They do have to be a little careful with Lindop, he looks a great prospect but they can’t be over playing him - he’s only just turned 18 and has already played way more than he expected this year. Chambers is pretty big on that.
I guess that, if the older players are definitely fit, they will be slotted in. No need to leave them out as a boot up the bottom (as someone suggested). The youngsters have been great but can be rested tomorrow. We all know & they will know that they are good enough. So for me Lindop, Holroyd, Wood & Philbin to be left out. But would be happy if anyone of them were included. Happy Days.
* Mind you Sam did say (a few weeks back) that Nicholson was busted & suggested that he was playing to help out because of injury problems.
As most seem to agree, I’d get King back in and let Lindrop sit this one out. Someone above mentioned resting Tai next week, which is a good compromise with Lindrop getting another chance lined up.
Philbin is a tough one. Was playing well before the injury, but in no particular order we have Vaughan, Currie, Harrison, Yates all ahead of him. Musgrove is at risk, can blow hot and cold, but I think he gets in before Philbin.
Assuming Fitzgibbon comes back, he’s first choice in the second row. Nicholson likely holds that other spot. Meaning Bateman gets the 4th bench spot in a first choice 17.
Leaves out Philbin, Crowther, Wood and Holroyd for rotation.
As most seem to agree, I’d get King back in and let Lindrop sit this one out. Someone above mentioned resting Tai next week, which is a good compromise with Lindrop getting another chance lined up.
Philbin is a tough one. Was playing well before the injury, but in no particular order we have Vaughan, Currie, Harrison, Yates all ahead of him. Musgrove is at risk, can blow hot and cold, but I think he gets in before Philbin.
Assuming Fitzgibbon comes back, he’s first choice in the second row. Nicholson likely holds that other spot. Meaning Bateman gets the 4th bench spot in a first choice 17.
Leaves out Philbin, Crowther, Wood and Holroyd for rotation.
Sorry, I had put King in. I think the backs are pretty clear cut. Dufty, Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton, Williams and Drinkwater are locked in as first choice, barring injury. Lindrop’s time will come, but I would expect to see him protected, maybe see him against London (twice) and maybe Cas and Huddersfield in the run in.
I guess that, if the older players are definitely fit, they will be slotted in. No need to leave them out as a boot up the bottom (as someone suggested).
If that was reference to my comment, I never said boot up the bottom. I said it's a squad wide reinforcement that no-one is a shoe in. If you recall under previous administrations as soon as the "star" player recovered from injury they were back in the side automatically, irrespective of the form of the player they are replacing or indeed their form. It got to the stage that we would play "star" players in unnatural positions. I am glad these times are behind us.
Anyway we call have our own views, personally I don't think Lindop has been overplayed. He has played 3 games in a row. The other 3 games date back to Feb, May and June. As he scored 2 tries in his last game I would argue he deserves to keep his place.
Not much point looking back too much. New broom & much better back up players now (which did make life a bit more difficult last year). Sorry didn't realise who had brought up the shoe-in comment. Personally I would be happy with Lindop but I'd guess King will be back if totally fit.
