I guess the obvious choice at centre if Watkins is deemed to be a risk too far, is Smithy, and given his penchant for coming up with a match winning try to win a big game for us, not a bad choice!

Would you bet against it ? (We're halfway there already)

Next somebody will be seriously suggesting Smith ahead of Watkins and BJB

Yeah yeah that would be me then?



So we agree then stick with the youngsters and put our faith in them, we could do a lot worse!

I would agree that Smith might get the wing spot, just for his safety as BJB under a cross field kick isn't safe at the moment.

Watkins can look suspect in defence at times however he played in a under 20s game v the dulls couple weeks ago and was exceptional both in attack and defense I know its only the 20s and would expect him to stand out in attack but it was his defence that impressed me even though he scored a couple and set about 3 trys up he did some really good work in defense add to that how he played in the salford game then he should be garanteed a spot


think Mcshane will miss out as been told he will only feature for the 20s for rest of this season but will be playing 1st team all next season with a new hooking partner as Bedsy goin and Hood not ready yet

You give me an example of a high ball that Jones-Bishop hasn't dealt with on the wing and I'll give you those he did deal with against Hull in the quarter final two weeks ago. In addition Leeds probably don't have another winger that could beat Briscoe on the touchline and get the ball down for that crucial first score to drag Leeds back into the game.

I suspect Smith wouldn't have come close to getting the ball down in that spot.

(That's what I would do in any case, not sure what coach McDermott will do - not even sure he knows himself.)

Surely Ali should have been there, he's looked better of late and then gets the bullett, what is Mac doing. Playing Hauraki and Ian Shirke and leaving a gamebeaker out in Ali who's looked better lately. Maybe just not getting a new contract so not picking him.

Smith and McShane both played in the U20's today at Wigan so I don't think either will play tomorrow. McShane didn't come back after half time and had an ice pack on his leg.

Good news if Smith out tomorrow...must mean BJB on the wing with Watkins inside him.



Hall at left centre with late replacent Hardaker playing on left wing maybe

What is this obsession some on here have about Ryan Hall converting to a centre birth ???

How ironic to use the

....so exactly what or who will be born from the centre berth in your opinion ??

How about Kylie Leuluai????

we can keep wishing, hardaker was also in the u20s.

I think we may line up with:

Webb;
BJB, Watkins, Ablett, Hall;
Sinfield, McGuire;
Bailey, Buderus, Peacock;
Jones-Buchanan, Hauraki;
Clarkson.

Burrow, Leuluai, Delaney, Kirke.

I cannot believe Ali has been omitted if he is fit !

Last time he did this was in Perpignan

Have you been watching Ablett recently? Over the last 7 or 8 weeks he's been one of the best centres in the league. He's making a fantastic job of it.

Ablett is a player moved out of position to play centre and we've seen actual evidence that he's a fantastic centre. Yet you moan. Whereas you go on about moving Hall to centre when there's no evidence he would go well there.

Ablett is the most under-rated player at Headingley, perhaps in SL. The type every successful team needs.

Few frills, no fuss, he just gets the job done, whatever job is asked of him.

Yeah I agree with G1, Ablett may not be a centre per se, he may be playing out of position, but he has been very good there these last few weeks, in fact Ablett is probably one of our more solid consistent performers who'll always give his best for the cause.

I'd like to see us line-up as:
1. Webb
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Ablett
4. Watkins
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Bailey
9. Buderus
10. Peacock
11. JJB
12. Delaney
13. Sinfield

14. Leuluai
15. Clarkson
16. Hauraki
17. Kirke

"Fantastic"

So what superlative would you use to describe Ingliss ? ...Senior at his peak ?

Australia watch out



("One of the best centres in the league" is rather a sad indictment....IF true.)

It is rather funny that I was once derided for daring to suggest Ablett would make a better stop-gap centre than Delaney (and conversely Delaney the better second rower). Good to see the unenlightened now humbled in their unremitting shame.



I like Ablett: he has good hands and all the attributes to make a decent loose forward.... However, he has not got the pace nor the man drawing skills to put his winger away on the outside (just watch Francis Meli today for example - who would have had ever thought we could use him as a beacon to aspire to. Even J.Tomkins looks the better second row convert than Ablett).

As for [imoaning[/i....you mis-understand. I don't really care [ithat[/i much about a game I enjoy, but do not live for. Instead I enjoy the reaction from those who pontificate, prefer the status quo and always presume to know best.

I do believe Hall is a fine player, who [imight[/i make a better centre than winger. He certainly does not have the electric pace commensurate with the better wingers I have seen over the years (he certainly does not have the confidence he once seemed to have - notably against Greenshields at Murrayfield a few years ago - to try beating his man on the outside). His strength, tackle busting ability and [ireasonable[/i pace all suggest to me a move inside.

For genuine winger's [ioutside his man[/i flair just look at the talented one we let go, now playing for the lowly Salford City Reds - a club about in the same league as Leeds for genuine title aspirations these days.
In a better team, with somebody like an-at-his-peak-Senior inside him, Broughton would be a world beater.

Another closet Hauraki and Kirke fan

.....it's the word "like" I refer to



Clarkson is ineffective as a bench/impact player....he's a work-horse who should be on for the 80, or not at all. Ali still best defines the impact forward despite his decline. Pitts should be there instead of Kirke....but hey....what do I know ? Kirke is probably one of the best butt lickers at the club and that's what one obviously needs to succeed with this coaching staff.

Who said I was a Hauraki and Kirke fan? I was picking what I thought would be the best line-up from that 19 man squad.

You really do need to engage your brain before posting. Just every now and again.

Confirmed lineup

Webb
bjb
watkins
ablett
hall
sinfield
burrow
kylie
bedsy
JP
jjb
delaney
clarkson

subs

McGuire
bailey
kirke
hauraki

Were you rocking back and forth, dribbling whilst you typed all that?

Were your fears justified then?

[iYour[/i last resort retort

(You do tend to use this one a lot G1)