Think you are being kind when you say Dwyer has been disappointing.
Call a spade a spade.
Houghton is the much better nine and far better when managed correctly with his on field minutes but Smith is slowly doing what others have previously done and starting to play him for 80 minutes.
Cant see the nine positions changing to introduce the likes of Balmforth or Lovodua as Smith seems very dogmatic as we have seen with the continued use of Lane.

Problem I have with Houghton is he's so limited

People bang on about his tackling cause he doesn't do hardly anything else of any note

10 metre scoots when defence is on the backfoot isn't good enough for top level rugby hence why he hasn't played international

Give it a rest FFS.

Who cares about international. Right now we have our squad. Who offers more… Houghton. So he’s first choice.

Then back up hooker is a contribution of who offers most, who complements houghton best and who offers the the best long term value.

I look at Balmforth and think he could be a Cunningham esque player. Huge frame and offers some go forward. His fitness is an issue but if he’s getting short stints it’s not an issue.

I’m just hoping Keiron and not James

HULL FC v St Helens - (if one has an imagination.......keep it fertile).
HULL KR v Salford - (a joyous repeat of the 2016 'Million Pound Game' would be delightful, but not feeling it).
Wigan v WARRINGTON (prefer it if they both lost).
York v LEIGH (leopardprint is taking over the world, apparently).

Unfortunately all away wins.

Wouldn't argue with that either.

Yep I'd pretty much concur with that as much as I hope we can turn St's over just think without Clifford its a really big ask. That said TS certainly seems to have taken what was a group of individuals and brought them together as a team so maybe a little adversity may well spur them on to the next round.

Think we have to take a gamble with the spine, play Litten, Hoy and Trueman, could have Mcnamara or Lovodua on the bench instead of Dwyer.

McInhtosh, probably gets another game, as no one else to play there.

Lane or Brown for the last bench spot, if Satae comes back in.

I'd go with what you said and move Hoy into the halves but I think he will probably just put McNamara in at 7 and male as minimal changes as possible.
Be a lot of pressure on Trueman this week but he's starting to find his groove now and been playing some really good stuff.

I think he'll play Benny at half back and leave Hoy at fullback, now he's finding some form there. McIntosh finished that try against Leigh very well, so he'll retain a wing berth, I'd imagine. It looks a forlorn hope, more so given the resurgence of Saints lately, but I think we will give them a game, regardless.

Cost us two trys though, if Litten isn't FB then I'd play him on the wing.

Not seen anything to suggest McNarmara is good enough, I've seen more from the Trueman and Litten in one game than he has shown is all his games. I'm not one for moving players normally, but I think we have more chance with Litten playing FB than Mcnamara at 7.

Agree also need to play off the cuff only way we'll beat Saints without Clifford

Take risks play expansive early on the in tackle count

Litten full back
Trueman and hoy half backs

Have to agree on playing Litten FB with Hoy and Trueman in halves, it's certainly worth a shot.

problem is you cant tackle and defend for a full 80 minutes
Without Clifford we have no attacking threat.
If we start well we may make a contest out of it for most of the game.Start badly then once the indiscipline kicks in and repeated six agains it could be a cricket score