No issues with Delaney. Would just like him to get 100% fit. He looked great in the 1st two games and the WCC but hasn't been fit since. Now we have some options in the threequarters hopefully they don't have to force the issue with him any more.

I agree entirely about Hall. His place is most under threat right now when Donald is fit. Hall's defensive play was terrible and he poor carry that led to Menzies try was a killer.

As for JJB, I can't defend his handling this week. His confidence is terrible. Still working his socks off mind you.

Finally, not got down the 1st page yet but surprised at the lack of negative comment for the worst or least effective player in our 17 this year, Ian Kirke. Soft as s[ihi[/it. Bizarre decision from Bluey to select him ahead of Pitts. Has he won a collision all year? Was actually dominated by every Bull in every collision including reardon at one point. He might be the biggest and heaviest player on our books but he has the heart of a pea.

The only things i can think of is that either Bluey went for size over form or that Pitts wasn't 100% after last week because iirc Clarkson was warming up as 18th man last night.

For me it was so obvious pointing him out didn't seem necessary. Anyway, I agree with comments you made a while ago about him not being in our best 17, not by a long way. He was desperate on Friday.

I just said that I think.

Did you miss Hall's one-on-one try saving, ball and all tackle in the second half? If I remember correctly, Bradford were 20-6 up at that point. It would have been curtains if Hall hadn't made that tackle.

Yes I did miss it. But then again it would not have changed my mind, considering the poor other 79 minutes and 58 seconds.

HTH

Hall was shocking in the first half but vastly improved in the second.

You've obviously decided that he was cr[ia[/ip regardless of any given facts.

You clearly have a balanced, informed view of the match.

HTH

Next time don't shut your eyes to pray for a win. You can do it with eyes open.

I hope your missus is as easily pleased as you.

He actually almost blew that one as well with poor technique but recovered in the nick of time.

Have you even got a missus?

Pets and dead bodies don't count...

This forum is nuts, its non stop abuse!!

DISA has long held this view on Ryan Hall. Back to the days when Hall and Smith were competing for the wing spot. I bet he still held this view when Hall was romping in for his 30-odd tries last year.

Nothing you can say or nothing Hall does will change this.

He is right though, Hall was very poor the other night

I agree, he was. having said that so were many others. I think it's purely a confidence thing. We as fans have to get behind the players and not boo them when their confidence is low.

How Kirke continues to get a game is beyond me. I trust this is purely down to resource at the moment and when everyone is fit he will not get in the 17.

However he has played at OT when we had fully fit squads so i guess bluey sees something in him.

back on topic.

I think Delaney needs time to recover from his injuries. now Smith is here perhaps he can be given that time. 2 games in 3 days is not going help him or Sinfield for that matter.

Just a thought - now Smith is back what is our first choice back 5 when all fit?

I'll go first, mine would be

Webb
Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall

That's unfair Al, we had this by PM at the time. My view is simply and always has been that Smith is the best back at the club, and that opinion I have held for the last 4 seasons. You even came back to me and said it looks like my view was correct on Smith not that long ago.

Hall had a wonderful year last year, and it was before that that I accepted I might have been a bit critical of the lad, and took it back.

This year however, having praised him whilst doing well, it is only fair to have an opinion that is different if not doing well. Hall had a shocking game on Friday, but he was even worse last week at Wigan. But that is two weeks on the trot, following on from offering no attacking threat whatsoever so far this season.

Does this now make Hall a bad player? no it doesn't, but it does mean he should be further down the pecking order until he rediscovers his form, and whilst peforming like that open to critisism.

I know i agreed with you not too long ago about Smith. I think he has the potential to be a very important player for the club over the next 7/8 years.

I was referring to Hall though.

Whilst he has been caught out of position a bit recently and made a couple of costly handling errors, it is my opinion that he has been no worse than the majority of the team. Mcguire's defence on Nero was shocking, yet no mention of that.

I just think people tend to forget how young Hall is. No matter how well he played last season he is still only in his 3rd full year, second as a definite first choice. He is bound to make mistakes, only experience will help him iron out these errors and therefore i think he should be encouraged and not slammed.

He is one of our genuine threats with ball in hand and is capable of full lenght tries. Quite simply we are not creating chances for him at the moment. When we do i have no doubt he will score the tries and his defence will improve with the confidence gained from that.

Interesting tvoc.

I think i would use last seasons back line
Webb
Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall.

One thing is for certain when all are fit whoever misses out will be putting the pressure on to get back in and that can only be good for the club.

I think a fully fit Delaney (which I don't think we've really seen yet) will prove to be a strong, organised defender and a better winger's centre than Smith. I'd leave Senior and Hall to rediscover their partnership and form (which was Leeds' strength in the outside backs last season) and I think Webb is improving game by game at the moment at the back. That leaves me with a choice between Donald and Smith on the wing and Smith's 100% enthusiasm secures that position.

Coach tvoc could be wrong though.

Coach's dream/nightmare depends which way you look at it.

My choice is based on Donald being a firm first choice who has let no one down during his time at Leeds. I see what you mean about Smith and his 100% nature. I think and i guess there is no proof that Donald is faster accross the open ground which gives him the nod for me.

If Delaney gets himself fit then i guess i would have to take another look. I wonder if it's in preparation for Senior not been around next year? or Donald for that matter.

Don't be altering the criteria you set for the original question now.

Might the return of Smith herald the much predicted move of Senior in to the back-row towards the end of the season ?

I simple don't understand where this notion has come from. Senior once said on a Lions DVD he was taking over Ellis' number at Leeds but apart from that (which I presumed was a joke anyway) why would he wish to make life harder for himself.

Besides which, as it stands contract wise, it's not exactly a weak area within the present squad with Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Ali Lauitiiti, Matt Diskin

, Greg Eastwood, Ian Kirke, Carl Ablett, Jay Pitts already competing for the three/four spots in the full strength 17 this season.

Perhaps there'd be scope in 2011 if Lauitiiti doesn't re-new his contract for Senior to eek out yet another year of his sensational club career.

There are a few things to consider for next year regarding the back 5.

Mainly the fact that Donald is OOC end of the season as is Senior.

Assuming Donald re-signs and gives the possibility of a Donald, Delaney, Smith, Hall with Watkins back from injury and BJB back from Quins, if Senior doesnt retire does the club offer him another deal even though it might not be in the clubs best interests considering the options we have in the pack as well as backs or does the club owe Senior another year?

It's just a situation which may or may not arise that I wondered what people thought. Whilst he has been a fantastic servant to the club, does the club necessarily owe him an extension if he doesnt voluntarily retire? Would the club not offering him an extension effectively force his retirement? Would he get a 1 year deal elsewhere? If so, would he take it?

All the above is assuming the fact he doesnt earn an extension with his form this season (currently not at his best, but then who is recently).

If Buderus, Ali and Donald all leave end of the year, that could free up a fair amount of cap space and with youngsters like McShane, Pitts etc

Any thoughts from anyone or should I have kept all this to myself :p

Edit; having said all the above, it occurred to me a lot of our success has been based on minimal swapping and changing in off seasons personnel wise. Retainment of players has been a large part of the reason we have done so well imo, does this come into play when we talk about the amount of people OOC at the end of the season and does the club feel that way too?