Hall was out warming up on Sunday. Anybody any the wiser with regards what he is doing? I was told he was going to HKR or Fev, but the club was holding out, to see who the competition would be in the 8s. Now that is sorted, could we be seeing him shipped out? As much as his recent performances for us have been heartless to say the least. His height and pace could be put to use on the wing or am just clutching at straws??!

He would have been warming up as 18th man

He is no good to Fev their season is over and as for HKR, I think the signing deadline has passed.

Lets hope we can get him motivated because he could still be a useful member of the team. If he gets some form back he is as good as anything we have available at FB or wing.

No way should Hall be stand off. I'd rather play Smith but force the scrum half role to Miller and Smith stands slightly wider......or even left and right.
We should play Mullally as he is playing against his old team but I like Kavanagh to be honest. He works hard and we need that work rate in the middle.

Still say Miller is a poor player, our best half back combination is Smith and Godinet. Can`t understand how anyone would pick Molloy, Kavanger or Walker in front of Anakin. Lee Smith and Tupou have to play at Hudds, we have no idea how Lee Smith will go , lets be fair he could not even get into a very poor Newcastle Falcons team, that said he may be looking great in training and also 99% of prem RU backs and back row forwards are miles better than SL players, fitter, faster, stronger, more skillful and better tacklers so its no disgrace for a SL player not to get in a RU team. We have got to hope that Brian Smith has done his research on Tupou who has only played one game this season and that the lad is better than what we have which afterall is not a big ask

I'd put all three above Annakin right now. Walker, Kavanagh are ahead of him at prop.
As a back row he could be equal with Molloy.

Smith is behind 2 international younger wingers at Newcastle. It doesn't mean he's not good enough to play, just not as good as them.

Please tell me you're out fishing with that post because if not it's the biggest load of bull I've read for some time.

Agree Avenger,when Miller went to fullback,our attack went backwards.Miller has been our only attacking option over the last few games.

Which bit Avenger ? you are certainly not going to argue against the RU back line and back row forwards been far superior to RL players are you ?