Now the CC has been completed, we can focus on the league. Although a top 4 finish would be nice, it is going to be tough given we have 6 fixtures remaining to be played over 17 days: i presume the Catalan match will not be re-arranged.

For me, I would like to see Walker, Tindall, Broadbent, McLelland, Holroyd, Walters, O'Connor, Mustapha & Smith to be rotated in and allowed to play alongside relatively strong sides.

For Friday, I would go:-

1. Myler
2. Briscoe
3. Hurrell
4. Broadbent
5. Handley
6. McLelland
7. Gale
8. Holroyd
9. Leeming
10. Oledzki
11. Mellor
12. Walters
13. Prior

14. Dwyer
15. Smith
16. Seumanufagai
17. A. Sutcliffe

For Cas (three days later), I would go with:-

1. Walker
2. Tindall
3. A. Sutcliffe
4. L. Sutcliffe
5. Handley
6. Lui
7. McLelland
8. Seumanufagai
9. Dwyer
10. Holroyd
11. Mustapha
12. Martin
13. Smith

14. Leeming
15. O'Connor
16. Donaldson
17. Oledzki

I would like to see all players evenly rested and all players given a good opportunity.

You've put some thought into those selections!

To be honest I'd expect us just to put out the strongest possible side on Friday, and then rotate who we can but use the "other" team for Cas.

We do have one of the strongest squads in the comp, and I think the second side has a real chance of jagging a W or two before the end. Some squads are going to fall apart now with this regularity of fixtures, and every club is going to have the cherry pick those games they are investing in winning.

If we are in the play-offs at all come the end, but with a healthy squad I'd be happy with that. I do agree that some of the youth needs a shot playing in the first team side but it'll be a question of timing. I don't think Agar was taking risks with his selection for the CC final put it that way.

I hear DP is moaning again that Cas have 3 fixtures coming up with very little turnaround.
Funny you would think they are the only team who have been dealt that hand.
If I`m not mistaken our next 3 fixtures are worse than theirs by way of rest time.
We could be looking at 3 losses and out of the play offs by the end of the month.
5th place finish and a cup win is more than most of us would have expected at the start of the year though.

I would play the 3 that lost out Walker,Holdroyd and Smith against Saints.

Strongest team available v saints as they've a normal turnaround. Smith and holroyd in for Cuthbertson and A Sutcliffe. Rotate some for mon especially forwards and walker in.

let RA decide he's done it for 17 years

That’s what will happen but I’d play the second team again and then try and win the games v cas and 2 v wakey

You’d want to judge how much the players tipped in emotionally and physically on Sat, plus any injuries.

Very tactical for these remaining fixtures.

They need to pick up wins after dropping against cats and wire (understandably) if they want to do anything then competing with saints is key. Wins v cas/wakey more possible rotating given how they're going

Really confident we'll lose this one so I'd go with the kids plus 3/4 first teamers to at least be competitive.Walker,smith and holroyd hopefully in contention and at the very least one proper hooker.

For me I just dont like the message it sends putting out a massively weakened side v saints then favouring the 'easier' opponents in cas. The psychology of what you're saying to the first team isnt great especially with a normal turnaround (granted after the cup emotion). The score could massively blow out and I think the younger lads now need some proper integration ie bring one or 2 in where warranted, wouldn't be against Mellor being 'rested'.

With the challenge cup now won i think we should be playing a strong team on Friday vs Saints. Lose this one and potentially will have to win all remaining games. Would rather give it a go and then spell people with 3 or 4 changes in double headers vs Cas/Wakey. Only way to properly develop the younger players is to integrate them in competitive teams. On Friday I would go the following resting Mellor and Lui.

Walker
Briscoe
Hurrell
Sutcliffe
Handley
Myler
Gale
Ava
Leeming
Oledski
Martin
Smith
Prior

Dwyer
Donaldson
Holroyd
Walters

There's a continuity thing here, both our sides have been in good form overall, chopping and changing loads every week might not do much good. Both sides need some combinations working, especially in the top side. Changing Walker and Myler even is quite significant in the difference in style.

There is a positive opportunity here, even though we might all think a loss is the most likely outcome on Friday - I wouldn't write us off. Saints are a good side but if you can contain (IF) Walmsley you're on the right tracks. They are certainly beatable. If we could beat Saints the week after winning the CC, suddenly we believe we can make the double this year and we're high on confidence and with a deep squad at the business end.

I wouldn't be giving up on this fixture personally: but it really depends on the emotional and physical state of the first grade squad - it ended up being a titanic battle with Salford. Another angle is just that though: the difference between real quality players is that they can back up at that intensity on consecutive weeks and go again. That mentality is what made Leeds so dangerous in play-offs for so long I think. We might learn some things about this team asking them to rise again so soon after the CC...

If we are no chance for the SL title after anther few fixtures then we really can use the time to look at some different player combinations with little pressure - that's not such a bad outcome in the stage of redevelopment we're at, and with a cup in the cupboard.

We should go all out to win, and if not win take saints to a place like we did in that playoff game 2007. It needs to be a tough intense game for them. They've had it all their own way in super league for 2 seasons now and I'm sick of it. Been playing disease riddled teams every week recently.

After winning the Challenge Cup the golden generation couldnt win an egg and spoon race for a few week after. 6 games in 16 days from Saints game is a virtual impossible task.

Having won the Challenge Cup it leaves us in a bit pf a win win situation IMO. No one will judge too harshly (well maybe dome) if things tail off at the end of the season, the amount of games crammed in could be a bridge too far, and if it looks like we can’t make rhe playoffs we can give some kids a game for the experience, however I would be going all out to beat Saints on Friday, if we could manage that we can have a real pop at the SL title.

We have got a big squad which could really help us.

Whatever happens this season will be seen quite rightly as a success.

[*

Probably correct, but this year's CC wasn't quite the emotional and physical rollercoaster it normally is. We'll likely loose to Saints as they will be fresh as a daisy though. Very uphill task to finish top 4 now....
That's why I think we should have changed paying stronger teams vs Cats and Warrington, as we were basically throwing both games and top 4 chances.....

I agree although i probably wouldnt rest Mellor but if so swap with Smith.Start Walker rest Myler give Dwyer more game time bring Holroyd in for Cuthberston .Add Walters to bench (if Mellor rested) for some game time but i would also play him against Cas.

We are miles off Saints on Saturdays pathetic 2nd half performance so i would be happy to give this one away and try win the remaining games . Our 2nd string side will not beat any other reasonable strength team so i would go with with as strong as possible with obvious one or two rotations after Fridays game

Pathetic?

We weren’t great but in case you missed it, we won.

Agreed. I wouldn't play any of cup final 17 against Saints, and then go strongest possible for the remaining games, as long as there's a chance we can finish in top 4. If we're falling short, then integrate kids. 5th and a cup win is successful season though, given we've already had to sacrifice wins against 2 rivals.

Pathetic is harsh I think Salford deserved a lot credit for givi g Leeds a tough game. The Leeds pack had to really dig in at times in the second half. Our attack did loose its way a bit but we were far from pathetic.

We were terrible second half and didn't really deserve to win, but we have a big game player in Like Gale...

We had two injuries disrupt how we were planning on playing, went behind, had the patience to get back level then had the smarts to set up two match winning plays.

We weren’t great by any stretch but ‘terrible’ and ‘pathetic’ is not a good description at all, unless for some reason even when we win a trophy you want to have a go at the club.

Salford also played very well but weren’t smart enough at the crucial times.

Of course we deserved to win

I wonder how come, as technically salford had more big game experience, so you'd expect them to handle it better.