How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:19 am  

I know that Skolars will be a junior fixture but I would like to see some combinations having a run out in the Swindon and Leigh games. That could include 1, 6, 7, 9 or left/right side attack. I also hope that those young lads who had a bit of a mare in the warm ups last year can stake a claim.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 12:57 pm  

Are there any players still sidelined?

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:36 pm  

We've seen a shift away across the league from clubs playing strong teams consistently in friendlies in order to hit the ground running.

I remember going back a few years and teams were desperate to play a decent number of friendlies for this reason. Now the opposite seems to happen. Teams play weakened sides in order to give juniors and fringe players valuable game time whilst not risking first team players. I feel as if this method has been more prominent since we had the top 8 play-off structure (and also dual-reg but no proper reserves set up) and the focus on teams "peaking" at the back end of season.

I do crave to see a reasonably strong team in at least one friendly but I feel as if clubs now see these as unnecessary fixtures for their frontline players.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:55 pm  

Th'Observer wrote:

We've seen a shift away across the league from clubs playing strong teams consistently in friendlies in order to hit the ground running.

I remember going back a few years and teams were desperate to play a decent number of friendlies for this reason. Now the opposite seems to happen. Teams play weakened sides in order to give juniors and fringe players valuable game time whilst not risking first team players. I feel as if this method has been more prominent since we had the top 8 play-off structure (and also dual-reg but no proper reserves set up) and the focus on teams "peaking" at the back end of season.

I do crave to see a reasonably strong team in at least one friendly but I feel as if clubs now see these as unnecessary fixtures for their frontline players.

Seeing that we have a stronger squad than last year, I would choose Leigh if i was you.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:18 pm  

Cokey wrote:

Seeing that we have a stronger squad than last year, I would choose Leigh if i was you.

I see what you did there.

I've no doubt you'll play your strongest team as this pre-season game continues to be of vital importance to Leigh.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:42 pm  

If clubs are so insistant on playing youngsters and fringe players in friendlies then why don't they just add 2 or 3 more games just for those players alone leaving the other friendlies for the main squad to get up to speed for the start of the season, it ain't rocket science

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:54 pm  

Some of our squad's season ended early through injury like Escare & Flower.
Hopefully they will play in both the Warm Up games.
Lockers season ended late with an injury and he shouldn't play. Bateman the same.

The rest I'd play with the Internationals perhaps playing limited minutes.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 8:01 pm  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

If clubs are so insistant on playing youngsters and fringe players in friendlies then why don't they just add 2 or 3 more games just for those players alone leaving the other friendlies for the main squad to get up to speed for the start of the season, it ain't rocket science

You are quite right Whiffers.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Sun Jan 14, 2018 8:05 pm  

Th'Observer wrote:

I see what you did there.

I've no doubt you'll play your strongest team as this pre-season game continues to be of vital importance to Leigh.

I also think it's important to you as well. Good luck for the season and teams from this side of the Pennines.

Re: How should we line up in the friendlies? : Mon Jan 15, 2018 12:57 pm  

Rugby League is unlike football, for example, in that friendlies don't really exist. Football has become a non contact sport and as such friendlies are a good chance to try out combinations with not much chance of injury. However in RL the players risk injury every time they cross the 'whitewash' (channelling Stevo!).

We are playing a glorified 'friendly' against the Rabbitohs in February in any case after just two league games. I will be at Leigh but I'd be gutted if Sam Tomkins or Sean O'Loughlin got an injury that kept them out for the season. No sense in risking them. The season is plenty long enough and you don't need to hit top form until April/May time anyway. Leeds have this down to a fine art, I could be wrong but I don't think they have won the LLS in any of their GF winning seasons (I can't be bothered checking tbh)

It should be a game for fringe players, the likes of Isa, Marshall, Forsyth, Sutton, Higginson, Shorrocks, Wells and so on.