Find it odd that a lot was made about Balmforth's efforts in pre season, looked comfortably our best young player in his sole pre-season appearance vs Bradford and didn't disgrace himself in a depleted side against Wire, yet is apparently not ready? Saturday feels like the perfect opportunity to use him off the bench.

Balmforth just looked a bit heavy to me
I’ll trust the Coaches on this one

Having seen Balmforth play a couple of weeks back, I have no issue with his current omission. However what Smith has said clearly should apply to others, but it clearly doesn't.

If this was true, we wouldnt be able to raise a team

Im going on saturday. glad Smith has come clean about Balmforth stops spurious speculation ive seen. easy response to our form is sack TS. Its a club issue. We need investment AS has thrown lots of money at it- its not a bottomless pit. Not going/ protesting doesnt aid the problem it adds to it. Were blooding young players because we have to. its hard viewing but i enjoy rugby league and will try to support even in defeat as peed off as i get

Thanks for the info, regarding Balmforth, What was the issue regarding his performance?

Think you can only really play one of Moy or Charles.

I'd give Laidlaw a go over Gardiner too, nothing really to lose

or it could be that he realises Smith doesnt rate him or like him so he knows he will have to find another club next season or whilst Smith is here.
To play a decent 40 minutes at Warrington then not get a look in since speaks volumes and can only dishearten the player.
This coach is deluded.To come out and say you play if you are in form is nonsense.
Its a pity no one questions him then on why Okinbor is still in the team or several others

yet he is still the fastest nine we have on ther books.

Well like everyone else on here you can only guess Balmforth's thought process. He might be mature enough to realise he has to work on his game and his fitness. He admitted a couple of months back that he needed to lose some KGs.

Balmforth, Litten and Tindall in the Reserves squad for tomorrow afternoon.

And Jebson, Reckon Moy on bench Laidlaw 18th man
Hoy
Mac
Scott
Sutcliffe
Martin
Smith
Charles
Ese’ese
Brown
Sao
Lane
Okunbur
Cator
Subs
Brown
Pele
Gardiner
Moy

Balmforth be another Litten and Josh Hodgson will leave and flourish elsewhere IMO

doesnt seem to effect the likes of Jordan Abdull who you could say should lose a few pounds.
He is still the fastest nine we have at the club and i dont buy this lack of fitness excuse
My question to Smith would be what did he do wrong when he played 40 minutes or so at Warrington?
I thought he went ok but since that game he has been left out of the squad completely.
That was the time to give Balmforth a run of three of four games to see what he can do not drop him out of the squad completely.
Balmforth for a young player is already a decent size and build yet it looks like Smith will include a skinny 10 stone young player in Moy on the bench as back up nine on Saturday.
Good luck to the lad but for me it doesnt make any sense

add Jordan Abdull to that list
It has to be some sort of conflict between him and the tinker