I dont mind Delaney personally. As said above he's solid.

TBF its always hard in modern times to be a centre at Leeds because we have had Keith Senior on the opposie side for 11 years. Thats a hell of a lot to live up to because he's still probably the best centre in the Super League.

Whilst i agree with some posters that Clarkson has earned his spot, i strongly doubt if all other players are fit, which is how it is looking that young Chris will get a shirt at all. 18th man - great experience.

Webb
Donald
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Buderus
Peacock
Ablett
JJB
Sinfield

Ali
Eastwood
Bailey
Diskin

All prior knowledge aside, in terms of winning the game, you have to pick your strongest squad. To me that includes Ali and Eastwood regardless of fitness or future commitment, they are both simply too good to leave out.

Clarkson will get another chance, just like Sinfield, just like McGuire.

fatty fat fatty can sod off.

Clarkson over eastwood.

You ruined your quite astute opinions by leaving out Smith for Diskin. There is no way Smith can be left out of the 17 !!!! (IMO) Diskin on the other hand can be (IMO).

Please please consider switching wingers again so that Donald gets some quality ball from Senior on the left in the space he needs. Hall can continue to run over his opposition with or without Senior on the right wing.

twas not an error. It was a judgement call.

Smith got the vote this week and played well, I expect Donald to get the nod and enjoy the wide open spaces and tired legs at wembley.

Diskin if fit is a certainty and rightly should be.

However there are two games to go first and the decision may be made for bluey.

I've just dug my 1985 CC final programme with such illustrious autographs I collected that day as Clive Sullivan,Bernard Cribbins,Collin Wellend and even Neil Kinnock!!!

But not one of those Superstars could surpass my most cherished signature on that front cover.

That of former Leeds RLFC kitman Harvey Standeven!!

Except Harvey Stendeven was no kit man, he was the highly regarded and respected cigar smoking physio.

The Leeds kit-man in Harvey's day was ex Leeds second-row Alan Horsfall.

Ian Kirke..... who everyone seems to have overlooked!

Chris Clarkson to play...because he built our new conservatory last year and it would make his dad Peter very proud I would imagine.

and a honkey tonk piano player as well.





and the U19`s Intermediates coach as well

Thank the lord.

Was he the old bloke with glasses that was always grinning in the background whenever the 'Scrumdown' cameras went inside the Leeds dressing room at the end of a game ?

Harvey Standeven = legend.

It speaks volumes for his skill that he could run on to treat an injured player carrying only a bucket of water. Look at all the crap they need nowadays to get them up and running again.

Nah, that sounds like Nobby Stiles, how did he get in there.

Alan Horsfall was more like Ronnie and Reggie's mean uncle.

It's quite nice to have 20 or so players who might be in the 17, and gives some scope for some of the inevitable injuries over the next few weeks. Having one more quality back than you need, two top class dummy halves and plenty of pretty versatile forwards isn't a bad situation to be in if you ask me.

I'd like to see Clarkson play. He's been given a shirt largely due to injuries, but his tackling effort on Saturday, and some other good performances ought to be enough for him to keep it in my book. He certainly hasn't been our worst back rower since he's come into the side, or given anybody reason to think he might let them down on a big occasion.

Says a lot about Warrington's improvement, that that comment could just as easily apply to us.

You've got a good coach. This forum taught him everything he knows......

But yes AH I think it was the man himself who was often to be found on Scrumdown.

I wouldn't be best happy if Clarkson lost his spot in the final if Ali is fit in order to be replaced by Eastwood. You can argue that it did Sinny and McGuire no harm to miss the final at a similar time in their careers but I think Clarky has been one of our better players this year and to see him miss out in favour of Eastwood who's done the dirty on the club would be wrong IMO.

If Senior (or McGuire or Sinfield or Peacock...you get my drift) did the equivalent "dirty" on the club would you omit that player too ?
You surely have to play your best 17 ...the ones most likely to succeed, help achieve the victory and lift the trophy.

Why would Clark have to lose out specifically to Eastwood ? Clark might earn his place in favour over Ablett for example. Let's see what happens over the next couple of weeks: it would be foolish to omit Eastwood if he is in forward busting dynamic world beating form.

What was the name of the little old man who was kit-man before Alan Horsfall, he lived in Kirkstall and I used to give him a lift home after he'd had a few whiskeys in the players bar

Very good and fair points mate but i personally now am of the opinion that "fook him" .
Why after the club bent over backwards to get him here and make him welcome,pay him hansomely should he get a place in the 17 for the our 1st CC final in 5yrs when players like Abbo and Clarkson have showed commitment and are in better form??
He didn't perform in the semi grated he was returning from injury but his pass for Meli was criminal and i honestly don't think it'd be right to pick him over someone like Clarkson OR Ablett.

It's a good question. I only wish I had a good answer for you.

Alan Horsfall was the first kitman I can recall the name of at Headingley, before him I'm struggling to put a face to the job let alone a name to the face. Late sixties I were no-but-a-lad me-sen.

If I ever happen across it you'll be the first to know.




At least you're consistent.

I think he was called Arthur Crowther.

yes, it was definately Arthur Crowther