Right as some of you may know I have bin Matty Smiths biggest critic over the last year but I think his performance on Sunday was nothing short of outstanding, I also thought he played well in a poor team at Cardiff, I know its early days this season but hopefully his move to hooker will be a good one. I have also liked what I have seen of ratchford so far and it just shows what playing him in the right position can do.



I just hope McRae keeps ratchford at stand of and Smith at hooker for Friday as I think they deserve it. I just have a feeling McRae will move smith back into the halves and put Godwin at hooker which if I was Ratchford id be fairly pi*sed of about it. I actually thought Godwin was our best player at Cardiff before he got sent off but its now up to him to earn his place back in the team. Id be quite annoyed if this happened to.



Lets hope we get a decent crowd Friday and can put a good performance and not get stuffed again.

With Godwin back for the next game and Ryan Boyle suspended again no doubt, I'd go with something this.



1. Patten

2. Broughton

3. Henry

4. Nero

5. Gibson

6. Ratchford

7. Holdsworth

8. Cashmere

9. Smith (Deserves to keep his starting spot, he was outstanding against Wakey and not getting nealry enough credit for his performance)

10. Jewitt

11. Sidlow

12. Adamson

13. Wild



14. Feka

15. Godwin

16. Parker

17. Neal/Spencer ( No one else fit at the moment)



If Boyle is allowed to play, Jewitt to the bench instead of Neal/Spencer and Boyle to come into the front row.



Still got Gleeson, Bailey, Anderson to come into the team yet.



We've now got to keep some sort of performance going against Wigan, no ones expecting us to beat either Wigan or Leeds in out next couple of games, but its important that we don't crumble after a great performance at Wakefield. If we can get through these 2 games without any major injuries/suspensions then we should hopefully start to get some bodies back then with a bit of luck we can start to pick some points up and gain a bit of consistency.

From what was said at the meeting last night, Boyle will be more than fine, in-fact, if I heard him right, after the game even Ganson agreed that there was nothing in it, I think he had to act on what the linesman said (who was stood directly in-front of some fervent Wakey fans who's opinions may have swayed it!

) but I could have heard that wrong and may get my legs slapped

I think I would start with the same team with Godwin on the bench. my worry would be how Smith would cope up against a front row of Coley, Mcillorum (sp?) and Fielden (if fit) and so the extra hooking experience of Godwin would be very useful



I think that Godwin, Smith and Ratchford will have to get used to spending parts of each game on the bench in a fully fit team. They should all get similar times on the field so shouldn't worry too much about who starts on the field or on the bench



There's a lot of logic behind having the defensively sound Godwin on for the first 20 with Smith starting for his kicking game and then bringing Stef on (for Godwin with Smith moving to hooker) to increase the attacking options after 20 mins or so. Smith could then be rested after his spell at hooker with Godwin coming back on and Ratchford staying on and decisions after that depending on how the game is progressing (if we want to close it down bring Smith back on for Stef, if we are chaisng it, have all three on in some capacity)



providing the forwards provide a platform we have some good combinations at hooker/half back to give us plenty of options

surely we cannot change a winning team? For me we should stick with the same team/squad for this game regardless of who is available from injuries/suspensions

and because of the poor lighting at Wakefield how could the linesman see, because we couldn't see Boylie had even gone off.

As expected Boyle no charge. [url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/disciplinary/item?2358Here[/url

Agreed 100% he played the ball quickly and we looked like a different side

[iRATCHFORD needs to be offered a long term contract with the Reds before the likes of St Helens come sniffing again now it's official that Eastmond is jumping ship at the end of this season.[/i

would he want to stay?

[iReports in the paper this morning state that Rugby Union clubs Newcastle Falcons and London Irish are checking up on Ratchford.



Like I have said before come on Salford City Reds get this very talented player tied up before we loose another classy young player.

[/i

Certainly we need to get him on a decent contract - but ultimately if the big money comes in who knows what may happen - after all if St Helens couldn't hang on to Eastmond.......