It's not even a question whether BJB is better in all aspects. It's a question whether Chisholm or Watson are, but the answer is probably the same. Bonus question is where on a list of John Basnett, Andy Smith, Richard Pratt and Tom Bush he would lie? (May have cleared my mind of some other wingers in Blue and Amber, feel free to think of any more unsuitable than Vickery if you can)

I know it's Wigan next, but for the luv of gods, let's try Jimmy Watson at FB and get Watkins back in the threequarters (outside Ablett IF it is considered Jamel Chisholm is not capable of skinning Pat Richards on the outside)

You [uare[/u Brian McDermott and I claim my twenty quid. Despite your (possible) claims to be the all knowing oracle of RL you got it badly wrong in selections and tactics

I'm sure it's been said many many times before, but let's all be thankful you are not the coach of Leeds Rhinos.

... so would [uyou[/u select Vickery again? Cannot see either Watson or Chisholm being any more of a weak link than said Aussie who will be targeted very very acutely next match.

I think you have covered all of them there. I have been watching Leeds since the 1960's and I don't recall any worse winger than Andy Smith.

Yes I would select him, because he is the best option available to us at the moment - not ideal I know but that's the way it is with Zak and BJB unavailable. I agree it's not gone well so far and he had a shocker last night, but I'm sure he'll be worked hard in training this week. After coach McDermott's recent quotes about giving him and Achurch time, I'm sure the trigger won't be pulled on him just yet.

I certainly don't think dropping Watson straight in at the deep end against Wigan is the right way to go - you don't think he would be targeted 'very very acutely'? He needs bringing along slowly, as he is at the moment - plenty of game time at Hunslet, then the natural step up after that would be to make his Leeds debut against lesser opposition - perhaps against a Championship team in the Cup?

Why should we persist with a player who has proven he is out of his depth?

He will be targeted heavily in the next few games for sure,it will not have gone unoticed.he has had his chance,not taken it and somebody else should be given a go.

Look what happened to Tom Bush and he was no worse than Vickery!!

Maybe because hes less out of his depth than the other options

If he is then the club is wasting time and money on them

Having just watched the highlights, I have to say blaming Vickery for so many tries seems a bit much. A couple of the kicks were way behind him, and Martin Offiah in the defensive line couldn't have got back to them - the only player with a chance would have been Watkins. Bottom line is that the team as a whole didn't cover at all.

What I did notice was that after messing up the first kick through none of the other players went near him. A far worse look to me was provided when the sainted Ablett took a massive dummy leading to one of the second half tries.

BTW, for whoever raised Andy Smith - Leeds had worse wingers on the books during his time - Colin Cooper, Gareth Ingham, Mark Massa, Pat Mitchell, Terry Naylor, Paul Prendiville and Norman Francis to name a few. Plus he had a 'killer' perm/tache combo. Sadly I can't black out the memory of any of them.

Not having any criticisms of Norman Francis.

His ankle taps remain the stuff of legend.

There's some height in that Thornley/Richards pairing. Whoever we pick's going to be receiving something of an aerial bombardment IMO.

That would be the one where Delaney had charged out of the line only for Brough to walk around him as if he didn't exist?

While some like to portray such efforts as being noteworthy (putting pressure on the play-maker) I stick to the line I followed last season that they are 'hero' plays. The best defences (just like the best attacks) work in units. Resorting to individual plays is for me indicative of an absence of coaching - is that the issue at Headingley ?

Maybe but Vickery was troubled (along with whoever was defending on that side of the pitch) more by Brough's kicks along the ground or behind him rather than by bombs.
The player who looked dodgiest under the high ball was Watkins - as in the Saints game.
I wonder if there's an argument for defending with Vickery at full back with Watkins on the wing, at least he has the pace to equal Richards.
All that pre-supposes that both continue to be picked in the same position next week.
But we should not be tempted to hurry either BJB or Hardaker back.
Alternatively would we be better swapping Ablett & Moon around? Not beneficial to the burgeoning Moon/Hall partnership but it may help spread the lack of pace in the outside backs.
Ablett looked less vulnerable last year defending alongside Hall.
As well as not passing to Vickery, Ablett was equally reluctant along with McGuire to use Watkins when he kept offering himself on attack on that flank.

Although I didn't see him personally. I heard that Brian Mac was at the Hunslet game yesterday watching over some of his players.

Was he watching Watson to come in at Fb or the wing? He wasn't watching Chisolm as he wasn't selected. Maybe he was watching Keinhorst to bring in or Achurch to the pack? I bet he was watching Watson cos he is ripping it up at Hunslet at the moment.

So he's made the effort to monitior his players.

He should, surely the bare minmum requirement as 'Head Coach'. He would have sent Jimmy Lowes but it would have got in the way of his 'sesh'.

Hood playing well also isn't he?

How's Singleton done?

All are playing outstanding. Just cos Kienhorst is scoring all the tries doesn't mean he is the outstanding performer. All the guys are ripping it up and Hunslet are playing some great rugby now. 30 nil yesterday was great.

I think Grimshaw and Helliwell (6&7) need to start passing the ball to their players in the set pieces more instead of glory hunting. I think the Rhinos lads have raised the bar for the team.

Cheers for the update W55ARE the U19's are looking good aswell so i wouldn't be surprised to see some more youngsters either at Hunslet (if needed) or in the Championship 1 or 2 at different clubs.

Which is why we should have partnered with more than one club, like some others have. Still not convinced Hunslet was the right partner for us, but can see why since, with the city plan.

Gotcha-Surely you can send players on loan deals without them going to a club dual registered??

Of Course you can. How many are on loan again? not happening mate. The dual registration works much better. We have enough players and enough quality to warrant more than five players out. IMO we should have partnered with two clubs.

He'll do that, he went to Odsal in Week 1 to watch Singleton play for Wakefield.