Can't currently make Friday away games but expect Wakefield to have to tough it out if they want a win. Widnes were ok in patches going forward last Saturday against Saints but in all honesty a complete shambles at the back.

Fifita is a must play. I think every other player has a rotation option though some are pretty guaranteed if no injuries.
Even Ashurst isn't the player he was last year. He tackles hard with high numbers and runs hard but he's hitting players not gaps now. That could be that he is being watched or that his service isn't as good but it isn't the same.

The one thing I would change is Fifita starting. I prefer him off the bench.
I'd go as far as to say Fifita, Pauli and Wood all coming off the bench at the same time to be fresh and change the momentum of the game. Start with England and Huby.

I think it's the service - he's the same player with the same work-rate and the same skillset - but he does get hospital passes on a frighteningly regular basis; either that attack was easy to figure out so is being defended better, or we're not doing it right this season.

Wood may have had 7 on his back, but he only played there once that year - a Wigan away drubbing. Wood is best at 9 so leave him there.

You're going to base your opinion on him from a game 6 years ago, fair enough mush!

I'm basing it on the fact I've seen him have more good games at 9 than 7.

But that's the same evidence that you have to draw the opposite conclusion surely????

I'm basing it on the fact that he's labelled as a hooker and scrum half and is clearly a play maker. My opinion is based on numerous games from over six years ago from Wood's time at Wakefield, Sheffield, Batley and Doncaster... where he started as Hooker/Scrum half.

"The hooker, who can also play scrum-half, came through the Trinity Academy before moving to Doncaster at the age of 18."

That is taken from our own website, I'm not just making this whole thing up. I'm basing it on facts, Willzay seems (key word) to be basing his opinion on one (key word) game from 6 years ago, where granted we took a drubbing from Wigan... You know... the league leaders who finished with a +545 points difference?

Agree about Fifita.
It's a waste of his talents to use him to soften the opposition up during "the arm wrestle", far better to introduce him when the opposition are tiring and the same can be said for Pauli.
England on the other hand seems at his best, ripping into the opposition early doors

We have to be "boring" and complete sets and try to find a decent kicking game, even if this means finding touch, rather than kicking deep.
How many times do we have a nothing kick, as good as a pass, to the opposition FB/ Wing and allow the opposition to start their set on their own 40 ?

He might be labelled as both but again he's better at 9 so why move him from there and leave only one option at 9 (Randell)?

You claim he's better at 9 but that's your opinion, IMO we have a hooker who can play the full 80 (not saying I don't see an impact when a fresh Wood comes on in the second half) but we don't have a half back and I think Wood would have more of an impact at 7 than Hampshire would...

It's all hypothetical anyway, Jowitt will play FB with Hampshire at 7...

I'm sure Wood could do a job at scrum half if needed and I thought he played well when he did it in the game against Wigan. I think he went to Huddersfield with playing half back in mind but they ended up putting him to hooker anyway I think.

BUT, and it's a big BUT, we shouldn't make two positions weaker because of one issue, and more importantly, if Wood is actually a better option that Hampshire, we shouldn't have brought him to the club.
For me Hampshire needs to play now until either Finn proves some outstanding ability and/or fitness or he get's injured, when Wood can then take over.

Dudson, Houston, Handbury and Inu all out for Widnes , some pretty descent players missing for them tonight .
Should have more than enough grunt up front to allow the pivots some room behind them to play a more expansive game and find some gaps .

Heavy rain forecast from 7pm onwards over there. Lovely.