You seem like your fishing, but still, I'd argue that rather than doing less minutes, Manu just needs to be kept out f the battle for the ruck, instead he should only be used wider, where his foot work can be used to proper effect.

I don't think I'd swap him for either McGillvary or Lineham to be honest.

No fishing. I just don't rate either of them.



Swift has potential, I'll grant that but to put him on the level of Lineham is ludicrous. Makinson is by far the better prospect and given that I wouldn't be willing to have Swift and Percival on the same side, I'd rather have Percival.



Manu has been a player I have not rated ever since he came over here. If you create a scoreboard whereby a good piece of skill, line break or an offload counts as +1, and a penalty, missed tackle or knock on counts as -1, I'd wager he would have as low a score as anyone over the past five years. His headline plays for mine do not justify the sheer number of negative plays he produces.

On what basis?

I was wondering the same. Makinson seems to have stalled in his development in the last couple of seasons, needs a big year. Swift is very new and has only a dozen or so games under his belt, in which hes done amazingly well, but we need to see him after a season or even two.

Im not getting too excited but signs are good so far

Swift and Makinson are two very different players. I think Swift does have a better all round game than Tommy but Tommy's finishing is fantastic.



Im happy that both play for St Helens.

On manu



I think he should come in 20 mins in then be used for the rest of the game.

Changed my mind about the lineup





J-lo

Swift

Percival

Turner

Makinson

Wheels

Walsh

Amor

Roby

Walmsley

Soliola

Wilkin

LMS



Masoe

Manu

Laffranchi

Jones



I can't 100% give out best team and the more I think about it the more I'm excited by it.

We have a fantastic squad this year

Amor has pretty much took the starting spot straight away. Great player.

Walsh and wheeler - NICE



I wish we had someone to spell roby.

Lance for me just isn't worth using at all. If a deal can be done to get rid I would.

He could prove me wrong but his lack of effort doesn't warrant a place in the team ever again.



Players fighting for spots

Wello, Flanagan, Beaumont, Ade, Clough,

And the youngsters who you would

Imagine will get a chance at some point at there will be one or two with injuries who I'm sure will take there chance and cause more headaches for the coach.

I would say that Lance is our best option for spelling Roby.

I know people will state it's too much money to be a bench player, but quite frankly it's a sunk cost.



I agree Manu should start from the bench, especially when it's wet and a tough match. His instict to push the ball early creates too much pressure on us early on.



Also Sia can do big minutes and Jones would give us a steady defensive start.

I liked Walmsley starting and the fact he did lots more tackling than last year is great.



I'd hope we could rotate a forward this week. As Sia maybe having a rest anyway. Why not push Laffranchi into the 2nd row and let Beaumount have a run up front. As an ex hull located lad I'm sure he would be eager against Hull FC to give it his all.



Our best line up



Lomax, Makinson Turner Percival Swift Wheeler Walsh

Amor Roby Walmsley Sia Laffranchi LMS



Masoe, Manu, Lance, Jones.



Our line up for next week, I go with the above back line and assuming Sia cops a ban.

Amor Roby Walmsley, Jones, Wilkin, LMS



Manu, Lance, Laffranchi, Beaumount.

For me, jones and Wilkin are too similar back rowers to start together (though his immediate displacement from centre for Percival does seem to suggest he's going to become heir apparent to the "defensive workhorse back rower" role Wilkin plays) I'd rather bring flanaghan in and start with jones on the bench again with Manu with Wilkin and Flanaghan starting. Other than that unchanged (assuming sia is banned)

I just think Manu tries too much in the opening of a game which puts us under pressure. That's why I would bench him. If he could keep a lid on it and hold the ball for 10-15 minutes, I'd have no worries starting him.

It was interesting to see how much we used Manu early on. I think he's best off the bench.



1. Lomax

2. Makinson

3. Turner

4. Jones

5. Swift



6. Wheeler

7. Walsh



8. Amor

9. Roby

10. Walmsley

11. Soliola

12. Wilkin

13. LMS



14. Hohaia

15. Laffranchi

16. Mosoe

17. Manu

I'd go with that.