19 man squad : Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:53 am  

http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/1882 same as last week, with a similar result please! I really hope he keeps Kyle at 7.

http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/1882 same as last week, with a similar result please! I really hope he keeps Kyle at 7.

: Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:59 am  

And the ref is Gareth Hewer. Have we had him before? I can't recall.

: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:02 pm  

MickeyMo wrote:

And the ref is Gareth Hewer. Have we had him before? I can't recall.

Isn't he the one who looks like he's 14? I think he has refereed a minor game for us previously, unless I was commenting on his youthful looks on a TV game, but I can't really remember.

: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:36 pm  

Matty Smith and Ste Tyrer may play against us http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 115367.stm Gidley to have a late fitness test on his knee. Any news on Wheeler? As long is back, i'd expect kyle and longy to interchange at 7 and centre

Matty Smith and Ste Tyrer may play against us http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 115367.stm Gidley to have a late fitness test on his knee. Any news on Wheeler? As long is back, i'd expect kyle and longy to interchange at 7 and centre

: Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:49 pm  

Wheeler
Dixon
Cayless

All Injured

Jonny Lomax wont be risked. Took a knee to his back last week.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:16 am  

I'm suprised we haven't brought in one of the young props and rested Jammer.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:45 am  

It's all well and good for fans to argue that in home games such as these where the opposition is heavily outgunned a greater number of kids should be played. But there's an important and rarely mentioned truth standing in the way of any coach with such notions: the players. Aside from a bruised sense of pride over being 'rested' there are financial implications also. Most players have win bonuses written into their contracts. Depending on the club these may be modest (on top of a generous flat wage) or substantial (on top of a modest flat wage). The latter is obviously geared toward improving on-the-field performance through incentivisation. Either way - a player can become more than a bit miffed if he's missing out on money which he thinks he's earned as his entitlement. Anybody who ... well ... works knows the kind of serious discontent 'money issues' can cause in the workplace. Which is precisely what a coach is seeking to avoid when building a cohesive team based on a foundation of mutual respect and trust.

Perhaps it's better to avoid the aggro - or ditch win bonuses altogether. Is there any evidence they work, anyhow?

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:57 am  

Mugwump wrote:

It's all well and good for fans to argue that in home games such as these where the opposition is heavily outgunned a greater number of kids should be played. But there's an important and rarely mentioned truth standing in the way of any coach with such notions: the players. Aside from a bruised sense of pride over being 'rested' there are financial implications also. Most players have win bonuses written into their contracts. Depending on the club these may be modest (on top of a generous flat wage) or substantial (on top of a modest flat wage). The latter is obviously geared toward improving on-the-field performance through incentivisation. Either way - a player can become more than a bit miffed if he's missing out on money which he thinks he's earned as his entitlement. Anybody who ... well ... works knows the kind of serious discontent 'money issues' can cause in the workplace. Which is precisely what a coach is seeking to avoid when building a cohesive team based on a foundation of mutual respect and trust.

Perhaps it's better to avoid the aggro - or ditch win bonuses altogether. Is there any evidence they work, anyhow?

I'm fairly certain win bonus's went out with the salary cap, along with appearence fees etc.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:02 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

It's all well and good for fans to argue that in home games such as these where the opposition is heavily outgunned a greater number of kids should be played. But there's an important and rarely mentioned truth standing in the way of any coach with such notions: the players. Aside from a bruised sense of pride over being 'rested' there are financial implications also. Most players have win bonuses written into their contracts. Depending on the club these may be modest (on top of a generous flat wage) or substantial (on top of a modest flat wage). The latter is obviously geared toward improving on-the-field performance through incentivisation. Either way - a player can become more than a bit miffed if he's missing out on money which he thinks he's earned as his entitlement. Anybody who ... well ... works knows the kind of serious discontent 'money issues' can cause in the workplace. Which is precisely what a coach is seeking to avoid when building a cohesive team based on a foundation of mutual respect and trust.

Perhaps it's better to avoid the aggro - or ditch win bonuses altogether. Is there any evidence they work, anyhow?

Valid point, my thoughts on resting Jammer hark from the days of 2006 when we rotated our props weekly, with one of the 5 (Baloo, JC, Fa'as, Jammer and the Fozz) being left out in turn. Come the play offs, this imo really stood us in good stead. I didn't consider the point you've raised.

Obviously, back then Graham had genuine competetion (and alot of it) whereas now, well, he hasn't got any. So if your point about wages is correct, is a very good point. Although, someone could explain to Jammer that it would be false economy long term to push his body too much now in order to play, possibly causing him to miss more games down the line.

I don't imagine Jammer being too proud about being rested for this one, Celtic are way adrift at the bottom, and it would be obvious we were doing it for the good of the team come the business end of the season - he could even take a little pride in that.