he would certainly win a footrace between himself,Connor and Griffin

Confirmed Savelio is fit for Friday.

Great news

Surely if Hodgson, retakes control from the players, and insists we work our forwards instead of impersonating the harken globe trotters we win this comfortably.

Set the platform, quick ball to Reynolds, draw the defense, ball to Connor, try time

Lane should play Coach has had a week fix his issues whatever they were

Smith and Minchella re-signing pre Friday are the worst disguised manufactured TBs of recent years. Especially how they've tee'd up Minchella as an arbitrary litmus test of Rovers status. Classic stuff.

Rovers are favourites of course, aren't they Cocker? We'll just enjoy our underdogs tag and take our punishment.

I know it’s the usual Barista tactic to do in essence what she’s done in this thread but it’s getting a bit tedious isn’t it.

I believe it’s a genuine 50/50

My concern is your pack, could easily steamroll us and create the space for Connor. I wouldn’t be surprised if we spent a lot of time with 2 hookers on and made them do extra D, keep the ball in play and tire the big boys out. Don’t get the energy levels right it won’t work.

Derbies are big for both, but I do believe the onus is on you to get a result which fills me with dread. I think somebody mentioned earlier in the thread sarcastically that you perform well after a bad performance but it feels like some truth in it, and you are due one.

The side that wants it the most will win. In all seriousness you're at home, in form, in front of a sellout crowd and 3 years between derby drinks. If you can't get deliver in that context maybe the GF chat pre season could be construed as a bit hasty x

Same squad as last week.

Connor
Swift
Griffin
Carlos (if fit, if not Mitchy)
Mcintosh
Reynolds
Gale
Sao
Houghton
Satae
Savelio
Mau
Lovodua

Evans
Fash
Brown
Lane

Personally would like to see Lovodua get a proper chance at Hooker, but can't see Hodgson changing things up before a derby. I'm just hoping he goes away from the idea of having two backs on the bench

Aye having seen the respective squads our pack is just too lightweight.

No vete, no Garrett, sims supposedly not playing even though in the 21.

Means relying on Will Maher & Greg Richards, dependable but not exactly meter eaters.

I’d have you lads in as slight favourites but as I said in previous post we do have momentum so balances it out. Genuine 50/50

I hope those making the journey enjoy it and it’s good to have some big games to look forward too again

I'm not so sure that weakens you.

Probably a fair point

Pleased to read Gales comments today, about how we need to set a platform this week and play on the back of it. I think we l see a repeat of the Leeds away game plan. An insistence on Satae, Sao, Evans, Savelio, Mau, Brown and Fash grinding Rovers down, through the middle.

If we do that and complete our sets of 6, it's a comfortable win for me.

Start with the sloppy errors and forced play to the backs Then it's a dog fight.

Takarangi's bottled it i see.