Video interview with Tony Smith who says he will be fielding a strong team against Keighley Cougars with only Benny Westwood, Louis Anderson, Brett Hodgson and Richie Myler absent www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/a ... Page1.html

Video interview with Tony Smith who says he will be fielding a strong team against Keighley Cougars with only Benny Westwood, Louis Anderson, Brett Hodgson and Richie Myler absent www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/a ... Page1.html

Top quote from Tony:

"up & down like a brides nightie" quality

Good to see we are showing our opponents respect but I would have hoped this would be a game to give Woody and Harrison a break. If you check the SL site Woody has been our most impressive forward by a mile and I would go with Coops and Carvell starting which is more than adequate. As O'Brien looks to be getting his chance at 7, Grix could move back to 13 to give Harrison a break too. FWIW I would also rest both Monaghan's.

I assume we don't want Michell and McCarthy cup-tied so they seem the logical replacements for Westwood and Anderson. A bench of Moz, Big Dave, Higham and Blythe would easily do the job for me with Riley at FB for this one.

Here is my team which I think is a good mix of experience and youth:

1 Riley
2 Evans
3 Bridge
4 Atkins
5 King
6 Briers
7 O'Brien
8 Cooper
9 Clarke
10 Carvell
11 Mitchell
12 McCarthy
13 Grix

14 Higham
15 Morley
16 Big Dave
17 Blythe

pretty solid, that, LG
Rests a few, and gives a few runouts. Should be more than adequate to see off a spirited Championship side

Good to see Riles back!

Would expect Evans have a field day on the wing in this one

Surely this is a game where Evans should get a gig at centre?

Yes I agree - I put him down on the wing without thinking that Willams could cover for Joel with Evans perhaps taking Bridge's spot. He seems so much more effective at centre than wing. Good call.

I actually disagree with Tony on this rare occasion - I think our performances have been very much up and down.
We should not have lost at home to Hull and Catalans.
If we want to win the Grand Final and the challenge Cup - which is obviously high on the agenda for everyone connected with the club, we need to be consistent week in, week out.
Everyone is entitled to an off day (Huddersfield twice) but we can't afford too many more slip ups if we want to end up top of the pile.
Personally I would pick my strongest 17 week in week out and only rest players when they were obviously under performing and then give the promising youngsters a chance to shine.

Which team has been more consistent than table-topping Warrington so far this season?

Obviously we are the most consistent of the 14, i just think he wants more of it.

I am not saying any one is more consistent at this stage - I am just stating that I don't think we should be slipping up at home to teams like Catalans and Hull and resting players when they are fully fit.

How very dare you, how very, very dare you! This is the Lord Tony Smith your disagreeing with. Like Tony says he sees them almost daily and knows what knocks or bumps players may have or even how they are feeling to make the decision to rest or drop players. I will go along with Tony in that the teams put out against Hull and Catalans were good enough to win. Were all entitled to our opinion just not to have one against the Lord Tony Smith