I think Fash has been much improved this season and personally see no reason that both he & Brown can not be named in 17.
I’d have Bowden, Fash, Brown & Cator on the bench as don’t see the point of carrying Johnstone & one of Scott/Faraimo on the bench when they are hardly used.

On the other side of the ball Fash is better in 1st contact, hardly misses a tackle and has a very good wrestle on him hence why his YAC is good and rarely gets put on his back.

I put it on another thread but Brown has to go on loan to a Championship team and play against blokes on a regular basis.

Totally agree that would be my bench too and the only reason I can think why we have a back on the bench is due to the increase in HIA tests and the fact we don't have a backrower who can move to centre like a lot of teams have.

Good point and in addition we probably carry a back on the bench because we do have a centre that can move to the second row,

I think its more to do with having someone on the bench who could give us some impact.
We all know we are short on numbers but there is no one on the bench currently who gives us any impact when they come on.

And we have a winger who can play fullback. And a centre who can play in the halves.

It might seem like a waste of a sub, and it didn't work out against Les Cats, but it isn't a ridiculous thing to do.

But maybe if people continue to criticise it in every post they make then Odgo will change his mind and we can just cross our fingers and hope none of our backs ever get hurt.

I think trying to put some semblance of understanding to the coaches approach to his bench is an older generation thing

All of our starting forwards cab play big minutes, and we are at our best when they are on the field, so I can definitely see Hodgson's logic of having a back and a hooker on the bench. Rather than having 4 forwards just for the sake of it, we are covered for almost all eventualities. What's the point shoehorning in another prop when we want Satae and Sao on the pitch for as long as possible? Not using all 4 subs isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just means our best players play big minutes and there is no point making changes just for the hell of it.

I like cator but feel in a few years hell need to move to hooker to stay in SL

Cause he's far too small to be a loose forward in the long run and the expectation when he stops been a "youngster"

Yes our starting forwards can play big minutes and we are indeed better when they are on but while we have been without both Tag and Bowden once Satae and Sao have gone off we lose any real go forward. The only reason I am puzzling the use of the bench of late is against a very physical side like Catalans we went with a very light bench and against Leeds in a game that will have been a very heavy pitch due to the wet weather all week and during the game it will have been energy zapping, we had a bench with 2 players only being used after 60 mins and again minus a good young forward.

So its not a case of having 4 forward son just for the sake of it more of sharing the workload so we don't run out of steam down the middle or lose too much go forward when Satae and Sao are off. If Taylor and Bowden were both fit and in the 17 then we look a different 17 altogther as we still have the size & go forward. So when both Taylor and Bowden are back that would mean if we go with a hooker and back on the bench we have to sacrifice Fash and Cator to make way for Johnstone & Scott? Unless we are going to see more of Cator filling in at 9 to rest Houghton or continue to play Houghton for 80 mins each week.

Its just an observation and other posters have made similar ones, so think they're fair a valid points and at the end of the day its a forum where discussion is had by fans of the club.

This isn't aimed at you Mr. Zucchini Head but while I'm posting I don't know if its me as I'm getting older but seem to be finding the snide remarks from posters just because someone has a different view is tiring. I know in the past there were a number of posters who were heavily critical and overly so but this season I think the vast majority have all made vaild points be it good or bad and reasoned with it. But like I say may be its just me being older now and less tolerant in a Victor Meldrew way

I know there's been talk of Widdop hankering for a move back to Oz but he's started to look top notch at Warrington.
Good game this tonight.
Big ask but could do with a Devils comeback victory.

A brief bit of hope just extinguished I feel.

I feel you may be unfortunately correct.

Bench of Bowden, Brown, Fash and Johnstone.
Think he's got that spot on tonight.

but no Savelio?
is it performance or injury?