Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 11:33 am  

Even Matt King an established Aussie international took time to settle so very early to pan Russell just yet. His signing is a bit like Tai’s who did tend to be the Dementor of attacking rugby but still contributed reasonably to our season.

Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:17 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

Well Powell and Thewlis will not play.
Burgess himself said they’ll be in contention for Catalan.

Seeing as though Thewlis played last week, unless he's suffered an adverse reaction, I'd expect him to play today. I think that King is the backline player least likely to be fit.

If Powell isn't ready then I expect that either Ratchford or Crowther will need cover dummy half with Walker doing big minutes.

Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:38 pm  

St Helens Wolf wrote:

Seeing as though Thewlis played last week, unless he's suffered an adverse reaction, I'd expect him to play today. I think that King is the backline player least likely to be fit.

If Powell isn't ready then I expect that either Ratchford or Crowther will need cover dummy half with Walker doing big minutes.

Thanks, wrong about Thewlis.
But but Powell and Fitzgibbon were ruled out.
For sure he said Catalan about Powell.
Can’t find the video he said it on the refer back too.

Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 12:49 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

Even Matt King an established Aussie international took time to settle so very early to pan Russell just yet. His signing is a bit like Tai’s who did tend to be the Dementor of attacking rugby but still contributed reasonably to our season.

I would think that Russell will get a chance today. Big lad who looks as though he can shift. Probably needs to involve himself a bit more to please our doubters.

Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:28 pm  

Interesting that no-ones including Ratchford in the 17.

Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:56 pm  

I'll rephrase.

"Probably needs to involve himself a bit more to justify a place in the 17 in doing so displacing players who have earnt their place".

Re: Squad for Giants : Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:02 pm  

Anyone know why Leyland has missed out? Has he picked up a knock or has Burgess just gone with experience,
BUZZING Holroyd is starting and Lindop must have really impressed to start over Rodrick. Excited to see how he goes

Re: Squad for Giants : Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:13 pm  

Or thane wrote:

Anyone know why Leyland has missed out?

Yes. As it stands Ratchford is top of SB's list / hierarchy of potential half back partners to Williams.

Leyland is new to the club and still learning the play structure etc. I don't think it will take too long for Ratch to pick up injury niggles, so Leyland will get his chance with Hayes still not fully fit. But that also depends on CTW starting games with Dufty also a potential half back option.

Re: Squad for Giants : Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:35 pm  

Abe Froman wrote:

Yes. As it stands Ratchford is top of SB's list / hierarchy of potential half back partners to Williams.

Leyland is new to the club and still learning the play structure etc. I don't think it will take too long for Ratch to pick up injury niggles, so Leyland will get his chance with Hayes still not fully fit. But that also depends on CTW starting games with Dufty also a potential half back option.

Interesting. Yesterday's game has gone some way to persuading me that going with CTW at full-back and Dufty in the halves is actually worth trying at some point. Basically, we need to get CTW on the field - he's far too good a player to be sitting in the stands - and we also need Dufty's dithering under high kicks to stop being a problem, so maybe it's a way of solving both those challenges at the same time? It might work, it might not, but I reckon it's worth trying.

Re: Squad for Giants : Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:56 pm  

The Speculator wrote:

Interesting. Yesterday's game has gone some way to persuading me that going with CTW at full-back and Dufty in the halves is actually worth trying at some point. Basically, we need to get CTW on the field - he's far too good a player to be sitting in the stands - and we also need Dufty's dithering under high kicks to stop being a problem, so maybe it's a way of solving both those challenges at the same time? It might work, it might not, but I reckon it's worth trying.

Possibly worth a shot, though Dufty defending in the line doesn’t fill me with optimism…