When does the team get announced who is playing Rhinos?

I guess nobody knows then !

heard today that they scattered some of the old pitch on the newly laid pitch in some kind of ritual, whether this is to honour the past scatterings I don't know but a victory on Boxing day will hold sweet in our memories

Traditionally I think the 19 man squad is released three days before, if the regular season is anything to go by

Wildcats’ squad is: Mathers, Fox, Collis, L Smith, Cockayne, Sykes, T Smith, Poore, Aiton, Trout, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Washbrook. Subs from Wood, Mellars, Cowling, Lyne, Goulding, Wildie, Healy, Slater.

lol it looks like he might be putting Trout in at prop afterall

Don't think he's much choice!

Nick Rigg‏@WExp_Nick



Still waiting for official confirmation from @WTWildcatsRL on Boxing Day squad, one announced elsewhere may not be the final one. #wakefield

There must be some agreement to play a strong side so that the game generates a good income. From a Rugby point of view I would not `risk ` Collis, T. Smith, L.Smith, Poore, Kirmond or Ali.

If Wildie has recovered from his shoulder op I would like him to start at 9, I would aslo want Goulding to start along with Cowling, Walshaw, Anakin and Lyne.

If its true that Slater is on his way to Aus then there is no point in him playing.

I would also like to see more than one of our under 19`s on the bench. That said its good to see Healy in the squad.

I fully understand the view that if we are asking fans to pay £ 20 then they should see the best players, I understand it but disagree, I would prefer to see more of the up and coming players try their hand at this level. Does anyone remember seeing a young Lee Smith rip us apart in a previous boxing day game, what a fantastic game he had.

After confirming the squad announcement, Nick Rigg said that the squad could be reduced from the size it is at the moment.



Good showing at the moment though, glad to see a strong squad put forward

1 fit prop forward not good

One player to watch is Josh Sunly, I have seen him play a few times in age group rugby. He was fantastic in the Leeds under 18`s last season, it will be interesting to see what he looks like against our first team players. He is not a big lad, and I hate to compare, but he is a Jason Robinson, Sam Tomkins, Karl Eastmond style player. When he has ball in hand you are just willing for your players to tackle him and somehow they just don`t get a hand on him, he goes sidways and backwards as fast as he goes forwards. Hope he gets plenty of game time on Boxing day as he is one to watch. That said I do not think he was selected for the England academy side, not sure if he was injured but if not the England selector must not agree with me.