Brown's selection headache + Wigan chat

Quote :

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown will have the rare luxury of picking from a full-strength squad for the high-flying Giants’ trip to Wigan.

Forwards Eorl Crabtree and Simon Finnigan made their comebacks from injury in Sunday’s 46-6 win over Harlequins, and the return to fitness of the Giants’ other remaining casualties has given Brown a clean bill of health and a selection headache.

Hooker David Faiumu (groin) and back rower Andy Raleigh (finger) have been passed fit for the game at the JJB Stadium while former Wigan winger Martin Aspinwall is hoping to be one of five players lining up against their old club after recovering from a torn calf muscle.

The only Huddersfield player not available to Brown is reserve half-back Tom Hemingway, who is close to recovering from a shoulder re-construction.

“It’s good to have everybody back,” said Brown. “I’ve got some good headaches. It will be a tough selection this week.

“The medical staff have done a great job. It’s a good situation to be in. It’s better than looking for players.”

The Giants are lying in fourth place after winning four of their opening six matches under Brown and their squad is expected to be further boosted in the coming weeks by Australian utility player Liam Fulton, who is awaiting the arrival of a visa.

“He’s still training with Wests Tigers so he’ll turn up in good shape,” said Brown. “We’re just waiting for the phone call and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.”

Brown also confirmed the club are hoping to secure the signing of New Zealand Warriors’ World Cup winning half-back or hooker Nathan Fien for 2010.

“He’s a player of interest, that’s for sure,” he said.

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Excellent news!

Hey up

How are ya fella?

so with everyone available what would your line up be?

for me it would be:
1. Hodgson
2. Aspinwall
3. Lawrence
4. Whatuira
5. Hodgson
6. Brown
7. Robinson
8. Jackson
9. Moore
10. Mason
11. Wild
12. Raleigh
13. Finnigan

14. Crabtree
15. Griffin
16. Faiumu
17. Lolesi


that means the likes of Cudjoe, Kirkmond, Lunt etc... miss the cut, the reserves should also have a good weekend.

There is a old saying in sport that you should not change a winning team, however i will trust NB to select the right players to deal with Wigans danger men, As was the case with Hull , the halves could well be a handfull.

BO JANGLES wrote:

There is a old saying in sport that you should not change a winning team, however i will trust NB to select the right players to deal with Wigans danger men, As was the case with Hull , the halves could well be a handfull.

Absolutely agree, the thing is each opposition is different. Size, speed, tactics etc. I think there are times when it is vital to swap players around to match the opposition as best you can.

Tough one for Brown is that. Do you stick with a winning side or do you upset someone to bring in another player even though the dropped player played well? Well i'm glad i'm not making the decision. Who's going on Friday? Should take a better following than we usually do taking into account our form. Think we'll just shade this on 24-20

Don;t know if im going yet. Its a toss up, ive got Batley Thursday night and Dewsbury Sunday.

or

Giants Friday night.

When i could watch Saints Smash Wakey.

??

Gem Bob wrote:

Don;t know if im going yet. Its a toss up, ive got Batley Thursday night and Dewsbury Sunday.

or

Giants Friday night.

When i could watch Saints Smash Wakey.

??

If you go on Friday you could pick me up on your way to the M62

Gem Bob wrote:

Don;t know if im going yet. Its a toss up, ive got Batley Thursday night and Dewsbury Sunday.

or

Giants Friday night.

When i could watch Saints Smash Wakey.

??

you should be relegated to the rlfans site for that comment...batley/dewsbury or hudds Mmmmm the mind boggles, no wonder you dont know where to send your pm's

is the game on sky etc and is it a 20.00 hours kick off( 06.30 in gods country)

It's Wakey v Saints on SKY but heard a rumour it may be called off due to so soon after the death of Leon Walker. If this is the case then i'd imagine SKY to cover our game.

BO JANGLES wrote:

There is a old saying in sport that you should not change a winning team, however i will trust NB to select the right players to deal with Wigans danger men, As was the case with Hull , the halves could well be a handfull.

Gotta disagree about the team selection i would definitely bring back Raleigh gives us good go forward and tackles his heart out. he would be my first player on the team sheet every week.

i would probably bring ASPY back as well so experienced and is very sound defensively

faiumu i would probably bring back. More experienced than Lunt and probably better at moving the forwards around distribution wise.

I would also keep Kirmond on. Brown seems to be planning for the future and wanting to play young English players. i am not sure we will see some of our overseas players here next year. I think he will go for quality imports who may take up a bit of salary cap.

But i agree about Brown's team selections have got used to Brown springing surprises and am happy to leave it up to him. I think he appears to be picking teams based on a game plan to beat or nullify the opposition rather than what he feels is a first choice team and so far it is working. It means that all the players know that they will get a chance sooner or later. that helps to keep the squad happy and that over a season it is 25 man game.

it takes a good man to keep 25 pro players happy ..hopefully brown is doing this correctly, players playing for places is a great problem to have

I wonder if fringe players at the back of their minds hope for some first team players to have a little injury so they can have the chance to prove themselves on the big stage though

ponner wrote:

I wonder if fringe players at the back of their minds hope for some first team players to have a little injury so they can have the chance to prove themselves on the big stage though

most players will do this i suppose, its human nature..

Ponner: Its unlikely ill go tbh, but if i do ill let you know : )

Charlie: If you'd have seen Dewsbury v York you would see just how exciting a team they are to watch, in fact every Dewsbury game this year has been better than all Giants games except for Bulls.
Batley - well, Dewsbury season ticket holders get in for a fiver so its a no brainer.

That said the Wigan friendly was a good game.

Apart from Ponner anyone else interested in a lift? The more coming the less petrol each. There are 4 spaces in my car but i always take my lad so 2 left, 1 if Ponner is being serious.

Actually cancel my last post.

Having just realised visitors are bunged behind the sticks im sacking it off. Not paying 20 bean to sit behind the sticks.

We're in the East Stand - where we were last year.

Ivor C&G Scarf wrote:

We're in the East Stand - where we were last year.

I looked on the Wigan site and it said South Stand (or maybe north actually) for way supporters.

If we were in the North Stand our tickets on sale at the stadium would be for that area alas they're for the East stand which suggests the North stand is closed!

Whats the website on about then? If were sitting side on ill go.

which web site? I've looked on their official one and theres no mention of the organisation on friday! But I suggest it's like us who don't open the south stand if we're not expecting many away fans!

But our allocation's for the East stand along the touchline not behind the sticks!

I can't go Going to Cardiff for weekend but I will be there in spirit ... Plus I will be getting GD to keep me updated