I agree but i can see him playing it safe using Houghton in the halves
As you say if that is the case why bring Hookem from his loan deal just to sit in the stands.
Now we have a strong forward line up this is an ideal game for Hookem play.
Hodgson makes some strange decisions at times especially when he leaves a player on the bench without game time

He does but win tomorrow and we are 4th having played everyone which isn't too shabby.

Super league is littered with average players , even saints have average players in their squad . It’s a salary cap sport . I’ve seen a lot worse players then Johnstone at hull and in the league . Entitled to your opinion, but gets a bit tedious at every opportunity. Just thought it might be personal with him ! Plus I never mentioned him as a top player .

He hasn't been at the training ground the last 2 days

Most of us had a melt down at the line up against Leeds and it was one of our best performances so far.

I'm still confident we can turn them over if we have the right attitude.

I don't mind Johnstone as a squad player. He slots in wherever he's told to and tries his best.

He was in the paper today saying he's settled in the area but we've not offered him a contract yet. I wonder if Rovers will come sniffing.

Well if Connor is out, in addition to Gale, Reynolds and McNamara, we're knackered in the pivots. Pretty clear why you'd need to include Johnstone in there if true.


I think we'll lose this one. I make that 10 unavailable if Connor is missing, can't see where the assists will come from. Said earlier this year Toulouse will surprise a few and they've run some good clubs close.

surely we should not be worrying about not beating Toulouse tomorrow irrespective of who we play at halfback and full back

wont need many assists if our forwards do their job

They beat Saints of course.

BH has put a big emphasis on attitude and consistency this season. It'll be a big test of those traits for me.

Let's not forget a newly promoted Leigh turned us over at home in 2018. Their only SL away win.

Play like we did against Cats, Wire or even Wigan we should win. Turn up like we did against Cas or Rovers and we'll get what we deserve

Saints don't have anyone as average as Johnstone, they use young players instead.

Might as well send Hookem out of loam for the season if we aren't going to play him when we have 3 halfbacks injured playing bottom of the league at home. What kind of message does it send out for young players when you choose to play a hooker who I don't think has ever started a SL game at scrum half in front of you?

If decent defence is our main criteria for picking our scrum half against bottom of the league at home, then you have to worry about our coach.

I'm still hoping the information is wrong and Johnstone is on the bench to play his main position or even as loose forward.

I

Hope we are switched on tomorrow.
Saints pushed close by a weakened Salford. Dobbins got turned over by a weakened Leeds.

Re. Johnstone debate. Tbh I’ve always been a fan of his. Not sure of his best position. He’s quite like Fash in that he can play hooker or loose forward. I’d love to see hookem or litten play but end of the day we don’t know the players capabilities like the coaching staff do.
ie the fitness, strength stamina etc.
i would add that Hodgson has played the game to a very high standard , us mere armchair fans have not. I would trust his views personally.

Every game in SL is tough, seen a lot of fans mocking Rovers on Twitter, might be best to wait until tomorrow for that.

Think both teams have one eye on next week, goidxwin for Leeds with the team they had out, lots of young kids stepping up for them at the moment which will help them long term.