Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 9:45 am  

Possibly Isa, Marshall, Thornley, Partington and Hardaker(?) available for this one. Marshall straight back in for me. Thornley is the interesting one as I wasn't expecting that and could make a big difference to our options. Isa and Partington not in the team for mine, barring injuries. The lads who played yesterday were all too good and the places should be theirs to lose. Same for Halsall in the backs.

I'd go:
Field, Marshall, Halsall, Thornley, French
Cust, Smith
Singleton, O'Neil, Byrne
Farrell, Bateman
Smithies

Mago, Ellis, Havard, Shorrocks.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:29 am  

I don't think Thornley will be ready, maybe two more weeks.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:32 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I don't think Thornley will be ready, maybe two more weeks.

I've taken that from Peet's post match interview. I have to say it was a surprise to me too. Maybe it meant Hardaker? If so, Hardaker for Thornley.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:40 am  

I think we need to work towards some consistency in preparation for the semi in a little over a fortnight. Halsall was great yesterday and looked like a natural centre. For anyone who has watched him coming through the ranks does he usually play left or right of the field? I could see him making the left centre position his own if he is given the chance.

I wouldn't like to predict the team for Salford, but I would love to see a settled backline for the next two games to give us the best chance vs Saints at Elland Road. FWIW, I think we have a real chance in that game if we play the same 5 props as yesterday.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:56 am  

Halsall seems to have come into this season much bigger and stronger. Frankly, he's a big lad now and showed it yesterday. It's his time and needs to be given the opportunity to take it. I think he will. He's a natural centre, as you say, and could really give a massively different look to that three quarter line if he was able to step up and cement a place.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:04 am  

Field
French Hardaker Halsall Marshall
Cust Smith
Singleton O’Neill Byrne
Bateman Farrell Smithies

Subs
Ellis Mago Havard Shorrocks

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:10 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Field
French Hardaker Halsall Marshall
Cust Smith
Singleton O’Neill Byrne
Bateman Farrell Smithies

Subs
Ellis Mago Havard Shorrocks

This would be my side too, assuming Hardaker is back in the fold this week. I've been disappointed with Bibby over the past few weeks. He isn't the most skilful, but hes always been solid in defence. Poor at saints and he was poor in the first try Wakey scored yesterday. I'd be giving Halsall a crack in the side and I really hope Peet goes with O'Neill over Shorrocks.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:10 pm  

thought he said Marshy and Thornley should be ready for Salford

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 2:08 pm  

Bringing in Zak, Marshall and retaining Hallsall in place of Bibby at centre will make us far more competitive both in defence and attack.

If we can keep the forward pack we had v Wakey together we have a rotation that can be far more consistent over the full 80 mins.

Cut out mistakes and poor decisions and a fair bit of luck, getting French and Field on the ball more often then this team could beat Saints over a 1 off game.

I don't want to bag Bibby and Miski too much, but both have obvious limitations in their game especially in defence, but Bibby playing at centre is never going to offer a real threat in attack.

Re: Team for Salford : Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:32 pm  

I would stick with Miski. Don't see a place for Partington in the short or long term other than as a back up - I still don't really know what position he could aspire to play in.

Bibby just isn't performing well enough at the moment to justify a spot. Hardaker/Thornley/Halsall should be our choice of centres when they're available.

I would still consider a French-Field-Cust combo in spite of Harry's good game yesterday. Agree that O'Neill should get his chance but too much to ask for him to play 80 minutes. Maybe bring Smith off the bench and move Cust to hooker for a spell?