I had a think and a couple of chats about the upcoming game and I would probably go on the below:


Jowitt
Roarke (offers aerial threat)
Scott
Pratt
Johnstone
Walmsley (has a good pair of hands)
Lino
Mckmeeken
Hood
Uele
Nikotemo
Vagana
Pitts


Rodwell
Atoni
Faatilli
Smith


Walmsley has good hands and did a few nice cut out balls last year with plenty of assists. I feel like he could run deep and find Max who could run his lines at the back. I honestly think I’d have Max back at full back. 


Only thing I’m not sure about is putting Nikotemo straight in. Could put Croft in and him on bench but if he’s fit and ready then why not have him in. 


If we win this one then we really start to climb into the top of the table. If we could win our next 2 games we could be top 4 even. There’s a lot to fight for in these next games. Hope we extend our unbeaten run away!

Good assessment PB.Cozza has defo stepped up and improved over time, good to see him going well.
Not having a bash here, but I still think there is that mindset with refs re the "bigger teams" - seeming to get more favourable decisions still...... 

Agree completely with Cozza's performance, but for me that's a good reason to bring him off the bench again. For me, you don't need to start players just because they're playing well - sometimes they're most effective off the bench. Atoni is a case in point; he was very ordinary in his first spell at 13, and lacked the intensity in defence that Pitts always starts with. Atoni, however, is so destructive off the bench once the opposition has been softened up. Play to your squad's strengths, not just their form.


Pitts wasn't good at 6, but we also missed him at 13. There's a bit of talk above about Max not being a 6, but he genuinely is - played loads there as a youth, in our reserves, and much of last season there. He's a great organiser, good kicker, and his pass selection will be just as effective there as at full back. Rourke has never played there, not even amateur.


If Max is fit, Thursday's team picks itself: Rourke, Johnstone, Pratt, Scott or Hall, Walmsley, Jowitt, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Uele, Vagana, Nikotemo, Pitts; Smith, Rodwell, Atoni, Cozza.

Not sure why you've edited it that way Bullseye but I didn't say that Trojan did.


I'd appreciate you not making out they were my words