Sandercock's announced his squad: hullkr.co.uk/robins-19-man-squad-announced-989 Webbo not in the 19. I would load the bench with forwards (O'hara, Paea & Watts) and play Lovegrove as an additional prop at 13. This means Murrell misses out. Its a toss of the coin between Salter and Horne - I think I would go with Salter bearing in mind its looking likely he will be Rovers No4 next season. I get a feeling Rovers are out to pull off a shock win. From what Bonesy was saying confidence is running high and the squad and coaching staff see the Wigan match as one in which to put a marker down. That would really kick-start our season.

Sandercock's announced his squad: hullkr.co.uk/robins-19-man-squad-announced-989 Webbo not in the 19. I would load the bench with forwards (O'hara, Paea & Watts) and play Lovegrove as an additional prop at 13. This means Murrell misses out. Its a toss of the coin between Salter and Horne - I think I would go with Salter bearing in mind its looking likely he will be Rovers No4 next season. I get a feeling Rovers are out to pull off a shock win. From what Bonesy was saying confidence is running high and the squad and coaching staff see the Wigan match as one in which to put a marker down. That would really kick-start our season.

Glad that it looks like Webbo isn't getting straight in over Salter.

Is that O'Hara in the 19 for the first time? Fingers crossed he has a good run from now until end of the season.

You've ruined it now for everyone. I'm not sure (thus can't be bothered to find out) how many times you've predicted wins and we go on to lose and vice versa, but I'm confident enough to think your team predictions have failed 75% of the time. Also, the injury jinx earlier in the season was your fault too.

Right, with your prediction of a win and Bentham as referee - I'm not even gonna' watch the game!

Salter over Horne.
Clinton over Watts?

Slightly surprised that after coming straight into the side after his injury lay-off Netherton isnt included in the 19 this week. Yet Watts who was left out of the 17 last time out is included. Horses for courses i guess.
I hope that Salter keeps his place. Will be a baptism of fire up against Carmont with no doubt Tomkins targeting him aswell but he will learn loads from it.
I think we will line up

McDonnell
Hall
Salter
Welham
Hodgson
Green
Dobson
O'Hara
Withers
Clinton
Mika
Galea
Murrell

Hodgson
Lovegrove
Paea
Taylor


If Clinton doesnt make it/cant be bothered then Lovegrove to start and Horne on the bench.

I'd go with pretty much the same but maybe have Horne in place of Salter for his experience.

The starting front row looks really solid and as long as the team don't concede early penalties and get a fair share of the ball then I think our pack can get on top and I can see that bench doing a lot of damage. There's still the problem of Tomkins to deal with though, in particularly when he runs across the line to create the extra man.

Now that we're virtually at full-strength we'll get a clearer picture of what CS's thoughts are on players like Watts, Clinton, Murrell, Horne and Salter etc. cos I can't see any of the others missing out.

Never an easy game but I think rovers have a chance in this one. richards is a big miss for wigan and they had a tougher game than they might have expected last week and will have one eye on the cup next week. rovers with a week off and another one to look forward to will fancy their chances of an upset. Hold them for the first 20 and you could pick up the points

Yeah I guess you're right;

Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Gelling, Finch, Leuluai, Prescott, McIlorum, Mossop, Hansen, Hock, O'Loughlin, Lauaki, Lima, Farrell & Tuson rarely turn up and play when Richards isn't.

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

You can blame East-Sard for this (he's labelled me a Jonah):

Rovers to win - great odds @ 6/1 scratch

Rovers to score first try - 15/8

Dave Hodgson first try scorer - 12/1

Seeing that he had a very valid point, why don't you change tact and post the opposite? You'd probably become a 98% tipster.

Confirmed team:

McDonnell

Hall
Salter
Whelam
Hodgson

Green
Dobson

Paea
Withers
Taylor
Galea
Mika
Watts

Hodgson
Lovegrove
O'Hara
Clinton

I definitely think we've got the edge in the front-row and as long as the like of Paea, Mika & Watts don't give away penalties then I'm sure we can get on top in the middle.

But then the test will come dealing with the edges where we may find ourselves in trouble.

Glad he's stuck with Salter, surprised Murrell isn't in, could have done with his tackling tonight, too many props for my liking.

At last a 'big hit' by a Rovers player