IMO the sport is crying out for an Alliance league or equivalent with games being played prior to first grade fixtures where applicable at least across the heartlands.

Think Wigan played 8 games spread over 23 weeks.

Agree with that

I wouldn't be surprised to see Sutcliffe starting at FB still. Maybe they have him lined up to take over the 6 or 7 shirt in 12 months time so have kept him at 14 for the time being.

Can't see him being out of the starting 13 so if Golding does start at FB then it'll be McGuire & Sutcliffe halves with Burrow on the bench and reverting to substitute hooker like he was in 2015.

Apparently so.

The squad doesn't inspire.

The half backs last year (via lots of different combinations) didn't do the job. Stuttered all year.

And that pack is average at best, with no real threat or decent second phase.

Leeds' three quarters are by far our strongest threat. But I don't think the halves are good enough to service them, that goes for the forwards too.

Can't see what this same squad can do that vastly different to get things back on track. Even with an improved injury run, can't see that being a significant difference maker.

Unless McGuire, Cuthbertson, Hall, Delaney, Singleton, Galloway all improve ten fold (all had poor seasons in 2015).

I used to enjoy going to the odd A/team reserve games, especially if one or two first team players turned out, usually coming back from long term injury.

I think Sutcliffe has earned his shot hopefully the coach will repay his versatility with a chance to cement his place in the side

Me too. There used to be a good turn out as well at many of the games. I like the idea of playing reserves before the first team games though.

Not without good reason though. He'll have to buck some established historical trends to make it in a Leeds shirt.

I used to like watching the academy before the SL games - it also got the young ones used to playing in front of decent crowds and the crowds to know the young players better. Stanningley doesn't have quite the same atmosphere

I remember the days in the late 90's SKY used to show those games too, when the likes of Sinfield, JJB and Carvell were coming through. That was a great academy team.

Mick Gledhill seems to rate him. Unsure whether that's a good thing.

If this is our final squad. Then I would prefer sutty to partner mags with burrow on the bench rather than starting burrow at 7.

We should go better this year with a proper 9 for a full season but don't think it's a good enough squad to win anything

Think we could get to challenge cup final - We did OK back end of last year

As I recall Delaney didn't return from Australia until after Xmas last year but he'd had a small op on his knee so couldn't be training any earlier anyway, although did some fitness work whilst over there. Moon's had niggling knee problems so wouldn't be surprised if that's a similar scenario. As for Segeyaro it probably was a request when he signed that he could get an extended break back home.

He may well be when compared to what Mick watches week in week out!!

And look for another club

His agent must be a lazy git then if Segeyaro has to find it himself

Same here. And if the doom-mongers' predictions prove sound, we could always swap the games round.

If we are not signing anyone post Hardaker and the 30 announced is the 2017 squad then the key for me is what level the fringe players can get to. The improvement seen between 2014 and 2015 was in large part due to the contributions of players like ward, singleton, aiton , Cuthbertson and Garbutt adding so much.

For next year to be a success I think we need Golding, keinhorst, lilley , mullalley and Walters to step up and play like first choice 17 players. Jimmy k was just about there last year.

If this can happen it will create competition for places and with a good run injury wise , we can maybe challenge.

fingers crossed.

I agree we will need others to step up. Can't say iv'e ever been convinced of Walters ability to make the step up as a reliable player though and Mullally looks real plodder level at best on last years evidence. Add to that we have a few projects that may be even worse like Ormondroyd our squad depth has a lot of question marks. Maybe Baldwinson will be finally given a chance this year though or one of the other lads can have a break out year, i think we will need it at some point to be up fighting at the top end again.

Im not right bothered about winning something as long as we see a proper plan to being the youngsters through. Top 8's and a marked improvement in the youngsters is good enough for me. A cup run would be nice too

I'd agree with this, I am acctually quietly condifident of a good season this year, maybe not in terms of winning things, but in terms of building and seeing some new blood really come through.

On paper I think our squad reads a lot like Wire's from last year. They had a good back line, but weren't sure who was going to play fullback, this meant their halves were up in the air, with a player in Sandow is was class but looked short of form the year before, and a young lad in Patton, turned out they were helped by Gidley not having to play fullback. Their pack was ok with a real quality 9, and a standout young back row in Currie. Hill aside the rest of their pack is a bit ploddy and a bit old.

Then the rest of their squad was made up of fringe player youngsters and a couple of projects.

Lots of similarities and no reason why we can't compete for a top 4 spot, top 6 minimum IMO.