There are a few changes to the 19-man squad for Thursday. Mercifully, Matty Smith is unavailable after picking up a suspension in last week's shambolic defeat to Leeds, which consigned Wire to a pathetic 4th-placed finish in the league, in his only positive moment of service to the club so far. There is no Sitaleki Akauola either, who is bizarrely left out, while Matt Davis also doesn't make it, despite his good form in his most recent games. Declan Patton and Joe Philbin are expected to be restored to the side after missing out last week, while in more delightful news, Lama Tasi is in the 19 for this one.
Full Back - 1 Stefan Ratchford
While this game is win at all costs, we also could do with seeing some nice attacking play, something to get bums off seats and get some confidence going for the next playoff fixture (if we get past Castleford). I want to see Ratchford joining the line late on and finding the killer pass out wide. In a game that could be very tight on the scoreboard, Ratchford's goal-kicking needs to be at its best.
Winger - 2 Tom Lineham
I'm not sure Lineham has had a worse game for Wire than last week at Headingley, and if it was mid-season I'd suggest dropping him for this one, but it's the playoffs and the season is on the line, so we have to play our strongest 13. I have every faith that he'll be better, he doesn't often have two bad games in a row and usually rises to the big occasion.
Centre - 3 Bryson Goodwin
I mean, it's so typical that I built him up as one of the best centres in the league last week, then he goes and puts in his worst display of the year at Headingley. Still, I wouldn't have any doubts about starting him in this one. He's usually very consistent and reliable, and is a huge try threat too. Always seems to turn it on in the big games also.
I mean, it's so typical that I built him up as one of the best centres in the league last week, then he goes and puts in his worst display of the year at Headingley. Still, I wouldn't have any doubts about starting him in this one. He's usually very consistent and reliable, and is a huge try threat too. Always seems to turn it on in the big games also.
Centre - 18 Toby King
I feel like King has gone quiet a bit lately, and with no real doubts over his place in the team, is perhaps lacking competition to drive him forward. Castleford concede a fair few tries from high kicks, and with all of ours aimed towards King, he will be one of our most key weapons, if we set about targeting that weakness.
I feel like King has gone quiet a bit lately, and with no real doubts over his place in the team, is perhaps lacking competition to drive him forward. Castleford concede a fair few tries from high kicks, and with all of ours aimed towards King, he will be one of our most key weapons, if we set about targeting that weakness.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
We are certainly short of positives at the minute, but having Charnley back in tryscoring form could be an enormous boost as we enter the playoffs. It's no coincidence that now that Ratchford and Austin are back in the team, Charnley has seen more ball out wide. Can always rely on him to do a terrific defensive job, too.
We are certainly short of positives at the minute, but having Charnley back in tryscoring form could be an enormous boost as we enter the playoffs. It's no coincidence that now that Ratchford and Austin are back in the team, Charnley has seen more ball out wide. Can always rely on him to do a terrific defensive job, too.
Stand Off - 6 Blake Austin
Our attack has looked a bit more cohesive since Austin's return and at least has a bit more fire about it. He certainly hasn't hit his best form though and we will need him to be a bit more consistent with quality of passing and handling of the ball. There's no doubt that most of our threat will be coming from him.
Our attack has looked a bit more cohesive since Austin's return and at least has a bit more fire about it. He certainly hasn't hit his best form though and we will need him to be a bit more consistent with quality of passing and handling of the ball. There's no doubt that most of our threat will be coming from him.
Scrum Half - 15 Declan Patton
With Matty Smith suspended in a beautiful turn of events, Dec Patton is pretty certain to be restored at seven for this one. While Patton is by no means good enough for us, he has a better kicking game than Smith and occasionally finds good passes out to the edges. If there was any time for him to produce his best performance of the season, it's now...
Prop - 8 Chris Hill
Our front row will have a very familiar look to it, with Hill occupying one of the spots at prop. Leadership and on-field captaincy is going to be extremely important, and we need minimal errors or penalties. And as always in the big games, the battle of the forwards will be massive, so Hill will need to do long, fruitful stints.
Our front row will have a very familiar look to it, with Hill occupying one of the spots at prop. Leadership and on-field captaincy is going to be extremely important, and we need minimal errors or penalties. And as always in the big games, the battle of the forwards will be massive, so Hill will need to do long, fruitful stints.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Our hero, lord and saviour will be the most important player on the pitch, which is nothing unusual for him. His runs from dummy-half are simply sensational and his passing game makes him one of our most creative outlets. Easily our best player this season and I hope that we get through this game and the next two so that he can have another crack at the Grand Final.
Our hero, lord and saviour will be the most important player on the pitch, which is nothing unusual for him. His runs from dummy-half are simply sensational and his passing game makes him one of our most creative outlets. Easily our best player this season and I hope that we get through this game and the next two so that he can have another crack at the Grand Final.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
In Liam Watts and Mike Cooper, there will be two of the league's best props on show on Thursday. His metres and tackling are always good, and his offloading game has been among the best this season. A really big night for him against his former club too.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Currie had an absolutely torrid time at Headingley, which is a shame as he was in reasonable form going into that one. I would keep him in the second row as I think his tackling rate will be important against a team that like to throw the ball as much as Castleford. He looked gutted with himself last Friday, I'm sure he'll be better this time.
Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
I'd bring Hughes back in for this one. As shocking as his pass was which led to Leeds' first try, he did a better job than Murdoch-Masila and is more reliable in terms of work-rate and tackling success. In a tight game, we can't afford any passengers.
Loose Forward - 14 Jason Clark
There haven't been many positives at all in the last four or five Super League games, but the improvement in Jason Clark is one slight positive. He has emerged as first-choice loose forward and is a good tackler. I'd like to see more handling from him and a bit more influential plays, but for me there is no doubt that he'll start on Thursday.
Interchange - 17 Joe Philbin
One of few players who can say they have had a genuinely good season is Joe Philbin. His endeavour and metre-making is second to none and had he started more games would've been a contender for the Dream Team. His yardage and work rate will be absolutely essential from the bench here.
Interchange - 13 Ben Murdoch-Masila
In recent weeks we have seen Murdoch-Masila start in the second row. He had a stinking game against Leeds, conceding penalties and missing tackles, and I hope to see him back on the bench for this one, because Hughes is an important enough player that he should be starting. I do hope that when Murdoch-Masila gets time on the field, he is used correctly.
Interchange - 34 Ben Westwood
A lot will depend on whether Price goes with three forwards and a back or a bench consisting purely of four forwards. Either way, I think Westwood should feature. Tasi and Livett could be okay options from the bench, but I think Westwood can do better drives and is probably a better tackler. We're also at the point now where every game he plays could well be his last ever.
Interchange - 22 Jake Mamo
It's almost becoming the norm that we have Mamo on the bench now. I can't say I'm a huge fan of it, though it has allowed us to get longer minutes out of Murdoch-Masila. It makes me wonder if we will continue with a back on the bench next year, which might be how we use Matty Ashton? Anyway, Mamo has scored three times in two games against Castleford this season, so he has their number.
A lot will depend on whether Price goes with three forwards and a back or a bench consisting purely of four forwards. Either way, I think Westwood should feature. Tasi and Livett could be okay options from the bench, but I think Westwood can do better drives and is probably a better tackler. We're also at the point now where every game he plays could well be his last ever.
Interchange - 22 Jake Mamo
It's almost becoming the norm that we have Mamo on the bench now. I can't say I'm a huge fan of it, though it has allowed us to get longer minutes out of Murdoch-Masila. It makes me wonder if we will continue with a back on the bench next year, which might be how we use Matty Ashton? Anyway, Mamo has scored three times in two games against Castleford this season, so he has their number.
For once, I really don't think there are many spots in the 17 that are up for debate. I would say the second row is a three-way fight for two places between Currie, Hughes and Murdoch-Masila, with one of the three likely to be on the bench alongside Philbin and Mamo. I would say the last place on the bench is a straight fight between Westwood, Tasi and Livett.
I've seen a lot of our opponents this year, what with Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Castleford showing the Tigers with extreme regularity. They are a side that like to play attractive rugby and are no strangers to passing the ball around. This makes them very dangerous in attack with a top-class half in Jake Trueman, who I am convinced will become one of Super League's stars in the next five seasons. Trueman's exceptional short kicking game and ability to take the line on means that we need to be absolutely on song defensively. There are other threats too, Peter Mata'utia is a useful player at full back, while in Cheyse Blair, Greg Minikin, Greg Eden and James Clare, their edges are strong. Mike McMeeken is one of the league's best second rowers, while Jordan Rankin has been on a real upturn in form in recent weeks. Paul McShane is a superb hooker and if it wasn't for James Roby and Daryl Clark, would receive far greater appreciation. As big a fan of Trueman as I am, for me Castleford's star is Liam Watts. Watts has been the best prop in Super League this season and made both the Dream Team and the Man of Steel shortlist. The quality and robustness of Watts makes the battle of the forwards even harder from a Wire perspective. This season we've had two wins and a loss against Daryl Powell's side, though they are coming into this one in far better form.
I've seen a lot of our opponents this year, what with Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Castleford showing the Tigers with extreme regularity. They are a side that like to play attractive rugby and are no strangers to passing the ball around. This makes them very dangerous in attack with a top-class half in Jake Trueman, who I am convinced will become one of Super League's stars in the next five seasons. Trueman's exceptional short kicking game and ability to take the line on means that we need to be absolutely on song defensively. There are other threats too, Peter Mata'utia is a useful player at full back, while in Cheyse Blair, Greg Minikin, Greg Eden and James Clare, their edges are strong. Mike McMeeken is one of the league's best second rowers, while Jordan Rankin has been on a real upturn in form in recent weeks. Paul McShane is a superb hooker and if it wasn't for James Roby and Daryl Clark, would receive far greater appreciation. As big a fan of Trueman as I am, for me Castleford's star is Liam Watts. Watts has been the best prop in Super League this season and made both the Dream Team and the Man of Steel shortlist. The quality and robustness of Watts makes the battle of the forwards even harder from a Wire perspective. This season we've had two wins and a loss against Daryl Powell's side, though they are coming into this one in far better form.
As Cas are likely to play some fluid, attacking stuff, I hope we respond in kind with nice passing play and threatening attacks to counteract what we will face. We have become far too predictable and frankly, boring to watch of late and it has coincided with our shocking downturn in results. I want to see a performance full of heart and high on intensity. In the biggest games this season - Wigan at home, St Helens at home, Wigan at magic, the Challenge Cup semi and the final - we have produced excellent performances and usually come away with the win. As a result of our utterly disgraceful league form, there really is no room for error any more. Thursday is win or bust and it'll be the last game of 2019 for one of ourselves or Castleford. The season hinges on this game and a loss ends the year there and then. Pressure situations like this and knockout football do tend to bring the best out of this side, which I guess gives us hope.
As bad as our form is, we're three wins from Old Trafford and come 10pm on Thursday, we could just be two wins away from a trip to Manchester and a place in the Grand Final.
Let's do this.
Let's do this.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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