So back to winning ways we go, but it came at a cost with Ryan Hall injuring his ankle and out for six weeks. Hopefully Briscoe will be back this week which would not hinder us much at all. If not then it'll be Keinhorst in the centre with Watkins on the wing. Galloway had a much better performance this week and hopefully he can keep that up. Be interesting whether Singleton and Garbutt are back in the frame this week too. We will probably miss Delaney as per the concussion procedure.

For me:

Hardaker. Watkins Keinhorst Moon Handley. Sutcliffe McGuire. Galloway Falloon Cuthbertson. Ablett Ferres. Singleton

Burrow Mullally JJB Garbutt

If Briscoe is back:

Hardaker. Briscoe Watkins Moon Handley. Sutcliffe McGuire. Galloway Falloon Cuthbertson. Ablett Ferres. Singleton.

Burrow Mullally JJB Garbutt

No point changing a winning team unless you're forced. Keinhorst for Hall with Watkins on the wing. Singo in for Delaney

I think Briscoe did have a chance of playing in one of the easter fixtures but not sure if it was cas or wakey the team I'd go with is:

Hardaker
Briscoe ( if definitely fine to return)
Watkins
Moon
Handley
Sutcliffe
Mcguire( if he is definitely fine to play)
Galloway
Falloon
Cuthbertson
Ablett
Ferres
JJB

Subs
Burrow
Delaney ( if he is definitely fine to play)
Singleton
Garbutt

If Briscoe is out Watkins to wing Keinhorst to centre if he is available if not Ablett to centre Singleton loose,JJB second row.


If Mcguire isn't fit then Burrow in halves, Lilley on bench but get more minutes than he did on Friday.

If Delaney is out Mullally onto bench.

Broadly agree but have singleton start with Ablett on the bench and JJB to second row
Id also be tempted to get Keinhorst in the team over Delany/ Mullally, as the Cas halves split us down the middle last time and he is a more mobile defender

Broadly agree but have singleton start with Ablett on the bench and JJB to second row
Id also be tempted to get Keinhorst in the team over Delany/ Mullally, as the Cas halves split us down the middle last time and he is a more mobile defender

With no real idea on McGuire,briscoe, Delaney it makes it hard to choose a team but I pretty much agree with above teams.

Why were Garbutt and Singleton out last week ? Are they fit enough to return ?.
I'd be tempted to save McGuire until the Wakey game or the one after but Delaney we could do with getting back so we have enough players to give Ferres a break.
Last year Ablett was flogged due to injuries to Delaney, jjb, Ward and Achurch and played in every game despite being clearly knackered . With all the back rowers we should have enough cover to rest him for 20 mins a game and even rotate him against weaker teams. Same for cuthbertson .

Both rested but Singletons Missus was due the day of the game so maybe that was part.

I'm not sure why everyone is not having Mullally in their squad considering he's been one of our better players in the games he's played.

Interview McGuire on the site said he took a niggle in training on Wednesday but he will be ok for Thursday.

Good point, I might swap him for Galloway or Garbutt, but like I said I would have Keinhorst on the bench if possible to stop Gale and Roberts splitting us down the middle as they did last year

Singleton and Garbutt were dropped because of their performance at Wigan. They were both at Headingley on Friday, so Singo's missus has got nothing to do with it

Regarding Mullally I agree, he's done well in a run of poor to average games and I'd still like to see him getting game time. However if McGuire is back that puts burrow on a guaranteed bench spot.
Add in Singleton and Garbutt you then have one spot left.

I would rather have starting props of Galloway and cuthbertson, with Singleton at LF. Then garbutt and mullally on the bench. At least until Ward is fit.
That however creates back row problems. Ferres,Ablett,jjb and Delaney to squeeze into two positions and one bench spot. We should be using that depth to rest and rotate as I said earlier.

I also forgot keinhorst lol,he has been pretty good this year too.

With back rowers coming back from injury, I'd like to see Ferres rested against Cas. But we know what Mac is like. He flogged Ablett last year. We need to rotate, but be mindful of the opposition and where we are in the table.

Cas will have to improve a lot on their last two performances to turn Leeds over - even at home.

I expect Leeds to win with ease.

Even just cutting him down from playing 80 mins a game would be a start.

I doubt it. Cas are always up for a game with Leeds, and will be desperate to put things right.

Leeds rarely put the Bulls to the sword in their relegation era (i.e. when we should have put 50 past them on paper) and Cas are more than capable of turning it on against us.

I'll take a win and an improved performance, not bothered about the margin.

I think regardless of who we have in our team we need to make sure Gale and Roberts (if fit) have a quiet game, they have ripped us apart in recent meetings.

Huh? It's their cup final don't you know!Expect them to come out all guns blazing after that last shocker of a performance.

If the lads we expect to be fit are available id go with
Hardaker
Handley
Moon
Watkins
Briscoe
Sutty
Mags
Galloway
Falloon
Cuthbertson
Jjb
Ablett
Singo

Burrow
Mullally
Garbutt
Ferres

Last i heard JK was still injured?? plus no need to rush Delaney after a big head knock with players coming back and another game on Monday.
The likes of Walters JK (if fit) Baldwinson Lilley et al can still get game-time v Wakey.

Singo, Garbutt and Jimmy were all dropped. They were all available to play against Saints. I would expect to see Hall, Lilley, Delaney & Walters to drop out for Briscoe, McGuire, Garbutt and Singo.

Being "up for it" will only get a team so far. We shouldn't get beaten by Cas. If it was Cas from the last 2 seasons then I'd be worried. They got panned by Wire. Properly demolished. They aren't as good as Saints.

Referee: J Child
Touch Judges: J Cobb, C Kendall
Video Referee: B Thaler

Was gonna go but wont bother now, Ive never seen Child ref an entertaining game, petulant, clueless, constant wrong decisions for both sides, and gives penalties at random

It was reported Jimmy missed out with a calf injury mate..... Not dropped, it would have been an odd decision to drop him given he was one of the best players albeit in a poor team the previous week

Singleton wasn't dropped either. They knew at the beginning of the week his partner was due to give birth on the Friday, and he had already asked to be available for the birth, and hence the planned team without him.

I suspect that is a convenient party line.