Squad announced.
As rubbish as we've been lately those squad numbers are still crazy.

1 – Jake Connor
5 – Darnell McIntosh
7 – Luke Gale
9 – Danny Houghton
13 – Jordan Lane
14 – Joe Lovodua
16 – Kane Evans
17 – Brad Fash
20 – Jack Brown
21 – Jordan Johnstone
25 – Mitieli Vulikijapani
27 – Jacob Hookem
30 – Scott Taylor
31 – Charlie Severs
32 – Harvey Barron
34 – Davy Litten
35 – Matty Laidlaw
36 – Jack Walker
37 – Josh Simm
38 – Ellis Longstaff
40 – Will Smith

Tough one to call this do you play Connor centre and lose his creativity but it will be for the good of the team as we only have Mitch available, Play Smith 6 or I have a feeling we will put Lover centre. Got a feeling he might use Smith as a 13.
Walker
Mac
Mitch
Lover
Simm
Connor
Gale
Evans
Mint
Tag
Lane
Longstaff
Brown
Subs
Fash
Laidlaw
JJ
Smith

I'd play Simm at centre and put Barron on the wing.

Simm is a centre rather than a winger so I’d put him in at centre question is would there be enough experience with a back line of Simm and Longstaff to go with Barron on the wing . I’d prefer to start with Lovodua at 9 too. Smith probably in the halves of at 13.
I worry we end up with the likes of Houghton, Lovodua, Smith & Johnstone all in the 17 and on the field at the same time. If Houghton is the 17 then no point having JJ anywhere near the 17. Disappointing that there’s still no Balmforth but as someone alluded too maybe his fitness is sn issue though think he’d be more effective than others that get selected.

I suppose it all hinges on what Hodgson does with the halves and fullback.
If its Walker, Connor and Gale then that frees up Smith to play centre or possibly even 9 with Houghton going to 13.
If Connor goes to back to FB then is it Smith and Gale in the halves?

Definitely some decisions to make.

Totally agree.

Simm is more of a centre and time to be fair to him and see what he can do there. Personally I would play Barron on the wing. Can’t do any worse than recent centre/wing combinations.

Get the feeling though we will just go with the more experienced players, out of position, and nothing will change. Another disappointing performance incoming?

No doubt as usual he will make the wrong decisions instead of playing players in their normal positions and i would play Barron on the wing but he wont.
Simm is a centre so play him there
Mitch came as a wing so play him there if he wont select Barron
Connor to centre

Then its Smith and Gale in the halves

Forwards lightweight but we have little choice
I would still not play Johnstone.Total waste of time and considering he is going surely time to give another younger player a run
No cdoubt we will see Lovodua in another position on Friday

Walker
Barron/Litten
Mitch
Simm
Mcintosh

Connor
Gale

Evans
Houghton
Fash
Lane
Lovodua
Brown

Laidlaw
Taylor
Longstaff
Smith

Think Smith will be on the bench, just a hunch going off BH press conference

I'd be disappointed if Smith started on the bench. We need a good start and he'll be one of the most experienced players in the team.

Don't think he's played for a while.

Just don't think Lovodua offers anything in the 2nd row and we need to shake things up a little instead of repeating tha same stuff and selection that just isn't working or very effective. I'd go with Lovodua at 9 and Smith in the halves or 13. To be honest not sure what to do with Connor whether to put him back at FB are persist with him at 6. Missing Sao and Satae I'd have Brown in the front row Fash at 13 if Smith goes in the halves.

I'd also be tempted to leave Houghton out altogether. Taylor for me is one lucky player as due to lack of options with both Satae & Sao missing he stays in the 17 purely on necessity. Would also have Severs on the bench. Even with the lack of bodies BH still has options on the 17 and where they play to get the best out of the 17 though I'm not too confident he will get it right and just try and go safe again which just hasn't worked nor looked like working. The very rare time he has tried something out the box it worked or produced better. I'd rather he changes and tries something different even if we lose rather than stick with what isn't or hasn't worked so far as at least he's trying something.

Walker
Barron
Mitch
Simm
Mcintosh

Connor
Gale

Evans
Lovodua
Brown/Fash
Lane
Longstaff
Smith

Laidlaw
Taylor
Fash/Brown
Severs

neither has Taylor but he still starts

I think with the players we have out Houghton has to be in the 17, be tempted to put him on the bench though.

After speaking to a dad last night of an reservev player, he earns 6000 a year, if he plays in his first team he gets an extra 15000, probably the reason they are reluctant to give too many players their debuts.

Even with shortage of numbers for me a Houghton sadly offers very little now and even his defence the past month has been pretty poor. So for me it’s time make a change and go with Lovodua. We lack any sort of speed and intensity and Houghtons distribution is also not the best. So what’s the point in sticking with an issue as that’s all part of the problem. It’s all too slow and predictable and stale. As the saying goes familiarity breeds contempt. Play players that will be effective and benefit the team in where they are played rather than play players that no longer have much effect or desire and hampers the team.