Ben Crooks had an operation a couple of weeks ago so I seriously doubt that he'd be fit. I thought that he was targeting the playoffs for his return.

Looking at players who have picked up knocks recently, best case scenario for the final would be:

Shaul
Lineham
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Miller
O'Meley
Houghton
Watts
Ellis
Tickle
Westerman

Heremaia
Lynch
Pitts
Whiting


and the worst case scenario would be

Shaul
Crookes
Whiting
Horne
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Miller
O'Meley
Houghton
Watts
Ellis
Westerman
Pitts

Heremaia
Lynch
Green
Johnson

but I imagine that we'll line up somewhere between the two of those.

Listening to Gentle on the radio this morning, sounds like Horne will play

Big mistake to play Horne unless we have no other option IMO. We rushed Kemble back in 85 and he was way out of sorts

I agree. But I reckon it's always been Gentles intention to play him full back at Wembley. My worry is if one of Wigans pacey backs breaks the line Horne's lack of match fitness could cost us

IF Horne gets selected over Shaul then it's sentiment, nothing more.

I reckon it will be


Shaul
Crookes
Whiting
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Miller
O'Meley
Houghton
Watts
Ellis
Tickle
Westerman

Heremaia
Lynch
Pitts
Horne

I know what your saying and Shaul has proved more than worthy of retaining his place but I can see some logic behind selecting Horne although I'm just glad its not my decision to make.

Shaul
Lineham
Crooks
Yeaman
Briscoe
Holdsworth
Miller
Ogre
Houghton
Watts
Tickle
Ellis
Westerman

Whiting
Pitts
Heremaia
Lynch

Good piece www.newsnow.co.uk/A/663028092?-4338:2393

Good piece www.newsnow.co.uk/A/663028092?-4338:2393

If Horne gets picked over Shaul it's inviting criticism if it goes wrong. At this stage, Horne is now the bigger gamble than Shaul.

Totally agree. It's not like Horne has been error free in the times he's played FB and for me the pace of Shaul could be the difference between converting a break into a try at a crucial moment.

This all of the above.

To contemplate let alone select Horne at this late stage with no game time for 3 months would be crazy and for me should not be in the 17 unless we have more injuries.

Shaul should be in the FB slot and if Lineham is not fit then Crookes should go straight in as his replacement on the wing. Horne is neither a winger nor FB and its unfortunate for him to miss out but thats life. We can not carry a player in the 17 that hasn't played for 3 months and no guarantee he is actually fit enough for such an important game experienced or not.

Shaul
Briscoe
Yeaman
Arundel
Lineham
DJ
Miller
Ogre
Houghton
Watts
Ellis
Tickle
Westerman

Lynch
Pitts
Heremaia
Whiting

If Arundel isn't fit then Horne to centre, if Lineham isn't fit then Crookes to the wing.

If Horne isn't fit then Whiting to centre and Green to the bench.

Maybe Gentle would prefer the extra ball playing ability of Horne at FB which Shaul has not yet brought to the side. I don't think that Gentle will pick anyone at all based on sentiment but he might potentially want extra creativity. And at FB a lack of match fitness could be overcome easier. If he picks Horne I could easily see why he would do so and would support the decision 100%. If Shaul gets the nod then that's fine by me as well I just don't dismiss Horne at FB like some on here are doing.