It wasn't a full Cas side by the way.

Largely first team in the first half but still missing:

Joel Monaghan, Ben Roberts, Luke Gale, Andy Lynch, Adam Milner, Oli Holmes, Matt Cook, Larne Patrick and Jy Hitchcox

Well, it wasn't full strength Cas, which I'm sure you already knew. Or if you didn't, you knew it wouldn't be a full strength side, as much as you try to convince yourself otherwise.

As for what Cas took from it, a chance to give some players like Shenton - who haven't played for a long time - some much needed match fitness.

A chance to see some of our fringe youngsters like Maher, Douglas, Tom Holmes and Fitzsimmons a chance to step-up and stake a claim.

We only have 3 friendlies after this, Wakefield, Batley and Saints. Two of those will probably be out first team with the Batley a mix like today.

There's obviously some exaggeration at play here but whilst we were missing 11 of our starting 13 perhaps you were missing 5 or so? Stick Fonua, Taylor, Houghton, Ellis, Shaul and Mini in there (picked 6 at random, just all happen to be in the Dream Team) and possibly there may have been a narrower margin. Not sure Radford got what he wanted today in any respect as apparently he's playing this reserve team again against Rovers.

Nothing to worry about, only Griffin and one of either Michaels or Carlos will start in our 17, and only 6 of that squad will be in our 17, so that's 11 players to come in and all our our best players. I know Cas had done players missing, but no where near the quality of ours.

Saying that, I think Cas will do really well this year and could win something if they do well with injuries.

Question to the Cas fans, were do you think Robert will play next year?

Yeah, sticking with youth/fringe squad for Rovers and Toronto then bringing in more like a first choice squad for Salford.

7 of them are.

Very good question. Roberts can play 1 6 7 9 13 (even played centres way back when) . I think he will be off the bench when he first comes back. If rangi or gale struggles then on comes Benny. 1 of the hookers will then go 13.

Which 7?

Roberts Gale Milner Cook Holmes Patrick Lynch . Suppose an argument could be made for 1 of the other to be winger but I reckon Minikin / Eden will be the starting wingers.

Yeah, they are. Hitchcox was in the first team before getting injured last year, hence why we brought Flynn in. And he's got a bigger part to play now Solomona has left.

As for the others:

Monaghan -> Minikin
Roberts -> Chase
Gale -> Tom Holmes
Lynch -> Springer (Springer to bench)
Milner -> Subs bench
Cook -> Massey (Millington to 13)
Holmes -> McMeeken
Patrick -> Subs bench:

Line-up for me: Hardaker, Eden, Shenton, Webster, Monaghan, Roberts, Gale, Lynch, McShane, Cook, Holmes, Sene-Lefao, Millington

Bench: Moors, Patrick, Springer, Milner

That's with Minikin, Hitchcox, McMeeken, Tom Holmes, Massey, Chase, Douglas, and a couple of others in back-up.

One thing Cas have done is built a solid squad. Not over spent on first 17 but spread the money across 24/25 Super League players.

Let's just say that the league fixture won't be the same score! See ya later in the season.