I know. I mean how can any team expect to win trophies with players like Burrow and McGuire in the defensive line.........................

Correct.

Two years ago.

Indeed.

One of my constant bugbears with the Sky coverage is Stevo's insistence that every winger who isn't stood right on the whitewash marking his opposite number is "out of position".

He's usually crashed in because his centre has gone in and if the winger fails to follow suit it leaves huge gap between the two.

What Wigan don't tend to do very often on that play where Tomkins loops around is use him as a decoy and hit a short, flat ball to the runners. If you see Tomkins chiming into the line it usually means he's the intended receiver and you can pay minimum attention to the decoy runners in front of him.

However Leeds choose to defend it, they need to be off the line quickly and closing down the thinking time for Deacon, Finch and Tomkins. The first two or three steps need to be forward, then decide whether you are coming up and in or sliding depending on the numbers.

Im sure you wont be surprised to know I disagree with you AG.

Its a common feature of the game these days that the defending winger is stood well inside his opposite number. What would happen if the winger moved out and stood opposite his winger? What is wrong with the winger giving his centre a god bolloxing and telling him to move out, thus dragging the whole line out a bit?

If your very quick you can afford to give your winger a bit of room in an attempt to keep things tight. I for one though would not fancy us giving Charnley much room on Saturday. Im not a huge fan of the lad but he can shift.

You need to defend from the middle outwards, otherwise there are gaps. Its better to have a gap out wide, where a player has to be found with a long pass (or quick hands), and mistakes can be made, than to let a player just walk through a gap and blame someone inside of you for not making the gap smaller

Agreed. But then you leave the gap out wide and you are also open to a player joining the line and getting out numbered while there is a lot of field still out wide.

Dont get me wrong, I dont have the answer and its a rock and a hard place.

Most teams defend from the inside out, the idea being that it keeps the middle of the field solid and forces the opposition to move the ball out wide and try to beat you on the outside with skill rather than being able to steamroller you down the middle.

If you've got equal numbers, there's no problem with the centre staying on his man and the winger staying on his.

Where numbers are unequal however, say where the full back comes into the line to make the extra man, then your winger and centre need to keep together. Otherwise if the centre goes up and in to try to prevent the ball coming wide and the winger just stands on his man, there is going to be a huge gap between the two for someone coming into the line to exploit. It's why having your full back come into the line often creates an overlap for the winger, because his opposite number has to follow his centre and slide inside to cover the runners.

According to Twitter, Watkins in '50-50' for the final and his knee is 'improving'.

Next they'll be saying that Keith will be lining up too.

Watkins is out. If they manage to carry him onto the pitch it will be a total joke. Pray they've learnt their lesson from when they wheeled keith out against Hull.

Quote ="Fallon"Next they'll be saying that Keith will be lining up too. Watkins is out. If they manage to carry him onto the pitch it will be a total joke. Pray they've learnt their lesson from when they wheeled keith out against Hull.'" Perhaps things are looking up? www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 51,00.html

Quote ="Fallon"Next they'll be saying that Keith will be lining up too. Watkins is out. If they manage to carry him onto the pitch it will be a total joke. Pray they've learnt their lesson from when they wheeled keith out against Hull.'" Perhaps things are looking up? www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 51,00.html

Sounds a little bit more positive today about both Watkins and Ablett, and to be fair we have some superb medical staff at Leeds, who will work tirelessly to get both fellas right for Saturday if possible. However, if not, clearly the lesson must be learned from the Senior saga in the final against Hull. You cannot hope to beat Wigan if you go into the Final "carrying" anyone.

I twisted my knee last season, it was swollen and bruised and I was put on crutches, I was able to walk on it fine within 2/3 days and if I had of had the quality of medical staff with me that Rhinos will have I could have played the following week I feel. It all depends on the extent of the twist. I have twisted my knee where it has put me out of action for numerous months. Hopefully he got a minor twist. The twisted knee that injured me for a couple of days was far more painful than the knee twist that put me out for months, so don't be shocked if he has a chance of playing.

Hmmmm, it seems to me that the article is saying its good news Watkins doesnt need surgery. Thats great news long term but suggests how serious the injury is that they were even talking about it.

I hope they are both fit, and ablett sounds like he will be, but its very touch and go for Watkins. If there is any doubt they must not play him.

If Watkins does play and does go off injured it won't be the end of the world. Delaney simply goes to centre, Sinfield reverts to loose forward (Presuming Mac will continue to play Sinfield at 6 and bench Burrow or McGuire). Sure its far from ideal but it won't exactly screw us up big time. We'll be a forward light but JJB and JP, who have both had a weeks rest, can do a full 80.

I would disagree. Its bad for three reasons, none of which you have considered;
1. If he goes of with the same injury that would suggest he wasnt fit in the first place. If he isnt fit then there is a good chance he would not have been at his best. We cant carry people in a game like this, we will get punished.
2. We lose a player meaning we only have three fit players on the bench. Wembley is a big ground, this is a big game and I bet it s roasting hot. Its going to be very energy sapping out there.
3. Finally, and most importantly, playing a player who has an injury can, in a worse case scenario, cause more damage longer term for the player.

Its simply not worth the risk when we have Delaney, Smith, Hardaker who can all play there.

I'm not saying play him injured mate

. I agree to your points to some extent. The way I see it is you can train the house down all week but nothing can test how the knee will go in the game. If its giving him a little grief on Friday there is no doubt about it and he won't play. Like I said its not ideal but what I'm saying is IF the disaster struck we will have adequate cover and it wont screw us up like it may have done in 05. Players won't have to play out of position to cover his loss. This may work in his favour at decision time.

A lot of players play 'injured' with strains and some with issues such as shoulder/knee problems that they know require off-season surgery and could go at any time. At this stage of the season I'd be surprised if half our squad didn't have some kind of minor niggles they play on with.

Watkins has torn cartilage in his knee. Depending on the severity of the tear and swelling ,pain etc it's possible he could still make it. I would imagine if he doesn't play they'll have him in ASAP to trim or repair the damaged cartilage when appropriate.

Put me off my mid morning snack did that!

[urlhttp://www.skysports.com/story/0,,12211_7121983,00.html[/url

Ablett & Watkins in the 19

daft bets for the day

£10 of JP and Bailey to score first JP @ 51/1 & Bailey out to 67/1

Then to top if up joing for something even more less likely Maguire lance Todd winner @ 11/1

Stupid bets I know but maybe just maybe.......

Not sure either coach is eligible to win the Lance Todd Trophy so I'm surprised the bookies accepted the bet.

I think ablett will make the team, Watkins could be a worry, would rather a fit player than someone that injured. I know players carry knocks all year but depending on the severity would be a mistake to play him

I agree, and if Kallum doesn't make it, although I was a little harsh perhaps on Smith's inclusion earlier in the week, on reflection he does have a steady defensive game, and does have a knack of coming up with very important tries in big games for us, so he probably would be the best option.