Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:57 am  

We are not in amazing shape are we?

I don’t think Martin’s recent form deserves selection ahead of other back rowers, but I do think he’s out of sorts after his COVID experience - and I’m not sure he’s happy.

Let’s get Hurrell back on the right working with Eastmond and T Briscoe, and try to develop a settled unit there.

Maybe Alex Sutcliffe or Donno plays on that right edge to shore defence up.

I don’t even know whether I’d go with O’Connor in at 6 or 9 for this. He’s a decent defender with a good engine and from what I’ve seen he has some skill. I know Agar says he’s LF but I’m not sure hooker isn’t a good fit for him.

Problem with Dwyer at 9 for a whole game is that it could kill fluency before we get two passes out of the ruck.

Broadbent, T Briscoe, Hurrell, L Sutcliffe/A Sutcliffe, Handley, Eastmond, O’Connor, Mik, Leeming, Vuniyayawa, Mellor, Walters, Prior: Thompson, Donno, Tindall, Dwyer.

That’s my revised side.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:15 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

We are not in amazing shape are we?

I don’t think Martin’s recent form deserves selection ahead of other back rowers, but I do think he’s out of sorts after his COVID experience - and I’m not sure he’s happy.

Let’s get Hurrell back on the right working with Eastmond and T Briscoe, and try to develop a settled unit there.

Maybe Alex Sutcliffe or Donno plays on that right edge to shore defence up.

I don’t even know whether I’d go with O’Connor in at 6 or 9 for this. He’s a decent defender with a good engine and from what I’ve seen he has some skill. I know Agar says he’s LF but I’m not sure hooker isn’t a good fit for him.

Problem with Dwyer at 9 for a whole game is that it could kill fluency before we get two passes out of the ruck.

Broadbent, T Briscoe, Hurrell, L Sutcliffe/A Sutcliffe, Handley, Eastmond, O’Connor, Mik, Leeming, Vuniyayawa, Mellor, Walters, Prior: Thompson, Donno, Tindall, Dwyer.

That’s my revised side.

Don't think it's fair to say Martin is struggling post COVID or unhappy, just think we've not seen that explosive back rower we thought we'd signed. Adjust from his Steady goal kicking I can't see what else he offersm I know he s one of the ones who was told his fitness and conditioning wasn't his enough back end of kat season too. Hope he can turn it round but may benefit from the motivation of a young lad getting picked ahead of him for a game or two.....

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 8:34 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

We are not in amazing shape are we?

I don’t think Martin’s recent form deserves selection ahead of other back rowers, but I do think he’s out of sorts after his COVID experience - and I’m not sure he’s happy.

Let’s get Hurrell back on the right working with Eastmond and T Briscoe, and try to develop a settled unit there.

Maybe Alex Sutcliffe or Donno plays on that right edge to shore defence up.

I don’t even know whether I’d go with O’Connor in at 6 or 9 for this. He’s a decent defender with a good engine and from what I’ve seen he has some skill. I know Agar says he’s LF but I’m not sure hooker isn’t a good fit for him.

Problem with Dwyer at 9 for a whole game is that it could kill fluency before we get two passes out of the ruck.

Broadbent, T Briscoe, Hurrell, L Sutcliffe/A Sutcliffe, Handley, Eastmond, O’Connor, Mik, Leeming, Vuniyayawa, Mellor, Walters, Prior: Thompson, Donno, Tindall, Dwyer.

That’s my revised side.

Surely if the Sutcliffes are fit both should play.I dont really see the point of having Tindall as a sub.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:40 am  

O'Connor isnt a 9, his distribution will be poor but he would make 50 tackles in the middle of the park. Our current 2 hookers distribution is garbage and they dont make 50 tackles between them!

Nothing is going to change there tho. Leeming will start and Dwyer will come off the bench and it will be that way for this year and next.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:24 pm  

fanstanningley wrote:

Surely if the Sutcliffes are fit both should play.I dont really see the point of having Tindall as a sub.

Not sure on fitness of either Sutcliffe - but I’m sure you’re right that both will play of they are fit.

Tindall gives us cover for injury in back line; you could move Handley to centre or FB for example. You might also replace T Briscoe with him to bring something different if needed later game.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:27 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Not sure on fitness of either Sutcliffe - but I’m sure you’re right that both will play of they are fit.

Tindall gives us cover for injury in back line; you could move Handley to centre or FB for example. You might also replace T Briscoe with him to bring something different if needed later game.

I don’t think they should be looking to carry cover in the back line they need to throw all their eggs in one basket and ‘front load’ the pack as many big bodies and play with the aim once more to dominate the middle of the field. I’d be all for Tindall taking Tom briscoes place after most of his performances but if you’re going to do it, do it from the off to give him a real message about the standard required that he’s not meeting. Don’t be changing 3/4s during a game.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:34 pm  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

O'Connor isnt a 9, his distribution will be poor but he would make 50 tackles in the middle of the park. Our current 2 hookers distribution is garbage and they dont make 50 tackles between them!

Nothing is going to change there tho. Leeming will start and Dwyer will come off the bench and it will be that way for this year and next.

I’m not convinced O’Connors passing isn’t better than Dwyer’s.. can kick a goal too, assume he could put in the odd dink behind the line on last plays. I cannot fathom why we cannot seem to find a single full-time professional rugby player who can’t put in a simple kick.

Anyway, I’d give the lad a go probably at 7 or 9 for this one, on the basis that we can’t be much worse offensively and he has a real engine in D.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:38 pm  

Seth wrote:

I don’t think they should be looking to carry cover in the back line they need to throw all their eggs in one basket and ‘front load’ the pack as many big bodies and play with the aim once more to dominate the middle of the field. I’d be all for Tindall taking Tom briscoes place after most of his performances but if you’re going to do it, do it from the off to give him a real message about the standard required that he’s not meeting. Don’t be changing 3/4s during a game.

Yeah but we don’t have any other big bodies as far as I’m aware - unless we play an academy lad like AJ Wallace.

Problem for me is that T Briscoe in particular will get picked no matter what his form is. I’ve been a supporter of his on this board but I don’t think he’s been great this year so far.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:43 pm  

So A Sutcliffe ruled out with knee injury as per YEP but L Sutcliffe a good chance.

Re: RD 5 | Huddersfield Giants (A) : Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:44 pm  

I know there’s a few out in that regard though at least put Walters and Gannon in over having a winger on the bench

Oledzski Dwyer Vuniyayawa
Martin Mellor (Walters if mellor at centre)
Prior

Thompson
Walters
Donaldson
Gannon

Pick a hooker and run with them for 80, the rotation isn’t going well. Or put them both on together and run an alternative game plan reflecting the lack of pivots. The absolute priority is a strong physical presence and response after last week with discipline and errors massively improved, only then can finer details be addressed.