we've had a weaker sqaud than last year from the outset. The expected injury and resting here and there and you get to see it. The unseen stuff worries me more.

But hey at least we still have cap space left

I agree. I suspect last year he was our 2nd hardest working prop.

I'd have hoped the coach would've got more out of Kylie & Bailey but they appear, along with many others, to be regressing under Mclennan.

Kylie has been fearsome against Saints prior to this season. I suspect (from a position of absolute ignorance) that he's carrying a knock of some sort.

His work rate (with ball) has been poor all year but he connected with some really big hits last Saturday.

do two or three big hits justify his poor work rate with the ball though?

No.

i suspect kylie is a player who really needs a good pre season.he didn't get one with the world cup and also got a virus. i think he will get better as the season goes on and his fitness improves.

bailey is ok in defence but totally ineffective going forward

Thats also my opinion on the issue, it is a shame that the producer of the best british talent in the game can't seem to produce many props, actually, we do, but we seem to let them go too early! who was playing prop for leeds when we let Dowes and Carvell go (TVOC)? I'm not saying the wrong decision was made, but an interesting side issue...

Dowes wouldn't get anywhere near the team now though. And wasn't Carvell a backrower at Leeds? only on leaving didn't he become s prop.

Still valid point though in not developing props, because there is still plenty out there. Interesting to see how the 2 young props they have just signed progress, both highly rated at junior level.

To quote Roni Size - "It's all about the timing..."

Can't find the old Past Players bit on the new website, but I'd guess they were let go around the 2001-2003 period?

So you would be looking at the likes of Barrie McDermott, Danny Ward, the emerging Ryan Bailey etc blocking their route to the first team.

can i add jamie mathiou to that list?

Seem to remember Dowes was on loan during the 2004 season so was competing with Bailey, Barrie, Adamson, Ward, Wayne MacDonald etc.

If you then think we had Furner, Ali signed mid season, Sinfield, JJB, Poching. We were not short of bodies in the pack that year.

Didn't Scruton go out on loan that year? Dowes and Carvell were well established at hull by the time we played them in the Challenge Cup Final the following year!

Looking at the stats Peacock stands out a mile compared with the other front rowers. It'll be interesting to see how you go without him.

Kylie has never been an 80 min player so nothings changed on his part. He's always been a short stint impact prop. This years squad is different requiring him to be a different player re work load and time of the field.

wingers, and all the forwards will have to muck in more. Even then its no substitute for the big guy.

I'd agree that probably due to not having Eastwood Leuluai's role has changed slightly, but the problem is he's not doing a large amount of work and he's not making an impact either at the moment.