Squad is out, Tags back

The full 21-man squad can be found below:

1. Jamie Shaul

2. Bureta Faraimo

3. Carlos Tuimavave

6. Jake Connor

7. Marc Sneyd

8. Scott Taylor

10. Chris Satae

12. Manu Ma’u

13. Ligi Sao

15. Joe Cator

16. Jordan Johnstone

20. Brad Fash

21. Jordan Lane

22. Josh Bowden

23. Andre Savelio

24. Mahe Fonua

26. Kieran Buchanan

28. Lewis Bienek

30. Jack Brown

31. Cameron Scott

35. Ben McNamara

Give McNamara a chance at 6, alongside Sneyd, Connor back to centre, like to see Buchanan giving another go. Won’t happen though

Shaul
Buchanan
Carlos
Fonau
Fariamo
Connor
Sneyd/McNamara
Tag
Johnstone
Fash
Ma'u
Lane
Sao
Subs
Satae
Savelio
Brown
Cator
If SneYd not fit I'd give young Macca a run and I'd have Cator covering 9 and 13

With Grif missing, not a bad option, I’d drop Fonua for KB

I think Sneyd missed the last game because of a Covid precaution, so should be fit.

Move Jake mate

Agree with that I'd drop Fonua and put Buchanan in too as Fonua's consistent errors are killing us.Put Connor back at centre in place of Griff and give young McNamara a run at 6 alongside Sneyd.

I’d give McNamara a go. We have nothing to lose, and it will create a bit if interest for us if nothing else.
I’d play Bienek as well. We’ve seen what everyone else can do so throw him in.

It depends what the priority of the season is now, is it to win games or player development (And looking at next season) , if it's the latter then there is no point in playing Buchanan, we might as well either play Fonua (To get his confidence back ) or Scott who is with us next season.

I would think its probably both but with things as they are this season, for me it would have to be about winning games over development right now due to the current situation. The club needs fans to stick with it and the best way of doing that is by winning and with improved performances. Which is why I put Buchanan in ahead of Scott as so far he has looked the better player and seems to have more pace.

Looking to next season would be ok if we could go to games and the club were getting the income stream from gate receipts and sponsorship but sadly these numbers will not doubt drop due to less disposable income for fans and companies having less capital available for sponsorship. The other concern is that due to the length of time of not being able to attend games I have found that I myself have lost some interest in the game and other things have slotted in to life as it is now. I know Wilf himself has also alluded to feeling that way too so its also another possible impact that even taking out finances some fans maybe wont return for some time until they get the interest back or pay for games with the way the team have been performing for some time.

So its now more important than ever before that the team find some form and put a run of wins and performances together.

Some fair points Chris,

Persoanlly I'd play Fonua, as he is a better player than he is showing and I think he just needs a really good game to get his confidence back, so I'd go with.

Shaul
Faraimo
Connor
Carlos
Fonua
Mcnamara
Sneyd

As I say under normal circumstances I would agree that development comes first but right now its got to be about survival and the best way to help is by winning games. The game as a whole is in for a very bumpy ride over the next year or so and its not alone in that.

I agree Fonua is a better player than he is showing but again its catch 22 do we continue to play him and try and hope he finds his form at the risk of continued errors or sit him for a week to help him focus and work on his performance in training. Mahe Fonua on form is a real threat but so far since he returned to the club he hasn't looked anything like the player that left us to return to the NRL. Maybe having Carlos alongside him will help him with his defence in terms of being so wayward postionally but its the handling errors that are a concern and in particular the area of the field these are happening.

He is not going to play Mcnamara yet whilst he thinks he has a chance of the coaching job
I also agree he will stick with Fonua

Suspect will stick with strongest team in the short term, hoping to win games.

One or two more defeats will surely bring some youth into the team for player development.

Continue to be bemused by the Bienik situation ?? Constantly ignored & then suddenly in the squad ahead of Masi without a word of explanation ???

Cas have a few missing, this game feels like last chance saloon for the loser.