From the reports its looks like McNamara is going to play and if Sneyd is fit the only other change will be Bowden for Sao and Brown on the bench with Fash.

“The exciting thing is Ben McNamara will come into the team,” Hodgson added.

“We’re excited about what he’s done in pre-season, it gives him a chance to show what he can do. As a group, we’re confident that when Ben comes in, he can fill that void.

“He’s a confident boy, he continues asking questions and he’s learning his role within the group. But we’re excited to see how he can go, we think he’s developed in the off-season and he’ll have some help around him inside and outside him to protect him.”

This coach doesn't obviously like the wholesale changes we have seen in the past and believes that players train for positions and that straight replacements for injured players are the way to go. That is certainly good fro team spirit and morale in the group and he seems very keen on that!

With Sneyd and Connor pulling the strings and a good platform from the forwards I'm sure he will do fine. He did ok when he got chances last year, and now he has another pre season under his belt and will be coming into a more stable and structured side. Great opportunity for him.

Its a blow to lose a player of the quality of Reynolds especially as to how well he has started the season in the first two games and what he brings but woth Sneyd looking as though he will be fit that does lessen the loss of Reynolds a little.

To be honest the Fev game has probably come at the right time as it gives BH the the chance to give McNamara the opportunity to take his chance and show what he can do. He did well last year when thrown in which the experience will certainly have helped him develop along with a preseason under the new regime.

I don't think there should be any question of moving Jake or Carlos as we have a young guy in McNamara who has the skills to do the job so feel putting square pegs in round holes again would be the wrong way to go. We have players in the squad for that particular position and unless they are given the chance they and we will never improve. Jake and Carlos have both been in good form at FB and centre and should carry on in those positions.
This is why proper structures needed to be in place within the club so we dont have a collapse and need to move players around instead simply slot in the fringe players in their positions ala St's and Wigan.
Our problems before were because we clearly had poor or little structures in place so everyhting fell apart with one or two injuries and why we seemed to have to revert to the square pegs in round holes syndrome.

The Fev game is a good test of not only for McNamara but the 17 matchday squad, the coaching set up and the systems and structures they have implemented. It will also be a good indication as to where we are at.

ATEOTD is we have players in the 1st team squad that are there because they have been good enough to be selected as members of the 1st team squad and are training in their positions then then should be given the opportunity when injuries occur. If not then why bother having them in the squad if there is no faith to put them in the 17 when needed.
I think BH is a strong advocate of playing players in their positions rather than make shift options and in his early media interviews that is the message that seemd to come across from him that all players in the 1st team squad will be given opportunities.

So that's Shaul, Reynolds, Sao, Matongo out. Maybe Sneyd. Fairly similar to most teams ATM.

Hopefully just misses the three Super League games this month.

McNamara showed last year he is more than capable of stepping up.

Every team seems to be missing a few. 2 starters missing (I'm classing Shaul as a back up) is better than most. It doesn't sound like Sao is serious either.

Love the way BH sees it as an opportunity more than anything.

Just play off Connors shoulder young Ben McNamara and you'll do fine

Indeed he did and I think with the experience he gained last year and another pre season under his belt he’ll be better for it. Also along with Brett Hodgson as coach and the changes he’s implemented in the ethos around the game, training and attitude etc and the structures will help even more.

Yep i would be happy if we were missing the same number as you guys .

He's out for up to 6 weeks https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/56662895

He's out for up to 6 weeks https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/56662895

The chances of Sneyd and JR being able to play together 75% of the season are already about shot

This is the reality and we need a 6 to slot in

I’d use Jake at 6 - I really would but BH will make the call

Is anyone better at 6 then Jake compared to who’s better at 1 covering Jake
It’s a % thing I suppose

Interesting - at least we have Fev for the new 6-7 partnership to bed in

I would really love to know where you have seen that Jake is the best option at 6, because I, and everyone else I've spoken to, believe that whilst Jake might be wanting to cement the No6 shirt, he's yet to prove on the pitch that that is his best position. He's had many chances over the last couple of years, yet has proved time and again that his natural flare is far better suited to the centre and full back spots.

It's so refreshing to see Brett doing what we've all wanted for a long time, and that's simply replacing Josh with another player without uprooting several players in the process. Keep the spine as settled as possible and bring Ben in, he's shown that he's more than capable of the challenge.