Before Lauitiiti gets anywhere near first team selection I'd want to see him string two or three games together in the Under 20s first.

Can't have him breaking down again leaving us short-handed on the bench, which is what's happened the last couple of times he's been injured.

Agree it was likewhen smith was risked at kr. Waste of bench spot and means some of the bigger blokes have to do more time than would like without a breather

Not a problem with the Smith decision as his wasn't a recurring injury IIRC and we were struggling for outside backs at the time.

I wonder whether Lauitiiti's problems relate to being sat on the bench for a while after the pre-game warmup? I know eyebrows were raised at McDermott's insistence on starting with him, but maybe that was viewed as a better way to protect him from injury?

Are we talking Lauitiiti or Bailey here ?

De-railing a thread.

Classic nantwichexile

I think when McGuire is back we may consider him at 7 and Sinfield staying at 6. I think having McShane on the bench gives us backs options, and allows us JJB, Ablett and Clarkson to start.

I would have Delaney on the bench (if not at Centre), with two props, or a prop and Kirke.

The problem with the above is that it does lose us one of our fastest players, and one of our main support runners, when we already have closest to the slowest backline in SL

Clarkson is a def starter for me or not at all. Wasted bench spot otherwise.
Delaney my other starter.

Ablett is a much better LF and better centre than Delaney but recognise not in his best interests to keep him there. However, should the team's interests not always come first ??

Ablett at LF for me .... Keeping Sinfield at SO and McGuire at SH, with Burrow an impact option off the bench. Tough on McShane then.......unless we drop Buderus.

Fair's fair .... Bailey seems to be our more recent cameo appearance man at the moment. If not retiring early injured he is being sent off instead.

This planning for the future is all well and good (casting aside anyone over 30) but there is also a present to plan for.

I'm not sure you always get the balance right.

Spot on. All I'd say is when all threequarters are full fit Delaney is fighting for a place in the right centre with Watkins and Smith. If he loses that battle it might be interesting if three quota players (Cross, Hauraki and Delaney) aren't good enough for the theoretical fully fit 1st 13. IMO they are not.

Not understanding the clamour for Delaney at 2nd row either. His game was no different in that 25 min cameo at Hull in the 2nd row than it's been during his whole career. He picks good lines, he runs hard but he's nothing much more than that. Maybe he doesn't need to be. But that doesn't make him a better 2nd rower than Ablett, Clarkson or JJB, which, IMO he isn't.

When all is fit, he's in the mix for the centres and he's an option for 2nd row in an injury crisis, IMO.

I'm not usually one to pat myself on the back but I did get some hammer on here when Ellis left and I proclaimed his replacement was already on our books in Ablett. In fairness to Sal Paradise he has also sung Ablett's praises for many years.

Of course, reactionary fekkwitts are now sharing that opinion but there are a few posters with a bit of vision.

Before you get all hot under the collar about the pompous nature of my post will it calm you down if I told you your post was a very good one because it actually was. Now, off you go. Let it all out.

Can I pat myself on the back too then because I said the same. I saw nearly every acedemy game he played in as a family member was in the same team and he was head and shoulders above the rest then. We were all saying he was the future of the club in the backrow and he is looking more and more like Ellis every game now.

In that case al take a pat on the back as from day dot re ablett I have sang his praises

Consider your back patted. I wasn't around on here at the time so I certainly didn't hammer you.

Good job you didn't skim read that one, I'd have missed out on the compliment.

Me me ... I said it too

If you're looking for me to be entirely serious.... Buderus would always be my FIRST name on the team sheet.

He'd make a terrible full-back.
__________

I said Carl Ablett always reminded me of Paul Medley.

Whether that is interpreted as a positive or a negative is a matter of personal choice.

I really expect you lot to kick on now you have a decent squad to pick from - injuries cost you in the cup and play-offs last season and I think Wire/Wigan fans got a little ahead of themselves when winning trophies with Saints/Leeds decimated in key positions.

We'll also see how good a coach BM is now, as a reasonably fit Leeds squad should be doing things in this league, regardless of the fact a few are a bit long in the tooth. There's a huge amount of quality in that Leeds side.

Here's hoping we can join you with a decent squad soon enough, close to making a very handy 13 out of our injuries at the mo:

1. Wellens
2. ?
3. Wheeler
4. Eastmond
5. Makinson
6. Gaskell
7. Lomax
8. Perry
9. Moore
10. Clough
11. Flannery
12. ?
13. Pryce

Given some good health, Leeds and Saints will take some beating come the business end IMO.

That didn't stop Willie Oulton making a career out of it.

----

Paul Medley ? In looks or performance ? Medley was a long range swift runner..... Ablett is more like the " bionic barrel " with the same grace but more pace.

And you think that will be decent in defence? Where have you been all season.



Delaney is a centre for this year at least.

I know! I mean Watkins has only made, what, 4 or 5 try saving tackles?! Pffffft!

The wide players defensive structure breaks up when the inside players are all over the place due to playing out of position. If you want to stunt the development of the most exciting prospect to come out of our youth set up since Danny McGuire though then good for you. Im sure once we get BJB and Watkins back though Delaney wont have a place in the backs.

Sorry to all patting themselves so heartily on the back but as handy as Ablett is he will never be as good as Ellis.
G1 I agree that Delaney does in the second row what he has always done at centre. Good lines, good leg drive, strong front on tackling. The thing is, that these are qualites that suit a second rower very well. A centre needs footwork and the rugby brain and handling skill to be able to put a winder in space. Sadly Delaney has neither and whoever plays outside him when at centre is a virtual passenger. He is an absolute carthorse at centre, but carthorses tend to make decent backrowers.

It seems almost every team has an abundance of 2nd rowers these days, they really do seem to grow on tree's!

Tree's what ?