Akauola
Ashton
Austin
Charnley
Clark
Clark
Currie
Hughes
Hill
King
Lineham
Longstaff
Mamo
Mulhern
Philbin
Ratchford
Thewlis
Walker
Widdop
Williams
Wrench

Presumably Sita will be selected for a cameo performance given Cooper’s unavailability.

Questions, do you return ratch to fb, or stick with ashtons pace, and have him on the bench as cover
(For everything I guess)

Doro not even in the squad.

I would prefer him to Akauola.

I'd prefer herpes to Akauola

A bit unfair that IMO.

He's no worse than good old Roy and presumably not on the same wedge Also we don't know whether it's all down to him or the coach.

You play Ratch at full back, surely.

I think the question is which one of Ashton/Thewlis/Lineham plays left wing.

Bench will be interesting too. Can we carry Walker and one of the above/Austin?

Agreed.

Thewlis hasn't warranted being dropped, so even though I have concerns we'll miss his go forward in the latter stages of the play offs (should we get there) I think Thewlis keeps his place.

Ratchford
Charnley
Mamo
King
Thewlis
Williams
Widdop
Hill
Clark
Mulhern
Hughes
Currie
Philbin

Sita
Clark
Longstaff
Walker

Although I personally would probably look to have one of Mulhern or Philbin on the bench so that the drop off is not as noticeable.

I don't think the Austin experiment has worked, and I wouldn't want to risk it in the play offs, Longstaff is the better second rower - assuming Price uses him

A lot of unknowns regarding just how fit everyone is at the end of the season.

You can play Walker as a genuine interchange Hooker, in order to spell D Clark, or you can use J Clark or Ratchford in case of injury. Moving a player who's already done a lot of minutes up to Dummy Half doesn't give you that same injection of pace that you get from bringing a fresh pair of legs off the bench.

If everyone is as near fit as is possible this far in then I think that he'll start with J Clark at 13, Hill and Mulhern as starting props, Philbin and Akauola off the bench, Walker as interchange then it's between Longstaff and Austin for final place on the bench. I think that he'll stick with Thewlis on the wing despite Ashton's MotM performance last week.

Your wish has been granted.

Are you referring to Herr Pes that famous German prop? Apparently he has blistering pace.

Apart from Lineham we obviously don't fully know how fit the lads are that have been MIA due to knocks. I know it's sudden death RL AND WITHOUT JINXING ANYTHING but do we think that there's still an element of squad management left in the competition?

This isn't meant a pee take but for example it might mean us starting with Lineham to get him into contention for the next round IF we can pull off a win whilst having Ashton at FB and Ratchford on the bench would give us cover options and means that mighty only have to go with one of D Clark or Walker if they aren't quite ready.

Interesting selection for Price, yes we will miss Cooper but the emergence and form of Ashton Thewliss and Longstaff does give us something to think about ...my head hurts, so perhaps strongest 17 this week and worry about next week IF we get there