I would personally rest the lot of them against Leeds regardless of the result at Wembley. Make sure we are ready to go the week after. Top 2 isn't all that important in my book.

Assuming that the 17 for Wembley are as follows:

Shaul
Fonua
Griffin
Tuimavave
Talanoa
Kelly
Sneyd
Watts
Houghton
Taylor
Minichiello
Manu
Ellis

Bowden
Washbrook
Connor
Green


Then, from what I can see, only the following players would be available v Leeds who hadn't played at Wembley and aren't out on loan at other clubs:

Thompson
Turgut
Michaels
Downs
Fash
Matongo
Litten

With the following players out on loan (presumably won't be called back):

Hadley (Wakefield)
Logan (KR)
Abdull (KR)
Rawsthorne (Doncaster)
Osborne (York)
Wray (Hemel)
Bower (Hemel)


Unless we are going to draft in a large amount of our players from COHA then I'd imagine the likes of Kelly, Sneyd, Houghton, Ellis, Taylor and Manu will be rested, and everyone else will back up against Leeds.

Quote: Chris71 " I see no reason why the cup will be a distraction like it was previously. Other clubs over the years have managed to win the Cup and still make the GF and win it.'" According to this only 9 clubs have won "the double", including Swinton and Broughton Rangers. It's a massive ask IMO. Look how dominant Bradford Bulls were for years and they only managed it once. Of course being in both competitions makes it harder - you have to spread your energy and effort as well as being mentally resilient. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dou ... gby_league)

Quote: Chris71 " I see no reason why the cup will be a distraction like it was previously. Other clubs over the years have managed to win the Cup and still make the GF and win it.'" According to this only 9 clubs have won "the double", including Swinton and Broughton Rangers. It's a massive ask IMO. Look how dominant Bradford Bulls were for years and they only managed it once. Of course being in both competitions makes it harder - you have to spread your energy and effort as well as being mentally resilient. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dou ... gby_league)

In the league though Castleford have been way out in front and benefit from 2 free weekends, whereas last year it ended up effectively being us, Warrington who made both finals and Wigan who this year will likely be laser-focussed on the cup. I think Cas in the league and Wigan in the cup are individually much bigger barriers to each trophy than we faced last year where our opponents were similarly spread on both competition fronts.

We need to put everything into tonight's game as a win would give us a 4 point cushion over Saints, 3 over Wakey and 3 over Salford (if Cas beat them). The time to make changes will be next week against Huddersfield, when we will have that bit of breathing space.

Wasn't the intention - when I started the post I hadn't realised how many loaned out players we have, genuinely thought we actually could have fielded a semi-decent squad with all 17 rested. At full strength in the semis I'd fancy us home or away against anyone, so the Leeds game will be largely irrelevant as long as we finish in the top 4.

Tonight's team

Connor, Griffin, Thompson, Carlos, Michaels, Kelly, Sneyd, Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Turgut, Manu, Ellis

Subs: Green, Washbrook, Fash, Matongo

..... I don't think anyone saw that coming!!

No shaul and fonua

.... and Talanoa and Bowden.

What an odd line-up

Illness in the camp?