I enjoy it all the time. Thanks Pal

I can confirm that HEADINGLEY hasn't missed you in the slightest, I hope your self imposed exile continues for the rest of your very sad little life

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr Swiftcorn regarding the susupensions handed out.
It was merely a "handbags" situation.........no thuggery or evil intent.
The ref should merely have sin binned them to cool off and see a bit of sense. The disciplinary panel should also stop being influenced by hyped up media comments.
Now Wigan, and prospective spectators are deprived watching the standout team of the season at full strength, playing some really attractive football.
I also suspect that, psychologically, it will be hard for Leeds to raise their game and could make it more difficult to get a win.

The Bans were handed out because:-

1. Hock is a Thug and his Record speaks for itself.
2. The 2 Fighting were nothing to do with the original incident.
3. It's in the Law Book.

So they deserve to be made weaker, it's called Punishment.

Yep, you have convinced me. I am sure you would be saying exactly the same if it was any other club than Wigan...... no really.

So let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly. Wigan - already missing three forwards with injury - having three more suspended gives Leeds less chance of winning? Positively Swiftcornesque logic. Sounds like a Leeds fan getting their excuses in early.

Should be a very interesting game... Leeds are still a dangerous team, and we are having to play a weaker pack. Can't wait...

Sounds like a Leeds fan who knows Leeds only too well, I fear.

Think the backs will more than likely line up as follows -
Webb
Smith, Ablett, Hardaker, Hall
Sinfield, McGuire

Ablett to be on that side to match up against Carmont even though we know this means a lack of ball for Hall in attack.

In the forwards it all depends on who he picks at loose. JJB, Hauraki and Clarkson (has been poor coming off the bench this season so maybe a return to starting loose like last year might see an improvement?) are all options but given the opposition it should definately be Bailey against Wigan.
P.S. No it WON'T be Sinfield with Burrow starting in the halves.

Leuluai, Lunt, Peacock
JJB, Delaney
Bailey

SUBS - Burrow, Moore, Hauraki, Griffin

But this being McDermott it wouldn't surprise me to see him go back to Burrow starting with Lunt on the bench. I hope not but i'm half expecting it.

Leeds have the edge in personnel due to Wigan's depleted forwards options i think, but they've still got Finch and Tommy Leuluai to run things and we have to be smart when we are kicking from our own half (which i suspect based on our last few performances we might have to do quite a bit of), aim for Gelling to bring the ball back because i don't want to see Charnley or Tomkins running it back at us with a bit of open field.

Kicking to Gelling may not be good option, he has really good stats for his kick returns and metres made.

That may be true, but I'd still choose to kick deep to him rather than Charnley or Tomkins. I'd also switch Hall to right wing for the game (he was more than ok there for England) to attack Gelling, because he looks so exploitable as a winger.

Which one of Tomkins, Charnley and Gelling do you least want taking that first carry on tackle two? My vote would be with Charnley on that one, so that's where Leeds should be kicking. Let the wingers bring the ball back and be disciplined with the chase. Make Tomkins have to play against a set defensive line rather than in broken field.

Darn you Gilder, that almost sounds like a gameplan and has no place at the Rhinos these days. You just don't play by the rules do you....

Yeah it more of a compliment to Tomkins and Charnley than a disrespect to Gelling who to be honest i haven't see loads of as yet.

Either way we have to put good kicks in down field. You can be facing a team with a depleted forward pack but any team will struggle to beat them if you allow them to start sets up near their own 40m line or better, and if we kick it straight into the hands of Tomkins and Charnley that is what could happen.

Missed who?

Looking forward to this will take my mind off the lufc takeover saga

2 big X-factors that could decide it. One unfortunately being that we've been lumbered with James Child as referee so its almost certain that the game won't be as good as it could of been. Secondly how well Charnley does with his goal kicking on the night, i saw him land one from the touchline against Saints so he can obviously kick but i think it would be fair to say he doesn't have the consistency of a Pat Richards. In what i think will be a tight game one missed conversion could prove to be the difference.

It wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world to see Charnley relinquish the role in favour of Tomkins and Tomkins has some form at Headingley after his equalising pressure-kick last season.

Apparently one of the kids in the Wigan squad (Murphy) is a goalkicker, though I've no idea if he'll be playing.

It's lose lose.

If we win, well we were at home against a very weakened wigan team, winning was a necessity.

Lose and it's OH MY GOD how could you lose to such a weakened team at home, you are no hopers.

Eiher way we're ed and it's a must win game if we want to finish in the top 4.

Come on, don't be diplomatic, you know you're alot better than us and will probably win even with a weaker pack let's not beat around the bush. Leeds recent record against wigan is poor, we are no danger.

A top 4 finish? Well, I love the enthusiasm but I think 7th /8th is where we may end up.

Not to worry though, I've been convinced by the dark side that a successful season rests only on the last couple of matches, so getting our posteriors handed to us on Friday by a lightweight Pie side means nowt!

If the Leeds pack lose to this lot then the club really does need a clean sweep. No excuses.

Hope we see Ablett partnering Hall either way: left or right....and Bailey at loose.

Will BJB return ?

Manly's pack is a lot more physical than any pack Wigan could put out. Leeds didn't dominate them in the WCC but they took their best shots and in the end subdued them. IF (big word) Leeds' forwards actually play with real effort for the match, they shouldn't be being beaten up or bullied by any SL pack.

IMO our overall performances and resulting league position this season is a lot to do with attitude - as proved to be the case last year. Whether Leeds at their very best are capable of winning the competition again, I'm not sure, but we're a lot better than we've showed so far.