Well Connor made a miraculous recovery so you never know

Centre it is

So no one back this week from injury and also minus suspended Sao and Wynne, rlvery slim pickings indeed.rl. Also sounds like Mau, Griffin and Swift may well be way of returning anytime soon judging from Hodgsons comments.

Connor/Smith
Walker
Simm
Mitch
McIntosh
Smith/Connor
Gale
Evans
Lovodua
Brown
Lane
Longstaff
Fash

Laidlaw
Taylor
Balmforth
Severs

Taylor lucky in that he'll be in the 17 more out of necessity rather than form. As much as I'd like to see Barron or Martin on the wing not sure we have enough experience in the centre's to do it. Not sure if to keep Connor at 6 with Smith at FB or have Connor at FB with Smith at 6.

Doing it tough.

Maybe give Lewis Martin a go on one wing?

water boy

Walker
Martin
Simm
Mitch
Mcintosh

Connor
Gale

Evans
Houghton
Brown
Lane
Longstaff
Lovodua

Laidlaw
Fash
Smith
Taylor?

Can't go with Simm, Longstaff and Martin.

I think Smith will play centre, with the amount of players out, we can't have an experienced NRL player sat on the bench for half ten game.

I've seen BH describe him as a 14, so that's why I stuck him on the bench. Ellam has indicated Smith at centre, so we could well see him there.

Full strength he may play off the bench, but now needs must.

Smith for Wynne
Laidlaw for Dai
Balmforth for JJ

Keep the rest the sake, not a lot else we can do at the moment.

Who knows with Brett's interchange policy, as long has he doesn't get the 17th mans come on at 77 minutes role

Walker would be a disaster on the wing so leave him at full back and play Walker or Barron on the wing.
We have played young lads on the wing before and speed and fitness will be a major factor in this game
Gale is doing nothing in my opinion so play Connor and the new man Smith in the halves or move Connor to centre.
Its also time to see what Simm can do at centre therefore we could move Mitch to the wing.
One thing is certain he will find a position for Johnstone

Squad announced.
As rubbish as we've been lately those squad numbers are still crazy.

1 – Jake Connor
5 – Darnell McIntosh
7 – Luke Gale
9 – Danny Houghton
13 – Jordan Lane
14 – Joe Lovodua
16 – Kane Evans
17 – Brad Fash
20 – Jack Brown
21 – Jordan Johnstone
25 – Mitieli Vulikijapani
27 – Jacob Hookem
30 – Scott Taylor
31 – Charlie Severs
32 – Harvey Barron
34 – Davy Litten
35 – Matty Laidlaw
36 – Jack Walker
37 – Josh Simm
38 – Ellis Longstaff
40 – Will Smith

Tough one to call this do you play Connor centre and lose his creativity but it will be for the good of the team as we only have Mitch available, Play Smith 6 or I have a feeling we will put Lover centre. Got a feeling he might use Smith as a 13.
Walker
Mac
Mitch
Lover
Simm
Connor
Gale
Evans
Mint
Tag
Lane
Longstaff
Brown
Subs
Fash
Laidlaw
JJ
Smith

I'd play Simm at centre and put Barron on the wing.

Simm is a centre rather than a winger so I’d put him in at centre question is would there be enough experience with a back line of Simm and Longstaff to go with Barron on the wing . I’d prefer to start with Lovodua at 9 too. Smith probably in the halves of at 13.
I worry we end up with the likes of Houghton, Lovodua, Smith & Johnstone all in the 17 and on the field at the same time. If Houghton is the 17 then no point having JJ anywhere near the 17. Disappointing that there’s still no Balmforth but as someone alluded too maybe his fitness is sn issue though think he’d be more effective than others that get selected.