- Mark Percival not even in the Saints squad for his own testimonial game. Unless he has suffered a late injury this just makes the match a complete joke.
Saints have announced the squad, a few first team players but i dont think we will get steam rolled like some have worried. Saints are flying to Australia 3 days later to play a warm up game and then the World Club Championship, hence not wanting to risk Percival. It is a bit poor though with it being his own testimonial against his home town team. Apparently he's fully fit, they have named a 32 man squad so could have given him 10 mins.
No Welsby, Makinson, Hopoate, Percival, Roby, Lees, Batchelor or Knowles. They have got 5 of the first choice 13 in the squad plus all 4 of the 14-17 so 9 of the first choice 17. Plus Hurrell and Tee Ritson, who should be good to watch. They also have 3 former Widnes academy lads, Norman, Davies and Hill.
It's Saints first game and our 3rd plus with 32 players including a load of academy players I can see them playing most of the 2nd half. I think if we are within 12 points at half time we have a chance of winning, not that it really matters of course. We don't have the luxury of an academy so all of our 24 ish players involved will be 1st team.
I'm not bothered about getting hammered,it's picking up injuries that concerns me.A game too far pre season and too close to the first game proper at York.Should have been a two week break and if that made us a bit rusty then so be it.
I thoroughly agree. We definitely should have had a two week break before York away.I'm not bothered about getting hammered,it's picking up injuries that concerns me.A game too far pre season and too close to the first game proper at York.Should have been a two week break and if that made us a bit rusty then so be it.
Good to see us all in an agreement that this a game too many. Not bothered if we put a 2nd string team out and get hammered. We'll even with the first choice we would struggle. 🥖🥖🥖
For me this is a totally unnecessary game that could have disastrous consequences for us. Apart from playing Saints it’s five days since there last game and as ours are part time most will have been in work!!! Not needed
Or maybe playing some better opposition will sharpen us up a bit ahead of the start of the competitive fixtures. It could backfire but I can see the case for it.
Percival not playing is a bit of a joke and hopefully we don’t pick up any serious injuries as playing full time players is a harder challenge but like said above will hopefully raise our game for the season
Do we really care if Percival is playing or not? Strange he isn't at least having 10 minutes in his own game but I'd like to think that we agreed to this fixture as a good hit out for us rather than doing Percival a favour.
Hit out ? Oh please,no.
Hit out ? Oh please,no.
Strange reply.
Strange premise also that we shouldn't play rugby league games in order to be ready to play rugby league games. How do we get better? How do we learn? Apparently injuries only occur when playing Super League clubs.
Nobody said we shouldnt be playing friendly games, it's the timing,just one week or so before the season begins in earnest.There's pros and cons but one outweighs the other,in my opinion.
Nobody said we shouldnt be playing friendly games, it's the timing,just one week or so before the season begins in earnest.There's pros and cons but one outweighs the other,in my opinion.
There's 9 days between playing Saints and playing York. The players will want to play, you can't get up to speed without playing. It's a weakened Saints team anyway but will be a good test and get more minutes in before the season starts, it's not an issue.
@viking-man Sense at last and I thought everyone trusted the coach, perhaps not everyone knows better. They all just want to say told you so if we get an injuy. We are playing Saints not Percy, he has the right to play or not as it's his day. If you disagree don't attend.