Exactly. As far as I know, Gilmore, Keyes and Walker all have other jobs too, so wouldn't necessarily be able to take the time off to do it without much chance of a longer deal. So until Trueman or Russell get back, our stand off is going to be Jay Pitts, Max Jowitt, Liam Hood (if Doyle gets back sooner), Rowan Stephenson, or Oli Leyland (unlikely). Take your pick.

With Seth missing I'd actually change both SR for Catalan and play Vagana and Croft
Griffin maybe on the bench but that heat is not for older guys.

Although we escaped with a win verses a very poor Cas side, Catalan is a whole different proposition.
Huge pack, decent halves and some quality in their back line.
Presumably, we will put Jowitt in the halves and bring Rouke into FB and find a more mobile option for the right wing but, who knows ?

Think your overestimating a Catalan side who started poor and have picked up recent wins vs the bottom 3 mostly in Salford x 2, Hudds abd Cas. Though there?s some quality and we shouldn?t underestimate them as you say. 

Max stays at 1. If Powell was going to put Max at 6 he would?ve last week so changing it again wouldn?t be smart imo. Consistency in spine is key and again you play your best players in their best positions. 


We have 80% (4/5) of our starting spine available so the best is to run with that and fill in at 6 best you can. 


Personally I?d run with Pitts back to 13 to re-ignite the link between Pitts and Jowitt out the back that we had success with before injuries. 


I?d rather Rourke at 6 than move Max from 1. Last week Max was at 1 and got us back level so it was the right call. Maybe even Stevenson or Abrahams could get a shot for a game but we?ll have to see what the squads like tomorrow. 


Agree about the wing but I feel Powell won?t be putting Scott on the edge in this weather and we may have Russell available and possibly Walmsley who would be the better choice. 

Squad's out. No surprises, but notable that Nikotemo's in (though won't play) and Stephenson's not. Nikotemo easily replaced by Vagana, and Rodwell's absence covered by 4 top props. I'd like to see Croft picked over Griffin, but don't think I will. And I'd definitely like see Walmsley back on the wing. 


The debate rages on, and I'd still prefer to see Max at 6. You've explained your thinking, Trojan, and I fully get your points, but let me explain mine. It's not - as you've mentioned previously - to get Rourke in the team. Max is clearly a better full back, but the drop from Jowitt to Rourke at 1 is much smaller than the gulf between Max and Pitts at 6.


Many of the things we all love to see from Max - chiming into the line, throwing cut-out balls, backing up to score - can be done from both 1 or 6. All you have to do is set up for that in training. There's no reason he wouldn't have scored his try against Cas from 6 - it wasn't because he was playing full back as such, just that he was second receiver/out the back for Lino. He can do that in good ball from 6 (as Jerome Luai used to do at Penrith) with Rourke hovering on the inside (like Dylan Edwards).


He's a great organiser, miles better than Pitts. We could confidently play to our left side (best side) because he'd be more confident calling it and throwing it, it also sets him up more obviously in the line for in-play kicking, which he's good at. And you get Pitts back to 13, where he's one of our best. 


I don't know what Powell will go for, but I disagree that if he was going to pick Max at 6, he would've done it against Cas already. Mainly because we were atrocious for 50 minutes. The best coaches learn and change. In fact, if he goes with the same team next week I'll probably put some money on us losing by more than 12.


My team would be:


Rourke
Johnstone
Pratt
Scott
Walmsley
Jowitt
Lino
McMeeken
Hood
Uele
Vagana
Croft
Pitts


Smith
Atoni
Faatili
Cozza

Weather doesn't look the best on Saturday, bit of rain around and some strong winds. Makes a change from when we usually go and its 25+ degrees 

Only 30% chance of rain but more drizzle. Temperatures still around 19/20 so should be pretty pleasant for a game of rugby. 


Good that it won?t be 25+. 


Looking at our team I honestly see no reason why we can?t go out and get the win. Some big forwards need handling in the middle from our pack and Makinson is a threat but I?m going to back us to bring home 2 more points here. 

Me too after Griff's "After you Claude" tackle effort that led to a try.... 
Agree with your 1-17 too Butcher.... 

I'm also in the Jowitt at 6, Rourke at FB camp. It's also puts Pitts back to his best position. 

Yep. That team works for me.


I like Croft. He gets his place on merit. He was outstanding against Warrington. He goes unnoticed but he's valuable to us.

The only thing Griffin has on Croft is his ability to bust tackles. He does run good lines. But Croft has line speed, tackle technique, wrestle and work rate over Griffin.

As others have said. Griffin's effort on Tex Hoy was appalling.  Watching Inside Trinity, he had been earmarked as a key player for Cas too.

I don't think Griff has bust a tackle for a while.  Catalans is definitely a game for younger fitter backrowers.