Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:27 am  

Akauola
Ashton
Austin
Charnley
Clark
Cooper
Currie
Doro
Hill
Hughes
Lineham
Longstaff
Mamo
Mulhern
Philbin
Ratchford
Thewlis
Whitehead
Williams
Widdop
Wrench

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:36 am  

Good to see cooper and Philbin back in, I hope Kings injury isn't too serious. No Davis either this week so who will cover hooker whikst Clark and walker are still missing?

It will be an interesting team selection, cas need the win and have mcshane back. I don't see us having much zip around dummy half. Widdop and Williams need to be on the money, at least they may have a platform this week. I think we are up against it this Thursday.

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:50 am  

As strong as we could go at the minute really. Interesting….

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:01 pm  

CW8 wrote:

I think we are up against it this Thursday.

Absolutely.

[Winslade's Offload]

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:17 pm  

If you start by eliminating players rather than picking the side, I think you would remove Whitehead because he is a bit young yet to debut, Doro because we have plenty of returning props, and Ashton because Ratchford is available after his half game rest. Then you are left with a toss up between Lineham and Thewlis. I am a big fan of the youngster but I think Lineham will get the nod as Thewlis has played a lot of rugby in the past couple of weeks.

I fancy Clark will fill in at hooker.

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:42 pm  

I think we may see Ratchford fill a similar role as last week, ideally to rest but to act as cover for Clark at dummy half.

I think it will be similar to last week, but with Currie getting a break, Wrench and Austin to go to the left side centre/back row.

Lineham… maybe. Thewlis hasn’t let anyone down though, so it’s a tough choice.

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:47 pm  

Winslade's Offload wrote:

If you start by eliminating players rather than picking the side, I think you would remove Whitehead because he is a bit young yet to debut, Doro because we have plenty of returning props, and Ashton because Ratchford is available after his half game rest. Then you are left with a toss up between Lineham and Thewlis. I am a big fan of the youngster but I think Lineham will get the nod as Thewlis has played a lot of rugby in the past couple of weeks.

I fancy Clark will fill in at hooker.

Ratchford covered hooker I think when he came on against Salford - maybe we will see Ratchford on the bench interchanging with Clark at 9. Depends whether he wants Ratch / Widdop / Williams playing together ahead of the play offs.

Would be sensible to play Lineham, just to give him some match fitness ahead of the play offs, as you mention, Charnley / Thewlis should be fine in that regard.

Wouldn't surprise me to see Currie given the week off, Austin to switch sides and Mulhern given some time off too. Price seems to favour resting rather than continuity.
Not the side i'd pick, but i'd expect:
Ashton
Lineham
Wrench
Mamo
Charnley
Williams
Widdop
Hill
Clark (J)
Cooper
Hughes
Austin
Doro

Ratchford
Sita
Philbin
Longstaff

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:03 pm  

Thewlis
Lineham
Wrench
Mamo
Charnley
Williams
Widdop
Cooper
Ratchford
Philbin
Longstaff
Austin
Hughes

Hill
Akuola
Ashton
J clark

I'd go with that and let mulhern have a rest or Austin at loose and Hughes in 2nd row. Depends who is carrying knocks I suppose.

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:14 pm  

A tough assignment, but that's what we need anyway, with the playoffs following on, even if we have some first choice players missing. The performance is more important than what's on the scoreboard at full time.

Re: Squad for Castleford : Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:27 pm  

Playoffs could start a week early for us though, if we win then Cas are out. HullKR and Leeds (given their injuries) have to be viewed as easier fixtures, so Price may view it best to put Cas out now and face the losers of the Leeds KR.

Or, if we were to lose, it would make sure the Leeds vs KR game is a battle royal for that last play off spot… let them fight it out while we have a 24 hour head start on recovery with key players being rested again.