JH has just announced Coote wont be fit for semi.
Also Knowles got a knock and might not play, but JH says he’s hopeful.
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JH has just announced Coote wont be fit for semi.
Also Knowles got a knock and might not play, but JH says he’s hopeful.
If our first choice forwards are all playing then I'd say Welsby at full back. I'd rather give the lad a taster of a big game when he's less likely to be under massive pressure defensively, than move others around in key positions
Tommy to fullback and Swift on wing
Richardson in for me. I can see the logic behind Welsby but the last thing we need in a big game is a shaky full back. It might ‘only’ be Halifax but they’re wise enough to target a chink in the armour.
Thought he had a better game than the previous visit but he still came up with decision errors, Lomax at full back for me and Welsby on the bench. If we put Welsby in at at the start Scott Murrell will pepper him with high balls with a couple of the big men following up the kick knowing its a 50-50 tactic.
As for Coote I hope its not an occurrence of an old knee injury he had a couple of seasons back.
Tough call. I think we lose a lot in the halves with Lomax going from 6 to 1, but I'd be more comfortable with that option. For Welsby, its a big pressure game given what happened against Catalan last year but in the nicest way possible its Halifax and we should still have more than enough as long we play well.
Agree. I accept we should beat them even with a few injuries. But if JH does not just do the obvious (Lomax at FB and Danny with Fages) he’s got the jitters. This is not the time to give Welsby another chance. It’s a BBC TV semi regardless of who we play. The day will be different to anything he’s experienced. He does need it and we don’t.
#footnote#.
Hope if Danny gets the shout he doesn’t think it’s all about Danny as it’s a TV game!
I was there too - up from Canterbury (England, not Oz) - and I think Welsby was much better than last time. I don't think he dropped a high ball, though the team as a whole let one or two Broncos' kicks bounce, especially in the first half. He made a lovely break down the middle towards the end (pity that ended badly though). If we'd done a bit more at 14-12 the result could have gone the other way. That pitch is horrible. Saints fans were really loud and supportive.
Aye, you're right he isn't but I like the idea of him returning the ball at what should be a broken and tired defense. Top and bottom is once we get on top in the forwards we should paste them, even if we have a couple out.
That said I wouldn't be against Lomax at FB but certainly not in favour of Welsby, I think he's more of a stand off anyway.
I don't think I would take the chance of Lomax getting injured by switching him to fullback. No disrespect to Halifax but we should be winning with anyone at fullback.
Richardson will need to play for his goal kicking if nothing else. It shouldn’t matter but coming away with 6 points after a try is much better than 4.
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I think anything apart from Lomax at 1 with Fages and Richardson at 6 & 7 is ludicrous, they are all experienced in those positions. Plus, it's their shirt numbers anyway so that's 2 reasons [emoji23]
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I guess a lot depends how long Coote is likely to be out.
If it's just this game we can get by with pretty much any combination.
If it's going to be a few weeks we need to get a combination on place that can cope with tougher opponents
I’m sure I read that he went for a scan last week? The fact that he’s having another scan today is a bit worrying. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious.