I don’t know. Maybe he had a better offer elsewhere….

Batch has to play centre for me. He is the best option there certainly in defence. Last two times he played there he scored 3? Try’s and our defence on that edge was strong. We need that strength in defence. Batchelors work rate is also very high. We have plenty of options in the pack and Crowther should start at 13 with his strong defence. Batch has always been a second rower playing wide. He’s only played a handful of games at 13. We need him on the edges from now on imo either right SR or RC.

I’d go:

Jowitt
Taufua
Hall
Batchelor
Murphy
Lino
Miller
Fifita
Hood
Whitbread
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Crowther

Bowden
Arona
Bowes
Pitts

Looking at the squad it mostly picks itself.

I hope we use certain tactics to our advantage. Kicking behind Hall for Murphy into space for and use his pace would be good to see. Also Taufua looks a strong unit so hopefully we can bring him onto the ball near the try line.

Id go with
Jowitt
Jorge
Hall
Batch
Murphy
Gaskell
Lino
Bowdan
Hood
Arona
Pitts
Ashurst
Whitbread

Bowes
Fifita
Kelepi
Walker,

Move whitbread to prop when walker comes on

Put it this way, wakefield did not offer him a good one

And how would you know that?

History and our proud record of having the lowest budget in SL after all these years. I regret you are going to have to accept the facts we had a year to sign him before he could speak to other clubs because when we don’t the player find it easy to find a club who will pay more than us. We have relied on a player’s loyalty unfortunately after too many seasons of struggles they have quite understandably had enough.
With Batchelor he just needs to look at his brother’s progress, why would he want to stay in the Trinity backwater.
I know what you are going to say and you are correct I do not having written proof but when any of our players are linked with another club how many actually stay.

And you expect me to blurt out on here who my contacts are. If you dont believe me , i dont give two hoots.

Can't offer Batch a contract he deserves when we're signing 31 year olds on 3 year deals, signing pointless wingers that we've now loaned out and a sick note that can't tackle or catch.
Willie knew what he was getting himself into, fair play to Tupou on retirement as that has freed up a quota spot and money to sign Taufua.

Prefer you guys over Hudds/Salford

It amazing what you can do with a well organised team, with each player knowing what is expected of them. I just watched St Helens win against a top 4 team having only 12 players for over an hour and 11 for the last ten minutes. We couldn’t stop a team at the bottom from overturning a 16 points lead with only 40 minutes to go.

How dare we not be St Helens.

Bit like top 4 Huddersfield Giants under Super Coach Ian Watson

I know you are deliberately being obtuse because I know only too well we are not St Helens but Toulouse are not Huddersfield. I think even you will admit but maybe not, that after we lost Fifita we went to pot and if we had a game plan it was quickly forgotten and replaced by the headless chicken routine. I have said before WP had halftime to sort it out but the performance suggests he was unable to do so. I don’t expect you to agree but if we fail to win Sunday then the clamour for change will grow because even if you are not willing to accept it relegation could see the club in the wilderness until we are able to fund a team to get us out.

I agree with what you say about Toulouse. Added to not having our scrum half at the last minute. We are not Sts. So why compare?
The fact remains, none of the other stuff has happened yet.
For me, you are reacting like the same headless chickens.
Quite a few games to go and we don't know what will happen.
Walking round the forum with a The End Is Nigh board doesn't help anyone.

I remember a famous commentary here in Aus when (I think is was Ryan Atkins playing for GB) … it was said of him …’the guy can certainly tackle… just a shame he can’t defend’

Not saying this applies to Croft necessarily but the edge defence for the last three games has been all at sea!