Agreed. After Gale, the best hands at the club belong to Cam Smith, but he needs to cut out the errors to be given the 13 jersey in the long term. He could be a very good player.

The biggest problem Leeds will have with Saints other than the quality of the players is our lack of pace - putting Smith at 6 makes this worse - whilst he may have good hands he thinks and moves like a forward. Martin looks out of condition-Mellor has no pace either and Gale whilst lacking fitness was never the fastest half back. We have no pace in the threequarters either - could be a tough day at the office - Saints are a team who think and move quickly.

Yes the pack is looking alright, missing one or two finishing touches but basically strong.

Tindall and Handley have some pace but we could definitely do with more gas. Eastmond isn’t the answer there either, I’m thinking more late-career Danny McGuire.

Walker, Tindall, Newman, Broadbent, Handley with Eastmond and Gale within a year or two looks good to me. In fact there is a load of strike there in offence.

We can't really do anything about the injuries and lack of pace at the moment, but one thing we can improve is our support play. It's really poor at times, and is something we took for granted with the likes of Burrow, Mcguire and Webb in the team. Saints' defence is watertight, so we have to take advantage of the few breaks we'll make

I know you dont rate Mellor but he doesn't look slow for a second rower.

We needed a nice draw to progress. 9 senior players out now!!
2 or 3 who look barely match fit.....

Saints will win very very easily. Unfortunately our injuries are crippling

Yeah, it's sods law we draw the best team when we are on our knees!!

Will be interested to see how the pack go though. I'd to get a look at King as well. Thought Donaldson's 25 mins against Cas was very mediocre. By rights somebody else should get a shot, but I do wonder if Donaldson is a bit of a security blanket for Agar. Very intrigued to see what Eastmond still has, but it would very unfair to expect too much on his debut.

We're gonna get a good beating in our next two games.
The Hull Kr game then becomes massive as you can't play catch up in this league.....

Don't count out Hall - whilst he is physically not up to SL he has a lot of skill - I see Broadbent as Sculthorpe/Farrell type back row.

I can't Broadbent is no way big enough for that role and would never be able play it like Sculthorpe and Farrell who both very physical at 6ft3 6ft 4.Broadbent is 6ft at the most. If he was to play the 13 role it would be more in a Sinfield tpye role. I see him as classic centre great hand and vision with a nice step on him.

Broadbent would do well to watch some Brad Godden video footage, and Leeds would do well to let him play like that.

If its that simple can he watch Mal Meninga videos instead please Batley? Lol

Let Jack develop at his own pace and weve a good one there. Ive said for years Newman is the superstar, the athlete and as tough a competitor as you will see but Jack, like Godden, is a proper wingers centre. Both very young and very talented but both are going to have dips along the way.

God i hope Newman can come back from this injury. Im sure he will.

Second all of that. Both got the potential to be super players. Would love to see us get a top class winger to compliment them. Think Handley is almost there.

A winger has to be on the shopping list for next season.

We ain't signing another winger as Tom given another 2 years. I'm OK with that.
By the time those two years are done, Tindall should be ready.
Flip we might have a backline of

Walker
Tindall
Newman
Broadbent
Handley


Now that's exciting!!

Luke Briscoe is out of contact this year. I would not renew and I would target a replacement with real pace. Can't but help think that some have formed amazingly high expectations of Tindall's talent on tne basis of one run against Catalans. I'm sure he has some talent, but it looks very, very raw to me. In any case, I really hope the club don't opt to settle for such mediocrity on one wing for two years. Nothing against either Briscoe really, but I thing the role of the winger has moved on and they haven't. We need to do better if we are aiming to pick up the big prize.

For you academy watchers, what do you reckon to Nichol and Stewart coming through? I though Andrew Stewart looked a handful and aggressive.

Anyway as much as I’ve backed T Briscoe I’m not sure he has much left to offer at Leeds now. Injuries looked to have taken their toll to me. Not sure I would renew.

We have a heap of salary cap becoming available and for positions we aren’t bringing young lads through into promptly, we need players who are up there in class. Despite the strides we have made, would you pick any current Leeds player for England?

Handley and Oledski might make a 17 at a push but... we do need some more star dust around the place. In fact I’ll say if we don’t make some tougher decisions on players than we have been doing, we may really struggle to break through into that real top tier again. We have no divine right.

T Briscoe already got a 2 year extension last year, so here till end of 2022!
How that correlates to 'nothing to offer' is beyond me.

Can't wait to see what he actually does offer.Hopefilly it's something really good.

Coby is a tough kid, he wouldnt ever take a backward step, hes vocal and a competitor. Stewart is a good defender, very solid. Neither are anywhere near Joe Burton's level and we released him.

Still early days for both but theyve lost a year and it will be interesting to see how that impacts players. Ive been told some have come back out of shape but thats understandable.

I dont really see either making it at Leeds but both are decent young players.

I agree that we need some pace on the wings , and I would if possible replace both the Briscoes - they are both well below the level that we now require. Tom at times gives a very good impression of just not being interested. Why our wingers cannot compete when we put up an attacking kick is beyond me.
A lot of people seem happy with our pack , but a second row of Martin and Mellor again is just not good enough . Martin cannot break a tackle , and their combined go forward is pitiful. We need a second rower who can make a break / half break and offload - come back Ali !!!

The new ball steal rule had virtually took offloading out of the game at the moment. Defenders clamp the ball and attackers are fighting to keep a tight hold of it. The thought of offloading is last thing any attacker is thinking of.

What an awful rule it is. Who decided it would improve the game? Can think of no other sport that compulsively tinkers year after year. No wonder the game cannot break out of its existing spectator base.