Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:11 pm  

Ashton
Crowther
Currie
Drinkwater
Dufty
Fitzgibbon
Harrison
Hayes
Holroyd
King
Musgrove
Nicholson
Philbin
Powell
Ratchford
Tai
Thewlis
Vaughan
Walker
Whitehead
Williams

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:11 pm  

Wow who do you leave out.

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:12 pm  

Looks like Tai keeps the spot no Wrench

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:28 pm  

Wrench decision is a big one. Tai is a strong lad but needs to get himself more involved in the action from what I've seen before the season and last week ... it's bound to come.
Goalkicking is another real issue & is very important. Drinkwater used to kick & this might just tip it in his direction. I suppose whether our experienced half-backs are actually fit might also sway it.

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:40 pm  

Unless Williams is 100% I wouldn't be playing him, last time he played with a niggle it was aggravated and he was set back a few weeks, Ratchford & Hayes are fine at half back. Drinkwater shouldn't come back in fit or not.

4th Prop / back row is where the biggest question marks lie I think, I'd like Holroyd to keep his place, I'd be tempted to put Crowther & Nicholson on the bench and give Phlbin the week off, he's placed some decent minutes over the past few weeks, but Catalan are a big old team, we need some size out there.

Dufty
Thewlis
Tai
King
Ashton
Ratchford
Hayes
Harrison
Walker
Vaughan
Fitzgibbon
Holroyd
Currie

Powell
Musgrove
Crowther
Nicholson

Left out Williams, Drinkwater, Whitehead, Philbin

however I have a sneaky suspicion Holroyd will drop out and Nicholson will move up in to the starting 13 with Philbin on the bench. (I'd like to see Currie stay at 13 though.....)

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:00 pm  

karetaker wrote:

Looks like Tai keeps the spot no Wrench

or ratch at centre, kicking.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:02 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

Unless Williams is 100% I wouldn't be playing him, last time he played with a niggle it was aggravated and he was set back a few weeks, Ratchford & Hayes are fine at half back. Drinkwater shouldn't come back in fit or not.

4th Prop / back row is where the biggest question marks lie I think, I'd like Holroyd to keep his place, I'd be tempted to put Crowther & Nicholson on the bench and give Phlbin the week off, he's placed some decent minutes over the past few weeks, but Catalan are a big old team, we need some size out there.

Dufty
Thewlis
Tai
King
Ashton
Ratchford
Hayes
Harrison
Walker
Vaughan
Fitzgibbon
Holroyd
Currie

Powell
Musgrove
Crowther
Nicholson

Left out Williams, Drinkwater, Whitehead, Philbin

however I have a sneaky suspicion Holroyd will drop out and Nicholson will move up in to the starting 13 with Philbin on the bench. (I'd like to see Currie stay at 13 though.....)

i'd rather have bullock in the squad than philbin, hopefully we're just being careful with him and he's not picked up another niggle.

macnamara would be somewhat concerned about that squad though.

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:48 pm  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

i'd rather have bullock in the squad than philbin, hopefully we're just being careful with him and he's not picked up another niggle.

macnamara would be somewhat concerned about that squad though.

I agree with you about Bullock. Philbin can play big minutes and is energetic but for me is just too small as part of a four man team of props. Bullock has been quite destructive when fit.

Interesting (and positive) selection problems though for a change!

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:19 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

Unless Williams is 100% I wouldn't be playing him, last time he played with a niggle it was aggravated and he was set back a few weeks, Ratchford & Hayes are fine at half back. Drinkwater shouldn't come back in fit or not.

4th Prop / back row is where the biggest question marks lie I think, I'd like Holroyd to keep his place, I'd be tempted to put Crowther & Nicholson on the bench and give Phlbin the week off, he's placed some decent minutes over the past few weeks, but Catalan are a big old team, we need some size out there.

Dufty
Thewlis
Tai
King
Ashton
Ratchford
Hayes
Harrison
Walker
Vaughan
Fitzgibbon
Holroyd
Currie

Powell
Musgrove
Crowther
Nicholson

Left out Williams, Drinkwater, Whitehead, Philbin

however I have a sneaky suspicion Holroyd will drop out and Nicholson will move up in to the starting 13 with Philbin on the bench. (I'd like to see Currie stay at 13 though.....)

Just one prop on the bench against Catalans pack seems unlikely.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Squad for Catalan : Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:26 pm  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

i'd rather have bullock in the squad than philbin, hopefully we're just being careful with him and he's not picked up another niggle.

macnamara would be somewhat concerned about that squad though.

We are looking quite balanced when listed but particularly so when you consider that Burgess and Co have had players successfully switching positions even during a game.

This should hopefully stand us in good stead spreading the load with squad rotation, injury cover and keeping everyone on their toes