Taia our for ‘around 6 weeks’ according to Saints’ website.
I suspect we’ll see Paulo/LMS start at 13 and Knowles move to second row.
Would like to see Bentley/Batchelor get an opportunity though.
Taia our for ‘around 6 weeks’ according to Saints’ website.
I suspect we’ll see Paulo/LMS start at 13 and Knowles move to second row.
Would like to see Bentley/Batchelor get an opportunity though.
I think we'll see Bentley get more game time now. Maybe not so much against Warrington, as Paulo/LMS/Knowles selection will be in place for that, but certainly in the games after. I don't think we'll see Batchelor in the team anytime soon.
I think 6 weeks is better than was originally predicted. He should be fully match fit and refreshed for the play offs.
Bizarrely it's positive news he's only out that long. Was worried he'd miss Wembley if we get there!
Would like to have Paulo at 13 and Knowles second row for Friday. Big chance for Paulo now to get some game time and hopefully prove his worth.
Bentley/Batchelor will get some games in the back row now you'd think. Looking at the fixtures London (a), Wakey (h) and Leeds (a) (week before final) would be the chances for them to get some big minutes. Hull away and Wigan next two we need to be at full strength IMO.
Was expecting longer and him missing out on some big games. Reasonably good news.
I'd like to see what Paulo could do at SR.
We don't use Taia as a battering ram, and he looks his best when as a ball-playing second rower to draw in the defence and pop out a good pass to Percival, who then has more space. Given Paulo has that ability to pick a pass and doesn't look slower than Taia, I have a sneaky feeling he could excel at left SR for us. I've no concerns so far with Paulo's defence either, although it's done mostly in the middle so I don't know whether his lateral defence is up to it.
I would start LMS as left side second row and leave Knowles at loose forward to control the middle and cover for Blake Austins breaks. Paulo plays a tight short game so for me Paulo and Bentley to cover the back row interchanges. For Taia its more important to recover correctly and not to try and rush back we've got squad depth.
6 weeks isn’t too bad. He looked in some pain on Friday night. Any word on Percival?
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
I can see Bentley being 100% in the 19 now.
roy litherland it's happened i told you it would
Better news than expected on Taia, it's 8-9 weeks till Wembley so he'd be fit for that presuming we get there.
I think Holbrook will try a few different combinations over the next few weeks, but Knowles into the 2nd row, LMS at loose, Paulo bench seems the best option to me or Bentley 2nd row, Knowles loose if he wants more speed and mobility. I suppose it depends on who we're playing and the size of their back row.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
Losing Taia is a blow but gives him the opportunity to rest up and get fit for the business end of the season, I and others on here noted he tired at the end of last season.
Also as I am currently nursing a fractured shoulder myself I wish him a speedy and comfortable recovery!!
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
Yep Knowles to hooker for me. Bentley played well, but Knowles offered more. Also Knowles to hooker strengthens our defence.
Bentley to second row and lms to loose.
Paulo, I can see what he tries to do and he does distribute well but he's not a half, he's a pack player so I want to see him hit the line, not always pass before it.