according to t&A rinaldi is due to start off bench and spell newton - not go into halves as most expected. So given one off sykes/menzies is going to be tied up at standoff, who do we play at ?



we tried platt there last week and quite frankly it was a disaster. I'd guess first option that springs to mind is matt cook. At the very leas the'd improve us defensively out wide. Given his performance against leeds I'd put menzies up against gidley as he did a very good job off keeping senior quiet. Other option I suppose is to play solomona at standoff with sykes and menzies as but if we did that I'd pair menzies with sheriffe as the thought of sykes and sheriffe together against saints would be like a revolving door.



Really hope t&a have it wrong and rinaldi starts at standoff as dont think its a good position for solo at all.

Agreed

Solomona is the best available option for stand off.

I'd have to agree.



As much as I agree with the sentiments around Solomona recently, the last thing we want to do is play Platt at Centre again.



If it's a straight choice between Menzies & Sykes in the Centres and Solo at 6, or Platt at Centre, I'd play Solo at 6.





Otherwise watch Gidley absolutely rip Platt to shreds.

While Platt was lost at centre last week Sykes wasn't much better in defence. In fact he's been a weakness in the defence since day one of this season, his decision making seems to be way off the mark. Nevertheless it's Platt who always gets the flak.



Fact is that without Crookes and Nero we're stuck. I'd certainly put Menzies in one centre position, preferably marking Gidley. As for the other. I'm not sure it makes much difference.

I agree Sykes' defence has been poor. The reasons I highlighted Platt more are 1) He'll be opposite Gidley if he plays left centre again, 2) Platt was being played out of position and I don't think we could really blame him for his positioning mistakes.



To me, it's a complete no-brainer. Menzies has to be put opposite Gidley. Any other option and Gidley & Gardner are going to get a hat trick each.

Platt has the potential and after his first seasonwe know he can play. I would stick with him at centre and Halley at Full Back.



As an alternative it would be Solo at SO, Menzies and Platt at Centres, Sykes at FB and Halley for Sheriffe on the wing. They can all play so it must be a confidence thing. In that case there is not much choice than to play through it.

I wonder what Macca's longer term thinking is re: Platt.



If the plan is to turn him in to a certre, then he needs to be playing there. It's no good dropping the lad after one game in an alien position. Let's face it, the rest of the team wasn't real up to much last Friday either

Potential as a FULL BACK not a centre if we take anything from the Warrington match it is most deffinately without doubt DO NOT PLAY PLATT IN THE CENTRES.



MEnzies has to be opposite Gidley, he had Senior in his back pocket for the majority of the Leeds game...let wait and see eh

Gidley is doubtful according to the Saints board.

I don't think he played as bad as people are making out. That said, I'm not saying he was outstanding either.



Let’s remember it was his first SL appearance at centre (I think). My opinion is that he has the attributes to make a go of it there but we can't expect the finished article overnight can we?



Also there seems to be an awful lot of talk each week about how to combat the opposition, rather than playing our players in THEIR best positions.



If your primary game plan is counter acting the opponents’ threat, then you're on a hiding to nothing already if you ask me.

IIRC Platt missed five tackles vs the Wire and Sykes missed four.



Problem is we're down to the bare bones. Platt's only going to play in the centres because we're desperate. In reality he's a fullback who's also played a bit on the wing at previous clubs but he says himself he's an out and out fullback.



I agree with Wigsy that last week was a bad game to judge Platt on given that everyone played poorly to put it mildly.



A more fundamental problem has been our defence in the centre position because we've been carved open here far too often this season even with first choice centres being available. It's easy to spot the gaps from the terracing but on the field players seem oblivious at times. It's a position where split second decisions are needed and I'm not sure any of the current bunch are good enough at it