Agree with this completely

Assuming everyone is fit then Hampshire isn’t going to play , I d say he’s second choice full back , second choice stand off and probably third choice winger. Tbh he’s one of the few players we have that can create something from nothing and really needs to be in match day squad. Kyle wood is probably in his last season so why not give Hampshire a shot

I certainly think Hampshire has the attributes to play at 9. He could certainly take advantage of some quick ptb too.

However, this is the sort of testing and training that needs to happen in pre season and not experimented on in a superleague season unless we have no other options through injury.

If we were at full strength I’d take advantage of the 2 week loan period and get Hampshire 2 games at a league 1 club at 9 and see how he goes. Less risk, we get to see how he could go as a 9 and he gets to stay match fit.

I said previously that 9 looked our weakest area after prop with our main 9 in his twilight years and our second 9 seems to pick up a few injuries. I certainly think it needs some investment next season though Bowes looks promising for the future.

Hampshire is a tough one. He’s too good not to have in the team but it’s very hard to find a place for him all the same.

You mean third choice FB if Walker plays?

I personally think he’s second choice and Walker third, I suppose we will soon see what CC thinks.

I agree about Hampshire at 9 but it’s odd nobody has ever played him there, maybe coaches see something we don’t. For me he is ripe for conversion, maybe the player himself isn’t keen.

He most certainly wouldn’t be the first HB to make the conversion.

Closer to home, didn't Kyle Wood start out as a half back

He definitely did. It may be down to defending as to why Hampshire hasn’t been tried there. What I seem to notice is that 9’s have a lot of forward traffic come at them down the centre.

True but you look at Hampshire and physically he's as big if not bigger than both Woods, so it's not his physicality. Also can't say I've noticed any deficiencies in his tackling style, though I do think Josh Wood is an exceptional tackler.

If I were to suggest anything it's Hampshire distribution, the same issue in truth that stops him from being a great HB, though that's just my opinion. I see the same fault with Ryan as I still do with Miller and that both have a yip, a moment of indecision when deciding whether to run with the ball or let it go. I suspect it's because both players are clever and both are nice guys and those kinds of players overthink at times, I know that from my own experience (not me personally).

People say Brough was a great thinker, ditto Gazza or Best etc, IMO they were quite the opposite, they could think strategically obviously but when quick decisions were required they didn't think at all, they just did. It's something I always wished I could do and I'm convinced it's what separates good players from genius players. On the plus side, if you want to view it that way, is that to a man, they are all virtually useless off the pitch.

It's a hard balance to find, especially when like Ryan and a fair few others you're not short on talent.

I agree, Josh Wood is exceptional in defence, his technique is brilliant and he`s as tough as the come, you don`t see many about like him anymore.

Kyle Wood gets targeted in defence a lot but still always defends down the middle, I have seen teams push hookers out to ease there workload in defence but we just seem to compensate with an extra man in the tackle but Wood usually goes up top, clings on and that to me allows the opp to get a bit of a roll on with a couple of extra yards and a quick play the ball. I don`t necessarily think he is a bad defender, I just think he is genuinely a bit light weight for defending down the middle, still he gets on with it.

Hampshire, I haven't seen defend down the middle although he does seem a bit more physical and stronger than Wood, he does at times seem to get bumped off of tackles, he`s never particularly struck me as a good defender.

Defending down the middle is physically more demanding no doubt but it's also much easier than defending wide or at least that's what I always found.

When the traffic is coming down the middle channels you have no time to think you just have to go for it, sometimes you affect what looks like a great tackle by simply being in the way. Out wide it's more tricky, it's all about speed and timing and if you get it wrong you can easily get bumped off. For me Lyne is our best tackler out wide but limpet though he is he can get owned, it's the nature of things.

What makes you a start down the middle is partly technique as pers J Wood but also bravery, I reckon Ryan has that and eventually the technique will follow.

That said I'm not especially interested in making Ryan learn yet another position when for me he's pretty damn good at the three he already does.

Finally, they don't come much lighter than Kyle Wood who still looks as boyish as he did 1n 2004 when I first saw him play, as a half back as it happens.

Sounds like Gale is playing on Saturday.

Yup, both he and Lino suddenly seem ok

Where did you get that from?

21 man Squad

Tom JOHNSTONE
Bill TUPOU
Reece LYNE
Liam KAY
Jacob MILLER
Mason LINO
David FIFITA
Tinirau ARONA
Matty ASHURST
Kelepi TANGINOA
Joe WESTERMAN
James BATCHELOR
Chris GREEN
Innes SENIOR
Jordy CROWTHER
Joe ARUNDEL
Alex WALKER
Adam TANGATA
Josh WOOD
Brad WALKER
Yusuf AYDIN

Shame Hampshire didn’t make it but it gives Walker a shot to impress and we should be thankful we have that depth.

I think it mostly picks itself tbh.

Walker
Johnstone
Tupou
Lyne
Senior
Miller
Lino
Fifita
Crowther
Arona
Tanginoa
Batchelor
Westerman

Green
Tangata
Wood
Ashurst

Aydin, Kaye, Arundel, Walker - to miss.

I’d be happy with any of that 21 tbh. I’m confident they can go to Leeds and bring back the win.

Leeds have quite a few backs missing - walker hurrel Newman handley plus McLelland
2 Tom Briscoe sponsored by Wetherby Whaler
7 Luke Gale (c) sponsored by Vale Services
8 Mikolaj Oledzki sponsored by BadRhino
9 Kruise Leeming sponsored by Fenton Finance
10 Matt Prior sponsored by K-Bins
11 Alex Mellor sponsored by Horbury Dental Laboratories
12 Rhyse Martin sponsored by The Ortus Group
13 Zane Tetevano sponsored by NIC Services Group Ltd
14 Brad Dwyer sponsored by The Artisan Drinks Co
15 Liam Sutcliffe sponsored by Mtech
16 Richie Myler sponsored by Y F Furniture
17 Cameron Smith sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
19 King Vuniyayawa sponsored by Vale Services
20 Bodene Thompson sponsored by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings
21 Alex Sutcliffe sponsored by Alternative Windows
22 Sam Walters sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
24 Luke Briscoe sponsored by Roxy Ball Room
25 James Donaldson sponsored by LR Motors (Yorkshire) Limited
26 Jarrod O’Connor sponsored by Leeds Rhinos Supporters Club Kirkstall
27 Jack Broadbent sponsored by Johnstone’s Paint
33 Kyle Eastmond sponsored by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings