Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 8:11 am  

It's normal to say that Cas away is one of our toughest fixtures anyway, but this week it will be extra tough. We'll be missing a few players missing, plus the cup hangover to deal with.

Wouldn't be surprised to see us missing Cust, Thornley and possibly Bateman. Powell is back however and we'll need him imo.

I assume Tommy will play 6, but Field could be an option too. Can Tommy do 80 mins?

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 8:21 am  

The fixtures haven't been kind to us here with two tough away games prior to the final and the same after. It likely will take us until after the international weekend to really get going again. If we can pick up one win from the next two weeks I'd be OK with that.

Can't see Tommy backing up so maybe go for French - Field - Smith with Miski on the wing? Halsall, Partington and Shorrocks may all play you would think.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 9:16 am  

For the last 3.5 games we've played well below our best, I can see this being a trouncing.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 9:39 am  

Past winning finalists tend to lose their match after winning the cup heard they partying all night thats why they were late coming back.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 9:45 am  

Some really interesting selection decisions for this week. Miski to come into the fold? Perhaps Halsall in at centre too? Will Powell start, simply because of his work rate?

Personally and this isn't a knock on the lad, I'd start Mago as we need to get more from the guy. The rest of our props did big mins and we'll need a big body to front up the game, if not it could be over with before 20mins.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 9:58 am  

I assume Cust won't be fit (if it is a dislocated elbow, then it'll be a 2-3 weeks minimum).

Powell will obviously play, but I'd be tempted to play him in the halves as a stop gap. Not ideal, but I don't like the idea of flogging Leuluai in a game like this when he obviously wouldn't have even been considered by now had it not been a final. We've got the trophy in the bag now, so let him get back to fitness properly now and not risk him breaking down by bringing him back too soon.

That and O'Neill isn't letting anybody down at the moment, so keep him in there.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 10:37 am  

Cherry_&_White wrote:

I assume Cust won't be fit (if it is a dislocated elbow, then it'll be a 2-3 weeks minimum).

Powell will obviously play, but I'd be tempted to play him in the halves as a stop gap. Not ideal, but I don't like the idea of flogging Leuluai in a game like this when he obviously wouldn't have even been considered by now had it not been a final. We've got the trophy in the bag now, so let him get back to fitness properly now and not risk him breaking down by bringing him back too soon.

That and O'Neill isn't letting anybody down at the moment, so keep him in there.

Had the same thoughts regards Powell. It’s the least disruptive option, although the high risk, high reward option would be to put French at fullback and Field at stand off. If they think Tommy can do the 80 mins then great but I can’t see it.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 10:55 am  

I’d like to see Shorrocks, Isa, Partington, Miski, Halsall and Nickleson all get a game.

Guessing Smithies will get banned, Thornley and Cust probably injured and maybe put Tommy back in the ice bath for the next month!

Field
French
Halsall
Bibby
Miski (Marshy will probably still be nursing a hangover)
Powell
Smith
Ellis
O’Neill
Byrne
Isa
Bateman
Partington

Shorrocks
Nickelson
Havard
Mago

I always bang on about this but I really think rotating and using the squad is very important for squad morale and improving the overall depth of the squad.

Nsemba/Silva will get a game before the end of the season I’d imagine too.

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 11:51 am  

I dont think it will be a very pretty game to watch but I would hope we could grind out a win with some of the youngsters looking to stake a claim for more 1st team games

Re: Onto Cas : Mon May 30, 2022 12:16 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

I dont think it will be a very pretty game to watch but I would hope we could grind out a win with some of the youngsters looking to stake a claim for more 1st team games

One of those games where the performance won't concern me one jot. Two points will be a success, no matter how they come.