Not a must win but defo a
MUST NOT GET PUMMELLED

Heard a rumour Sao is out, it leaves us light with 1 prop on the bench

If Sao is out then I would think that Gardiner will be brought in to the 17

If what I heard is correct bench is:

Taylor, Lovodua, Dwyer, Lane.

Scott is in SR.

Leaves us light up front

If Sao is out, Brown has to be in surely?

Have Brown in my 17 on the bench with Fash being out so you'd think Brown would already be in the 17.



Just don't see any logic to having both Lane & Lovodua on the bench. If Sao is out then I'd bring Gardiner on to the bench with Brown moved to a starting spot alongside Taylor.

Have you forgotten about Satae?

Nope, had Taylor and Sao down to start with Satae and Brown on the bench, so if Sao is possibly out as mentioned by mwindass I'd move Brown to a starting spot and bring Gardiner in to the 17. So the bench would be Satae, Gardiner, Lane, Dwyer

heavy rain forecast this evening.

Sao is definitely out.
Litten
McIntosh
Carlos
Sutcliffe
Swift
Trueman
Clifford
Tag
Houghton
Brown
Dre
Scott
Cator
Subs
Satae
Gardiner
Dwyer
Lane

Shame Staveley is injured, I think he could have featured, but be good to see Jack Brown in the pack again and I'd be tempted to leave Scott in the centre role and play Sutty as the other backrower, I think Cam deserves a decent run in that position but wherever he plays he'll do well, his interview in the HDM is actually a good read. Comes across as humble and willing to learn, seems that Smith is a coach that does develop players to their full potential. God knows what he would have achieved with the 2015-17 squad, probably a Grand Final.

I also wonder what Smith would have done with the 16/17 squad.
Would have won the comp I think.