If thats the case and i hope its not.....i hope its Big Al whose doubtful of the 3
If any combination apart from Lomax and Fages in the halves I worry for Coote making Wembley
If he was 50/50 for Leeds he must be in full training just not 100%. Lets hope so Eddie
All 3 for for next week according to Holbrook.
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
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Challenge Cup (13) - 1955–56, 1960–61, 1965–66, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2021
World Club Challenge (3) - 2001, 2007, 2023
League Leader's Shield (9) - 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022
It’s a huge gamble to pick a player who isn’t 100% fit at Wembley. Hopefully JH knows what he’s doing, otherwise it could be a long game if we pick up a couple of early injuries.
Barring an injury, I would leave Richardson at 7 for Wembley. He deserves to keep the shirt and he can take the kicks.
Not for me. In a final we need to be able to play a patient game, and we are a more rash and less patient team with Richardson at 7. I think Richardson has shown some good progress over the last few weeks and may well turn out to be our first choice 7 in the not too distant future, but not in this cup final for me.
I agree, not only because Richardson has improved. But because it is unlikely coote will be at the top of his game with so many weeks off.
Practice helps you form habits and it there is one thing coote has not been doing its kicking whilst in a leg brace.
And certainly not kicking (place or field) whilst under pressure. Far easier for him to pick up his full-back game with the cover of other players around him.
Kicking is a solo job and if he can't cover it, there will be no one else on the field to do it.
I think the final will be a lot closer than people think so having a proper goal kicker who is capable of match winning penalties, goals and drop goals could be vital. We have to ignore the 3 league games we’ve played against Warrington this year and treat it as a one off game. 8 of our team have played in a major final before but not recently whereas Wire have played 4 finals in the last 3 years. Yes they’ve lost them all but the experience in those situations could be crucial. Coote won’t have been kicking and Makinson/Percival etc are not viable options so for me, Richardson has to play.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
The idea that Richardson should play (and partner Fages) instead of Coote playing because he might kick a couple more conversions is ridiculous when Coote has been outstanding and Richardson has, at best, been average. We’re much better with Coote playing as Richardson is a headless chicken with consistently poor decision making which often results in us losing control of the game. He’s also still a liability defensively as we saw last week. If Coote is able to play he has to be picked, he’s the best full back in the league and you’d have to be stupid to leave him out.
Surely nobody is suggesting Richardson should start if Coote plays? If Coote isn't deemed fit however, I think Richardson should start at 7