The thing is although Butcher names some decent players, the difficulty is exactly the point at the end
1) although better than Pitts individually, will they fit into our team or infact disrupt it for a while
2) why would they come knowing it is a temporary role. You'd have to be pretty confident or pretty desperate to take that chance.


Clearly Powell knows what Stephenson is like. If he isn't ready it's better not to break him. I guess we'll see.

Exactly. As far as I know, Gilmore, Keyes and Walker all have other jobs too, so wouldn't necessarily be able to take the time off to do it without much chance of a longer deal. So until Trueman or Russell get back, our stand off is going to be Jay Pitts, Max Jowitt, Liam Hood (if Doyle gets back sooner), Rowan Stephenson, or Oli Leyland (unlikely). Take your pick.

With Seth missing I'd actually change both SR for Catalan and play Vagana and Croft
Griffin maybe on the bench but that heat is not for older guys.

Although we escaped with a win verses a very poor Cas side, Catalan is a whole different proposition.
Huge pack, decent halves and some quality in their back line.
Presumably, we will put Jowitt in the halves and bring Rouke into FB and find a more mobile option for the right wing but, who knows ?

Think your overestimating a Catalan side who started poor and have picked up recent wins vs the bottom 3 mostly in Salford x 2, Hudds abd Cas. Though there?s some quality and we shouldn?t underestimate them as you say. 

Max stays at 1. If Powell was going to put Max at 6 he would?ve last week so changing it again wouldn?t be smart imo. Consistency in spine is key and again you play your best players in their best positions. 


We have 80% (4/5) of our starting spine available so the best is to run with that and fill in at 6 best you can. 


Personally I?d run with Pitts back to 13 to re-ignite the link between Pitts and Jowitt out the back that we had success with before injuries. 


I?d rather Rourke at 6 than move Max from 1. Last week Max was at 1 and got us back level so it was the right call. Maybe even Stevenson or Abrahams could get a shot for a game but we?ll have to see what the squads like tomorrow. 


Agree about the wing but I feel Powell won?t be putting Scott on the edge in this weather and we may have Russell available and possibly Walmsley who would be the better choice.