at the fans on the Saints board tonight...This is a good one: They want the RFL to look at the 20 metre restart rule because Leeds kick it dead on purpose to slow the game down.

Ive heard some bollox on here but that has to be near the top.

I wouldn't shift Seinor/Delaney into the forwards. I'd have Smith on the bench as a potential game breaker and replacment for 1-5, with Burrow/McGuire at halfback. Given the length of time he's been out I wouldn't include Diskin either - this is not the game for ring-rusty players.

Defence around marker and up the middle will be key. If Leeds are as soft up the middle as they were against Sts at home we'll lose. We need to control tackles and slow down the resulting PTB, and actually stop forwards at the gain line (I lost count of how many times in that game Leeds lost the collision, with Sts forwards making big yards after being hit by the tacklers).

Personally I'm not too hopeful. The lack of Ali and Eastwood as game-breaking second rows is a real loss. Without them we have no real punch in the forwards. I will very gladly be proved entirely wrong, however...

Not sure it's a tactic, Leeds just have a pretty average short kicking game.

If it's the longer kicks downfield (lets say those from within your own half) then I think perhaps there is an argument for changing the law on the re-start to discourage the negative tactic, employed by most sides.

One for the off season though not now.

All you'd have to do to negate the dead ball long kick is let sides restart as fast as they like from the 20. I wouldn't even care if a team was offside so long as they didn't interfere with play.

I dunno, what about the claim that Bailey only makes some metres because he's tall?????

Is it fair to say that if Leeds don't perform on Saturday we might as well write off any chances of winning any silverware this season? If they can't step up in this game then I doubt they'll be able to overcome the challenges of winning the GF from 4th or 5th.

It'd be foolish to write us off at any time imo lets just wait and see.

I'd say not. For my money, that risk would come from beating Sts but losing in the final.

I would play Rob & Danny at half back and move Sin back to 13. We will need them on for the full 80 and we need 3 kickers. I would seriously consider Smith for Senior because Keith has defensive positional play has been terrible and Lee has been a game winner on the big stage and gives a 4th kicker and I think he will be a better left centre than right because of the easier pass.

I would include Ambler and Diskin (only if 100% fit) Senior not yet proven in 2nd row (will need to make 30 tackles or so) so would give him a rest.

Squad in full is:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
3 Brett Delaney
4 Keith Senior
5 Ryan Hall
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
9 Danny Buderus
10 Jamie Peacock
11 Jamie Jones Buchanan
13 Kevin Sinfield
14 Matt Diskin
16 Ryan Bailey
17 Ian Kirke
19 Luke Burgess
24 Luke Ambler
27 Chris Clarkson
28 Lee Smith

[urlhttp://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/14593.php[/url

I had a feeling Kirke would be included. Ambler and Burgess to miss out

Brent Webb
Scott Donald
Brett Delaney
Lee Smith
Ryan Hall
Danny McGuire
Rob Burrow
Kylie Leuluai
Danny Buderus
Jamie Peacock
Jamie Jones Buchanan
Keith Senior
Kevin Sinfield


Matt Diskin
Ryan Bailey
Ian Kirke
Chris Clarkson


Burgess and Ambler to miss out.

Kirkey's back.

Sorted.

Senior has caused the Saints defence a whole heap of trouble over the last few seasons. I would be very cautious about distrubing his relationship with Hall on the left.

If any centre were to 'step up' into the pack (and this itself is a prospect I find concerning) then Delaney would be the better choice, for 3 reasons:

1. Senior/Hall have a prolific record against Saints.
2. Delaney played back row for the Titans.
3. Smith played right centre for most of last season and would slot in alongside Donald much easier.

One of Smith/Diskin/Clarkson are likely to sit this one out, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Kirke will play. Need a 2nd row option.

Burgess would be unlucky to miss out IMO - had a very solid game last week. Which was good to see.

He would be unlucky to miss out but who else drops out?
I was the first one to call for Smith been dropped last week, but as we all know he is a big game player. He needed the rest and could provide another bit of magic to win this one. Clarkson was solid again against Saints. Diskin takes the defence up another notch imo. Unlucky Burgess.

That was five weeks ago.

Clarkson or Burgess for the final bench spot? Burgess everytime. Clarkson will offer nothing from the bench.

Meant Wigan.

Don't know about that. He knows how to hit gap as demonstrated beautifully against Huddersfield. He also knows how to punish weak tired tackling as demonstrated against Wigan. He could offer quite a bit off the bench imo.

You sure know how to insult a girl.

Saints line up as:

1. Paul Wellens, 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Leon Pryce, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 10. James Graham, 11. Tony Puletua, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Chris Flannery, 14. James Roby, 15. Bryn Hargreaves, 16. Scott Moore, 17. Paul Clough, 18. Matty Ashurst, 24. Jonny Lomax, 25. Jake Emmitt, 28. Shaun Magennis, 30. Jamie Foster.

Clarkson is as good a defender as we have and should start - the worry for me is a JJB/Diskin combination anywhere near the middle of the park - if that happens Roby will have a field day. JJB has serious concentration issues and as a result gets out of position - this is exposed virtually every week. I would move him out wider so his frailties are less likely to be on show.

Hopefully Kylie will see limited game time - his contribution is marginal at best - maybe we should have a lottery on the number of fresh airs he has - I go for 7?

We can win but we have to play to our strengths - playing JJB defending in the middle is not one of them - Buderus most play all 80 minutes so no place for Diskin for me.

I'd probably go:

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Meli
Lomax/Foster (tough call, be tempted to go Lomax)
Pryce
Moore
Graham
Cunningham
Hargreaves
Wilkin
Ashurst
Flannery

Roby
Puletua
Clough
Emmitt

Shame to leave Magennis out as he looks the business, but he doesn't have a lot of minutes under his belt. Ashurst is that bit more experienced and Emmitt has been in good form at prop.

I'm sure the opposition don't feel Kylie's contribution is marginal when he hits them hard in defence.