Ok by me. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to reserves: develop young players alongside recovering first teamers with a sprinkling of others who know their trade thrown in.

Hardaker
Fusitu’a Martin Sutcliffe Handley
Austin Myler
Oledzki Leeming Prior
Gannon Mellor
Smith

Dwyer Donaldson Thompson Tetevano

Bentley given a three match suspension, will return v St Helens.

We are 3 points off a play off spot. The race for 6th place is wide open between Cas, Hull kr, Warrington, Salford and Leeds. It’s viral we pick up wins against our play off chasing rivals, starting with Warrington.

This season all about damage limitation and building some momentum for next year.
We will have to have a 2:1 win lose ratio to make the playoffs, think if we win more than we lose second half of season that will he an achievement. I reckon win 8 lose 6

I would like us to win every game but it won't happen. Even if we get to the playoffs we're miles off Sts and will most likely fall at the first hurdle against anyone half decent. We've still got a terrible attack and lack quality, props and pace. We're miles off where we need to be.

This year must be about getting the team into the best shape possible for next year and for Smith to identify the changes he wants to the squad. If we end this season able to compete with everyone (without necessarily beating them but showing we could with a few squad improvements) and genuine aspirations to aim to win the comp next year that will be mission accomplished.

In fact finishing in the play offs might not be a good thing if it again hides the issues we have and stops real change. Agar said a few times we were 'one win' from the GF last year. Factually correct but given we haven't beaten Sts in over 4 years we might as well have been 50 wins away.

Would need us to finish above all four. In that mini league of five I reckon about third is realistic. Doesn't mean we shouldn't aim higher though.

I don’t think we need to win as many as 2/3 of our games to finish 6th. Cas sit in 6th with 6 wins from 13 games.

Confirmation that Harry Newman is now in full training so should be back for Warrington game next week.

Not sure if it is wise to rush Newman back without a game in reserves. Look what happened the last time we rushed him back!

There’s no rush, we’re unlikely to win against Warrington so ease him back for the second half of the season.