I don't think the lack of rotation had anything to do with making them 'battle hardened', I think McDermott's sticking to the same guys had more to do with a lack of confidence in the fringe/young players to do a job. IIRC he and Sinfield said something along the lines of needing to address the lack of quality in the depth of the squad after the GF.

As for Singleton, if we sign Moon (or Tonga) then it will lessen his chances of any game time.
Ablett will return to Loose Forward,
which in turn means Bailey will revert back to Subsitute Prop,
which leaves you with Achurch (if used as prop and not 2nd row), Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Singleton fighting for the 4th prop spot in the 17.

I think the forwards will look like this when/if everybody is fit.
8 - Leuluai
10 - Peacock
11 - JJB
12 - Delaney
13 - Ablett

14 - Subsitute Hooker
15 - Bailey
16 - Achurch
17 - Ward (another season of subsitute back rower for him because he won't be getting near the halfback positions for a while yet unless injuries strike)

That leaves Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Clarkson and Singleton out of the 17. And they might not be everyone's cup of tea but i'd be very surprised if Singleton got picked ahead of Kirke and Griffin if 1 or 2 injuries occur or rests are needed. Might as well try get him out on loan to another SL club if possible.

I'd be surprised if Kylie plays as much as he did last season, and would also be surprised if Achurch walks into the squad as a prop. Also, teams based on injury-free scenarios never really work.

As far as I can see our depth charts (if we sign Moon) are:

Fullback: Hardaker (BJB, Watson)

Wing: Hall, BJB (Watson, Vickery, Chisholm)

Centre: Watkins, Moon (Ablett, Keinhorst, Delaney)

Halfback: Sinfield, McGuire (Burrow, Moon, Ward)

Prop: Peacock, Bailey, Griffin, Leuluai (Kirke, Singleton, Moore, Achurch)

Hooker: Burrow (McShane, Hood)

Backrow: JJB, Ablett, Delaney, Ward (Achurch, Clarkson, Bailey)

____________________

Plenty of combinations available to cover for most injuries or rotations. Can see all of those named above except maybe the reserve wingers getting good gametime.

As above the squad on paper looks good and capable of covering injuries.

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joLegend[/u:27xo53jo:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[Year Contract Expires:27xo53jo
:27xo53joOQ:27xo53jo – Overseas Quota [Max 5
:27xo53joNFT:27xo53jo – Non-Federation Trained [Max 5
:27xo53joCT:27xo53jo – Club Trained [Min 8
:27xo53joFT:27xo53jo – Federation Trained
:27xo53joK:27xo53jo - Goal Kicker
:27xo53joE:27xo53jo - Exempt

[url=http://www.twitter.com/leedsrhinos:27xo53joClub Official Twitter[/url:27xo53jo

:27xo53joCoach::27xo53jo Brian McDermott [:27xo53jo2013:27xo53jo
:27xo53joAssistant Coach::27xo53jo James Lowes
:27xo53joUnder 20s Coach::27xo53jo Chris Pulme
:27xo53joUnder 18s Coach::27xo53jo Damien Gibson

[u:27xo53jo:27xo53joOOC 2013::27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo
:27xo53joBacks & Halfbacks::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JamelChisholm7:27xo53joJamel Chisholm[/url:27xo53jo; 07/11/92; Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
:27xo53joForwards::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Hayemaker16:27xo53joRyan Bailey[/url:27xo53jo; 11/11/83; Prop/Loose Forward - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Rob7Burrow:27xo53joRob Burrow[/url:27xo53jo; 26/09/82; Hooker/Scrum Half - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/IanKirke:27xo53joIan Kirke[/url:27xo53jo; 26/12/80; Prop/Second Row - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
Kylie Leuluai; 29/03/78; Prop - :27xo53joOQ:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/BradSingo:27xo53joBrad Singleton[/url:27xo53jo; 29/10/92; Prop/Loose Forward - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joFirst Team:[/u:27xo53jo:27xo53jo
:27xo53joBacks & Halfbacks::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/LukeBriscoee:27xo53joLuke Briscoe[/url:27xo53jo; 11/03/94; Stand Off/Fullback [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
Ryan Hall; 27/11/87; Wing [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/ZakHardaker1:27xo53joZak Hardaker[/url:27xo53jo; 17/11/91; Fullback/Centre/Wing [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/BenJonesBishop:27xo53joBen Jones Bishop[/url:27xo53jo; 24/08/88; Wing/Fullback/Centre [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JimmyKeinhorst:27xo53joJimmy Keinhorst[/url:27xo53jo; 14/07/90; Centre [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/DannyMcGuire6:27xo53joDanny McGuire[/url:27xo53jo; 06/12/82; Stand Off/Scrum Half [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo- :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
Kevin Sinfield; 12/09/80; Stand Off/Scrum Half/Hooker/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/KalWatkins91:27xo53joKallum Watkins[/url:27xo53jo; 12/03/91; Centre/Wing/Fullback [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JimmyWatson91:27xo53joJimmy Watson[/url:27xo53jo; 09/09/91; Fullback/Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
:27xo53joForwards::27xo53jo
Carl Ablett; 19/12/85; Second Row/Centre/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/MitchAchurch:27xo53joMitch Achurch[/url:27xo53jo; 14/07/88; Prop/Second Row [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joNFT E:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/ChrisClarkson00:27xo53joChris Clarkson[/url:27xo53jo; 07/04/90; Second Row/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/BrettDelaney15:27xo53joBrett Delaney[/url:27xo53jo; 26/10/85; Second Row/Centre [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joNFT OQ:27xo53jo
Darrell Griffin; 19/06/81; Prop [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/LiamHood24:27xo53joLiam Hood[/url:27xo53jo; 06/01/92; Hooker/Scrum Half [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
Jamie Jones Buchanan; 01/08/81; Second Row/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Mcshane_Paul:27xo53joPaul McShane[/url:27xo53jo; 19/11/89; Hooker [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/MooreRJMoorey:27xo53joRichard Moore[/url:27xo53jo; 02/02/81; Prop [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JamiePeacock10:27xo53joJamie Peacock[/url:27xo53jo; 14/12/77; Prop [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Ste_Ward:27xo53joStevie Ward[/url:27xo53jo; 17/11/93; Loose Forward/Second Row/Stand Off [:27xo53jo2017:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joTrialist:27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo

Joe Vickery; 29/09/89; Centre/Wing - :27xo53joNFT E:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joAcademy::27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo
:27xo53joBacks & Halfbacks::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Ducky_94:27xo53joJames Duckworth[/url:27xo53jo; 09/04/94; Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JoshuaSunley:27xo53joJoshua Sunley[/url:27xo53jo; 22/08/93; Fullback/Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
:27xo53joForwards::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JordanBaldy:27xo53joJordan Baldwinson[/url:27xo53jo; 10/11/94; Second Row :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/AlexFozz94:27xo53joAlex Foster[/url:27xo53jo; 25/09/93; Second Row/Centre - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Liam_Sutcliffe:27xo53joLiam Sutcliffe[/url:27xo53jo; 25/11/94; Loose Forward/Stand Off - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo

--------------------

[u:27xo53jo:27xo53jo2013:27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo

Rumoured - In: [url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10047646.Bradford_Bulls__Leeds_Rhinos_swoop_for_teenager_McAvoy/:27xo53joLiam McAvoy; Prop [:27xo53jo2013:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo [Bradford Bulls[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/rhinos-move-on-tonga-may-allow-folau-to-join-eels-20121115-29ewn.html:27xo53joWillie Tonga; 08/08/83; Centre - :27xo53joNFT OQ:27xo53jo [Parramatta Eels[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/leeds-rhinos-close-in-on-transfer-target-1-5149050:27xo53joJoel Moon; 20/05/1988; Centre/Stand Off/Scrum Half/Second Row/Loose Forward - :27xo53joNFT OQ:27xo53jo [Salford City Reds[/url:27xo53jo

:27xo53joIns - Confirmed::27xo53jo [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/20023.php:27xo53joMitch Achurch; 14/07/88; Prop/Second Row [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joNFT E:27xo53jo [Penrith Panthers[/url:27xo53jo
:27xo53joOut - Confirmed::27xo53jo [url=http://www.catalansdragons.com/index.php?article=2012-09-04_2260:27xo53joBrent Webb [Catalan Dragons[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/halifax-rlfc/fax-sign-leeds-ambler-on-a-two-year-contract-1-4743302:27xo53joLuke Ambler [Halifax RL[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/19015.php:27xo53joJay Pitts [Hull FC[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/19885.php:27xo53joLee Smith [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/20280.php:27xo53joWeller Hauraki [Castleford Tigers[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.giantsrl.com/news/article/1841/giants-welcome-lunt-back:27xo53joShaun Lunt [Huddersfield Giants - Loan Return[/url:27xo53jo, Daniel Smith [Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Jared Stewart [Newcastle RU.

:27xo53joUnder 20s Released:, Ollie Olds, Clayton Stott, Ryan Smith, Douglas Foster, Brad Cox, Luke Teasdale, Gareth Morgan, Jose Kenga, Jake Normington, Ben Finder, Gerry Lee-Pierre.

I think Keinhorst will cover wing ahead of Vickery. Otherwise, the squad doesn't look too shabby to me. I would like to see one or other of McShane and Hood showing that they're ready to step up this year.

Does the same apply to Joel Moon?

I'm pretty sure he's not from the Moon... Or Tonga

Pfft. Another fraudulent Antipodean blagging their way into a Super League team.
At least the British players were always what they claimed to be. Karl Pratt & Iestyn 'arris as 2 fine examples.

Not to mention Kevin Dick

And Graham Eccles, he was actually a cake.

Is Ben Jones-Bishop really a Bishop?

Is Jamie Peacock really a Peacock?

Just how deep does this conspiracy to mass fraud go? I think a Newsnight special is called for.

Did someone mention cake?

Setaimata Sa and Karl Temata are both Tomatoes.

We will get to the bottom of this embarrassment.

Not to mention Ryan Hall. He's not a Hall. He doesn't have a staircase, a coat-hook, a welcome mat. Nothing.
It goes further than Leeds though. Gareth Hock is not a cheap bottle of wine, Chris Hill, where does it end? It's a disgrace.
I think an Inquiry is needed. Chaired by Nigel Wood. He has always been genuine in being a large tree trunk.

Will James Child ever mature into a decent ref?

Adrian Morley is from Salford the Lying Sod!

What about Karl Pratt?

...nuff said.

I heard Marcus Bai is actually Straight as a Die.

Some names of old, due to be exposed on Panorama...

Craig Izzard - was a cuddly sort.
Cyrille Pons - ladies man.
Wendell Sailor - never been on a boat.
Gilles Dumas - actually quite clever.
Mike Ford & Phil Ford - drove an Austin Maestro and Vauxhall Carlton, respectively.
Sam Panapa - his father's an insomniac.
Jon Ribot - can't even speak French.
Bal Numapo - still using his old A to Z.
Ruben Wiki - not really a font of all knowledge.
Jonny Raper - a true gentleman.

Yep, I was bored. Sorry.

I'M JUST BIG BONED.

Is everyone ok if I use his name as a replacement for masturbation from now on?

...I'm just going for a "Willie Tonga" love

just seems to fit for me

I use the phrase "I'm off for a Willie Mason Love"



Following on from the theme, Willie Mason only has one part of his name right........And he ain't no good with a Chisle Mush.

Earliest derivation of that name means "cunning or astute". Go figure.

Wayne Kerr



Erm......lets not go there