i agree and imo if achurch plays then he is best suited to a wide running second row position,although he is well down the pecking order presently

jjb would have also been in this category also but he moved up to the middle channel and was doing a very good job prior to injury

i expect that jjb will easily be able to step back into this role when he returns rather than try to do the wide stuff that ward and ablett do so well

IF JJB is fit he should come straight back into the 17 and either start or come off the bench at 13. He was playing some of his best rugby for a couple of years prior to his injury, having him in the side would also enable Achurch to move back out to the 2nd row, because to be honest I'm not sure he's got the ticker to play in the middle.

It's obviously too early to talk about successful transitions yet. But Sutcliffe, in particular has been a revelation to me. He started out in the team (quite rightly0 not being given too much responsibility, and performed well, but not always spectacularly. This year, when he has been given the reigns, he's been sensational. Especially considering he's just getting started. It bodes very well for the future. Stevie Ward has also been fantastic thus far. I hope his bad luck with injuries is running out.

I think the key to replacing our holy trinity is not to think about like for like replacements. It is, as people have said, all about building the next team. To carry the "next Kevin Sinfield" tag around Headingley seems an unnecessary burden for Liam Sutcliffe.

We've started brilliantly, including that nice habit of picking up points without playing as well as we can. There will be rougher patches in the rest of the season. But I think the close-season talk of us struggling to make the 8, let alone the 4, seems incredibly far fetched now. Some of our rivals have wobbled, we've cashed in to the maximum. We will probably have a wobble at some point, it remains to be seen who is in a position to cash in on that. Wigan, Wire and Saints, in particular have shown patches that suggest there will be much more to come from them.

So it isn't time to be carried away. It is time to be very pleased with how things are going right now though. We're making hay while the sun shines. Nothing wrong with that. And nothing wrong with the way some of the youngsters are coming on, which may just be repaying some of the patience our coaching staff have been criticised for.

Regardless of who plays and who doesn't, I'm enjoying watching this young and old Leeds side. Most enjoyable and interesting season for quite some time as far as I'm concerned.

I agree with that JJB has been excellent since he came back from injury in 2014

Can't fault JJB pre injury he was going very well and should be back in the mix on his return.

This is Achurch's 3rd season with the club now and im still unsure on him as an overseas signing.he has shown up good in a few games,normally right before he gets an injury so he has gained a lot of grace for that up to now but he should be well settled being here since 2012.I know he is not really a front rower and is more effective out wide but he is certainly one of the few players we should be expecting a lot more from in the 2nd half of the season.

JJB was having a very good season before his injury.

Regarding the transition it's still early days but so far so good. McDermott seems to be handling it well so far.

I think if everyone is fit we'd be running with an Ablett/Ward/Delaney back row against teams like Saints where we wanted to start with a big middle unit (Singleton filled in because Ablett had to play centre) whereas with others we'll play Ablett/Ward/Sinfield.

In both cases that would leave Singleton as a bench prop, which would be fine - actually think he's been better off the bench or in his second spells this year and he can give a good 40-50 minutes to JP/Cuthbertson's 55-60, meaning a fourth prop is not absolutely essential and we can carry a 15 minute player like Kylie or a utility prop/2nd row like JJB or Delaney.

When we start with the bigger back row I'd see our interchange as being Sinfield, Singleton, JJB, Kylie and when Sinfield is at 13 would imagine Burrow, Singleton, JJB, Delaney. Either way JJB gets in the squad.

Of course this is in the unlikely event of everyone being fit.

Frosties- I agree with the others mate Jjb walks straight back into the 17 but imo its for Achurch i want to see Yates get minutes and IF Achurch isn't getting gametime in the BR which he isn't then he's a pointless sub.

I don't think Jjb is any smaller than Yates or Achurch. Also size is not the only requirement for playing in the midfield, you need heart and he has that by the bucket load.

For me Jjb starts at loose if fit. Achurch comes of the bench out wide as he offers something a bit different. Respect to the guy for filing in at prop which he clearly isn't.

Not sure if that's a general comment or a reply to my post but i just don't think Achurch is effective at Prop it just doesn't work i don't question his heart (ala Feather) he just can't seem to play there.
Yates imo needs games to develop at this level otherwise it'll be a pointless signing and thus far although limited minutes i don't think he's let anyone down.
Jjb takes a bench spot as a BR but should we get a an injury he can cover Prop better than Achurch can imo.
I hope and honestly think we will eventually see Sutty at 13 as an extra Pivot then Mags/Another at HB then looking further ahead 2/3yrs it will be Sutty at 13 ,Lilley at 7 and Another at 6.
What i will say though is imo Jjb hasn't got long left and i cant see him starting the 2017 season still playing but i'd be happy to be proved wrong should he be still effective.