NickyKiss wrote:
Halsall has been solid as a rock. I openly admitted that in the limited times I’d seen him in the academy I thought he was ok but I wasn’t hugely convinced he’d be up to first team level. Whilst he has a way to go yet, I can only admire the start he’s made. He just looks so assured with and without the ball. He maybe lacks half a yard of pace to become an absolute stand out but I’d certainly keep him in for Thursday.
The rest of the questions would then be around the make up of the pack and bench. I very much doubt it being in Lams plans but if Bullock is available, I’d want him in and so we’re not getting pinned in our forty from the off, I’d probably start him and go-
Hardaker
Halsall Bibby Gildart Marshall
Smith Hastings
Singleton Powell Bullock
Isa Farrell Bateman
Subs
Havard Byrne Partington Smithies
Harsh on KPP and Shorrocks but you can’t fit them all in. In reality though I doubt we’ll see Halsall or Bullock and KPP and Shorrocks will be on the bench.
Some difficult decisions on paper but we all know that Lam will do what he always does and agree that he won’t play Bullock and Halsall.
I agree with 100% on Bullock. He’s never going to give you 60 minutes a game but somewhere if it can be untapped is a half decent prop who can make some much needed yards.
Isa at centre for me. His defence and aggression has been good all season and at times he’s surprised me with his willingness to offload and keep the game open. He’s not brilliant but very dependable apart from the odd BF.
Halsall with the high ball has been first class but I’m still to be convinced that he has the size or pace to be a decent centre but he still has lots of time to develop and hopefully with a better coaching setup he will kick on.
I quite like Shorrocks but he will never be a hooker and only Lam knows why he plays him there before lads who have all of their rugby in that position.
Not sure what team Leeds will have available but I suspect a bit of the old arm wrestle and quite honestly can’t predict who will win however, I don’t think Leeds will nil us again but we haven’t got it in us to score more than 2 tries if they turn up.
As a footnote it wouldn’t totally surprise me if he finds a place for Clubb in the 17