No we are not.

Sinfield to 6 problem solved.

Clarkson will start the season at 13.

With the cap space we have from Donald and Eastwood GH will strengthen the pack further with one or two signings.

We have signed a promising SO in Stevie Ward although he's been playing at LF so maybe he's the youngster that can be patient and eventually step up.
As for Mags i would'nt be too quick to speculate on his future just yet he only had his OP on friday and i don't see it as a big gamble to wait and give the lad a chance to regain fitness.
We do have options within the squad until he's fit enough to return and that's Sinfield/Webb at 6 imo and that also gives Smithy/BjB game-time at FB.

I think that there is sufficient cover there for the next season or two.

Look at who other top teams have in reserve:

Saints: Roby/Wilkin/Moore/Lomax?
Wigan: O'Loughlin/Leuleui
Warrington: Bridge/Monaghan

Those clubs are blessed with hookers who can cover scrum half, but still, our strength in depth isn't that bad in comparison. I agree that a young prospect is the sensible option, and hopefully someone like Stevie Ward will be that player (though I hate to talk up young players).

Prop is where we want to be strengthening. I'd have both Mason and Griffin if they were available.

Not aware of Stevie Ward....hopefully what you say is right. Problem solved.



The issue for me is that we have relied absolutely on McGuire as the potent main exocet weapon this season. ....the focus needs to change now of course. Where is that strike/penetration going to come from ???

Of course I hope Mags makes a full and quick recovery....but can the club afford to gamble ?

I would'nt say we've "over-relied" on Mags more a case of him "stepping up" and taking games by the scruff of the neck as it were.
We still have strike within the halves with the likes of Burrow,Sinfield and Webb and also at 9 from Buderus/Disko.
It's a case of sharing that responsabillity out like the pack did against Wigan without Peacock.
Like i said i don't think it is a major gamble to wait for Mcguire to regain fitness.

I've said it for a while but we could do with a decent up and coming SO or SH just to cover and push the other lads. i dont know our youngsters well enough to pass judgement but maybe we could look at someone in the lower levels. Whack them on a dual contract and keep them in reserve when we need them. The problem is I dont know who there is out there

We'll just have to cope with Sinfield and Burrow, with Webb and even Buderus (?) doing cameos as and when necessary in the halves.

Although McGuire seemed to have regained some of his pace this season he is getting to his late 20s so I think he would be expected to evolve into more of a 'short range' player in the next few seasons anyway.

In reference to Danny, i personally think his game has improved in terms of creating not just scoring tries. It kind of reminds me when Schoey moved from the centres to stand off, his game evolved as he had lost a yard of pace. I see no reason why Danny shouldnt come back as maybe a different sort of SO.

Purely hypothetical of course,

But how do you think you Leeds fans would react if GH released Danny McGuire and signed Benji Marshall?

I'd be happy as a pig in manure, swapping a good SO for a genius wins for me every time.

Can you just get back in your hole? I preferred this place when you didn't post.

Would it really improve us in anyway at all?

McGuire has looked Leeds best player by a distance this season for a reason, the players around him have not impressed.

That's not taking anything away from Danny who has really stepped up to the mark, and in truth probably won us two or three matches because of him.

I just can't see how Benji Marshall would have improved that.

You don't think the best current SO playing the game improves a side whose stand off wouldn't make the majority of the NRL starting 13's?

interesting question. by rights Benji is head and shoulders really better than mags, albeit Mags is one of if not the best in SL. ut its a bitter pill to swallow, losing a leeds lad to bring in a 'southerner'. And there is the fact he might not fit into the setup.

So in answer i wouldnt be that happy. i'd only accept it if Mags was looking very very weak on the pitch and HAD to be replaced. As it stands now, no

An overpriced antipodean for a local lad done great for the club?

Nah, it couldn't happen at Leeds.

Even if it did I expect McGuire would still make the 17 and play half the game each week.

prety much what i was going for

Do your own dirty work next time.

Unlike some, I've played the game, and then watched it for many years. One player does not make a team.

McGuire delivered when many of the rest around him failed to match it. I don't see what Benji Marshall would have improved on that.

The antipodean would never be as good because of his lack of GF medals .... both would never win man of match owing to lack of full game time but the latter would be excused whilst the former would forever be castigated.

Of course the local lad would always be justified a bench spot and half a game because the club should be charitable regardless of the rational prudence.

Callum Casey is a halfback whos been signed on a 1 year fulltime deal for next season. Got the U20's Players Player of the Year Award. Hes looked a very good prospect in alot of games this year, also signed up for next year are Liam Hood, Jared Stewart and Bradley Singleton on 3 year deals.

Danny's injury is really serious with both the medial & cruciate ligaments ruptured. It will take some time but at least he will have the best medical and remedial help. So we certainly need to get some cover. Ideally i would prefer to recruit a talented youngster as we need to plan the succession in any case. However failing this I would not object to a top class Aussie on short term contract who could bridge the gap for us until we see how Danny recovers.

We also do need to sign a go forward prop even if JP makes a full recovery.

Sika Manu and jared waerea Hargreaves. Job done. Next!

I can't believe all the clamour for signing a replacement for McGuire after his injury. Danny will recover from this injury, he has already said publically that he expects to beat the "return to work date", so we are looking at somewhere between 6 - 9 months out. Given that we will have 4 months of off-season, he will miss (upto) 5 months of the season, which is around half of it.

We have at least two very capably players to fill in for Danny in Webb and Sinfield, who both have equally competent replacements for the positions that they would vacate to fill in for Danny, in BJB and Clarkson, so it's ridiculous to start claiming that we simply have to replace Danny.

One of the best things about this team is its spirit and character, which in the main is created by local players being looked after by the club, and this starts with when they are injured.

The only position we need to really need to strengthen is Prop as already indicated by some on here, anything else is pure folly, including those who seem to believe that Benji Marshall would suddenly have improved everyone else in the team by 15%. Only Danny Buderus could do that...

Who said anything about " replacing " him ?? I didn't

Some might wish to compliment our existing half backs..... I would prefer to complement them.

( actually I would like to do both )

Seems some on here ....more in the know.....know the club is covering the bases with young uns....and more astute signings. That will do me.

I really hope Danny does beat the medicals predicted date but he equally could take longer and some just never recover fully from this injury. I am not suggesting to replace Danny but for such a key position we do need some cover either a youngster (prefered) for the long term or a proven 6 on a short term contract. In the course of DM's absence its sods law that one or other of our playmakers will also get injured so its just good management to provide an umbrella in case it rains.