Trinity through to the quarter finals in a hard earned but potentially costly game on regards injury. 

A few players possibly returning and the short turnaround could be an opportunity to freshen up the squad. 


Hull will be confident after a good win vs Wigan who after losing Field and Ellis seemed to fall to bits. Trinity should be confident too.


Personally with the short turn round I think I’d rotate a little. 


O.Russell, Roarke, M.Russell, J. Pitts, K. Rodwell, C.Scott, J. Griffin would all come in if fit for me. Or at least some of them. 


What’s everyone else’s thoughts? Will be a pretty even game I suspect. Would be nice to get a win and jump into top 5 and over Hull FC and get a home win. 


I’ve been impressed with the resilience of the team this year. 


Faatilli had his best game vs Hudds and there’s definitely a good player there. I was pleasantly surprised by Cozza, though mt he ran well and tackled anything that ran at him well. The depth we have this year is quite impressive. 

Personally I'd keep as much continuity as possible but the injuries might decide that.


Rourke comes in for Jowitt, possibly Scott for Hall for a bit more strike, and Russell for Walmsley who I thought struggled with the intensity of Sunday and was pushed back in most of his hit ups.  Rodwell might have to come in for Vagana and Griffin for Storton.


Sezer played well against Wigan so we need to keep him quiet and the big prop.


Agreed Cozza put a shift in yesterday.  Nice to see.

If Pitts is fit he solves a lot of problems in the pack. Griffin would be handy too.
I don't think I've seen anything to say Scott is ready.
Same with Rodwell.

I certainly wouldn't drop Lino for Russell.

Walmsley was pushed out of position so it's difficult to judge. Handy that he was there otherwise we'd have been moving Trueman.


Hull have two big fast wingers. We might need Lachy to catch them.
They've improved since Knight has come and given them some size in the middle. We have to dominate there to win.

Herman Ese'ese seems to be playing well so need to match him in the forwards, big mike will be up to the task. 

the young players in Martin and Moy look like they are thriving also. 


Talk of players coming back for us is a big boost, especially in the forwards. Would like Pitts and Rodwell to come back in. Wouldn't bring Scott back yet, both centres playing well. 


M.Russel you would think would also come back in for Walmsley as per the last few games 

So you make 7 changes because we got 2 players injured .including Lino who as been one of our most consistent player's this season .Griffin is not going to be any way near the team unless there are a lot of forwards missing .You have said the depth in the forwards is impressive .Ok bring Russell in on the wing but thought Warmsly  went ok  considering he had to go to full back .Hope we can stick near enough to the same 17 apart from the two that was injured .Remember we were 2 players down in the 17 players who got picked .and we still looked the better team in the second half 

It remains to be seen who’s not going to be fit but I think we can rule Max out by the look of it. If so then Rourke is a straight swap at Full Back and as much as we will miss Max, having a quality replacement lessens the impact somewhat 


Walmsley or Russell is a close call and it depends on what Powell prioritises from his wingers during the game. Hull have two tall speedy wingers and Russell might be second favourite for cross field kicks both in attack but more crucially in defence so Walmsley would be better in that regard. However, if we are down on pack strength then making metres off our own line and via kick returns will be crucial and in that regard Russell has proven to be better than Walmsley.


Without Max we need a reliable goal kicker so Lino wouldn’t miss out for me as we’ll need his goal kicking in what will likely be a close game, apart from that he’s playing well and starting to forge an understanding with Trueman.


Croft comes back into the second row hopefully alongside either Vangana or Storton, we’d be unlucky if both aren’t fit but if they’re not available I’d possibly play Cozza before Griffin. I know he’d be slightly out of position but he’s played the last 2 games and Griffin, if fit, hasn’t played this season.


If Pitts is a 100% then he comes straight back in


So if we are shot to bits because of injuries I’d go:
Rourke, Russell, Pratt, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, McMeekin, Hood, Uele, Cozza, Croft, Pitts Subs: O Russell, Shaw  Atoni, Fa’atili

It appears you’re making assumptions again. Here I go: 

No. I don’t make 7 player changes just because of 2/3 injuries. I referenced the short turnaround and to the FC game too. So, it’s a combination of those and not just injuries, added to that the likes of Rodwell, Scott were initially planned to be starting players in the team anyway. 


I never said Lino to be rested did I? You’ve just made that up just like last time you commented on my post. I was more thinking of Trueman and running with Russell and Lino if needed. Trueman did have some strapping on one of his legs through the game. And if we rested Lino who would kick the goals? 


Walmsley did go fine. In fact I thought he went well considering the unplanned switch. Russell is also playing well, with a short turnaround I thought it’s a perfectly viable option. Point above someone mentioned about FC having young athletic wingers so to be wary of kicks of Russell does get the nod. 


Just because I am saying I’d like to see some fresh legs for this one isn’t always a reflection of the players who could be rested. In fact I can barely pick fault with any player this season. This may be a game though where some rotation wouldn’t hurt. 


If Powell keeps the same team bar the 2/3 injured then that’s great too. It will mean that they have recovered well in the short turnaround. 


Either way, need a big performance from the team at home Friday. Need a handle on Esese and Sezer as others have said. Forwards will hopefully step up as they have done all season for this one. 

On the basis we are without Jowitt, Storton, Vagana and we have a few returning from injury I’d go with something like this:


Rourke
Walmsley
Pratt
Hall
Johnstone
Trueman
Lino
Uele
Hood
Atoni
Croft
McMeeken
Pitts


Smith
Cozza
Rodwell
Faatilli 


I’d like to include Scott but with his injury record he needs easing back in. 


I’m also tempted to go with 4 forwards on the bench, replace Griffin with Smith. 


We will have to wait and see….

Looks a pretty good team that. I think I’d swap Pitts to second row and leave Mike in the middle to help with Esese but it looks a very capable team. Seems second row could be the hard position to fill but hopefully Vagana is fit. 

Griffin would play SR for me. 
Not McM. He's an outstanding middle and should remain there.


Trueman most definitely plays. No way can you replace him with Russell.

I was tempted to include Griffin too, but the thought of having 2 players in the squad coming back from injury put me off, especially against a physical Hull FC side. 

On  another point, I’m hoping Pratt’s opposite centre is T Briscoe, Iv got a feeling he could run rings around him if he gets some good ball.