[Mild Rover]

Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:38 pm  

Here's their squad: http://www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/Teams/Squad One or two familiar names in there. Mostly pretty unfamiliar to me, and definitely we win on paper. Apparently it'll be a similar 19 for Roveds to the last two games, but I hope we go for a bit more size/power in the 17. It'd be good to see Kavanagh make his bow, if he's ready.

Here's their squad: http://www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/Teams/Squad One or two familiar names in there. Mostly pretty unfamiliar to me, and definitely we win on paper. Apparently it'll be a similar 19 for Roveds to the last two games, but I hope we go for a bit more size/power in the 17. It'd be good to see Kavanagh make his bow, if he's ready.

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:44 pm  

Ratu and Riley aside I don't know any of their players although they look young squad and a few look big units .good test and a real taste of this league we are in.

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:09 pm  

I seem to remember their half back Palfrey pulling all the strings for Oldham when they turned us over in the CC last year.

Their prop forward Tahraoui is one big f**king unit as well. He makes Nuuasaala at Wigan look like a filleted earwig by comparison.

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Fri Feb 17, 2017 12:14 am  

Friend of mine's lad was there last year, all change this year, it'll be one of many fixtures that we go into a bit blind.

Very hard to come up with a game plan, after you get past Plan One, Smash Them.

I'll expand on this later in the competition.

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Fri Feb 17, 2017 2:53 pm  

Think if we turn up with a good attitude, should be a convincing win. Ability wise the two squads are polar opposite. The big question is attitude. Turn up hungry and on a good pitch, we should have more then enough to win comfortably, this is Rochdale remember. With all due respect if we have high ambitions we should be beating these teams with ease.

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:56 pm  

If he's fit I'd be tempted to play Kavanagh instead of Greenwood. That would send out a message with regards poor defensive displays. I reckon its just a blip for Greenwood and might be for one week but if we have competition for places (unlike last year), we shouldn't just keep fielding the regulars if they don't play well enough.

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:08 am  

Gallanteer wrote:

If he's fit I'd be tempted to play Kavanagh instead of Greenwood. That would send out a message with regards poor defensive displays. I reckon its just a blip for Greenwood and might be for one week but if we have competition for places (unlike last year), we shouldn't just keep fielding the regulars if they don't play well enough.

I was expecting Sheens to introduce his first 'rotations' due to Greenwood, Blair and Donaldson's slow starts to the season, and IMO they are fortunate to remain in the 19 to face the Hornets.

My starting 17 is: Quinlan, Shaw, Heffernan, Minns, Moss; Abdull, Ellis; Scruton, Lunt, Kavanagh, Lawler, Donaldson, Addy - Bench: Clark, Blair, Clarkson & Mulhern (Salter & Greenwood to miss out).

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Sat Feb 18, 2017 4:59 pm  

I'm struggling to understand the logic of picking Salter in the Pre match 19-man squad this week. Think we would be better with an interchange forward.

Can somebody enlighten me?

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:20 pm  

Pickering Red wrote:

I'm struggling to understand the logic of picking Salter in the Pre match 19-man squad this week. Think we would be better with an interchange forward.

Can somebody enlighten me?

It's always good to have a prolific try scorer in the squad

Re: Daunting trip to the table-topping hornets : Sat Feb 18, 2017 10:39 pm  

Pickering Red wrote:

I'm struggling to understand the logic of picking Salter in the Pre match 19-man squad this week. Think we would be better with an interchange forward.

Can somebody enlighten me?

Apparently Sheens see's Liam doubling up in the back row?