Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:22 pm  

Think those expecting strongest 17 to feature will be disappointed. Probably half a dozen or so off starting 13 plus fringe and u20' is my guess. Boxing day friendly is the most like an actual friendly of all pre season fixtures IMO. We'll probably then see a weaker team for 2nd friendly and a gradual introduction of more first teamers the following week and only see anything like a starting 13 for final friendly if past seasons are anything to go by.

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:07 am  

I agree with Mat

Isn't Lulia coming back from a season ending injury as well? Since he hasn't even arrived in the UK yet, he's not going to be playing on Boxing Day.

I definitely think anyone coming back from injury shouldn't be playing as Castleford.

So I expect we'll see a handful of first team 'regulars' - people like Gale, Purtell, Sibbit and Hargreaves - with the balance made up by 'fringe' players like Olbison, Crookes, Donaldson, Briggs etc. And a bench consisting entirely of U20 players

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:25 am  

Any reason why no one wants to see our "X Factor" signing of Sammut?

I would much rather him and gale were our starting half backs for the friendlies to at least see how Sammut goes there given that is his "preferred" position!

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:17 pm  

Beaver...Beaver... wrote:

Any reason why no one wants to see our "X Factor" signing of Sammut?

I would much rather him and gale were our starting half backs for the friendlies to at least see how Sammut goes there given that is his "preferred" position!

Because he's coming back from injury

I certainly want to see the Gale / Sammut combo in one of the friendlies, but we have three more in January. No point in rushing a player back from injury on what might well be a frozen or treacherous pitch

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Wed Dec 07, 2011 5:33 pm  

Bulls Boy 2011 wrote:

So with the first pre-season game less than a monthe away what team would you put out against Castleford????

While I dont disagree with for example Mat as to what Potter is likely to do, the question posed was this, to which I have answered with what I would like to see, a good smash out at Cas and then fair enough a bit of looking at the options/newly fit players for subsequent ones as mat is predicting and the A team for the final one. ON the other hand it is tempting fate with injuries and we could end up not having enough fit players to put a team out for round 1! So I suppose answer B has to be I would like to see as many of the new backs having a game at Cas.

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:27 pm  

we tend to put out a few more senior players for the boxing day friendly as its typically more of an actual 'friendly' than the other pre-season games and intensity (and hence likelihood of injuries) is a bit lower. That said dont think anyone coming back from injury should be risked at this stage of pre-season.

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:24 pm  

For anyone interested, the club are considering putting on a coach to this match.

At the moment they are only taking names and a contact number until they can
be sure there is enough interest to make it viable.

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:27 pm  

It's a shame I can't go to this as I have family commitments but hopefully they will have a coach on for Fev and Dewsbury games Possibly Hull too. Also if Lulia and Manuokafoa isn't playing then Crookes and McAvoy in their place.

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:16 pm  

2 weeks tomorrow!

Re: Friendly vs. Castleford Tigers : Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:02 am  

Aye I can't friggin wait