Wasn't Briscoe dropped for the Cas game & replaced by Handley?
That worked out well.

Whilst I wouldn't endorse Handley playing (isn't he injured ATM), you could've put some of the best wingers of all time on our wing that night and we'd still have been battered.

we would, but handley simply hasn't kicked on for me. I would be looking for an outside replacement.
also it just highlights how poor our right hand side is, and continues to be.

I'd keep Briscoe in, and try and work out a way to give him more protection - applying some kick pressure would be a start! The only real alternative we have is to move Watkins out to the wing, but I'm not sure that's the way to go.

I don't think it's just the kicks though, all round he has seemed not with it. Honestly think it'd do more harm than good to keep him in hoping he'll come good. He's scored 2 tries vs Wakey and 2 vs Salford recently and they haven't seemed to boost his confidence.

At this stage of the season we can't have a player out there and telling others we effectively need to hold his hand.....I know that sounds harsh but I honestly wish the guy the best and would love nothing more than for Friday's game to be decided by a 79th minute Tom Brisxoe match winning try or match saving tackle. I just don't think keeping him playing is the route to go. He has made the joint most appearances this year and will have only played less minutes to Hall because of coming off at the Magic Weekend, continuing to play him isn't working.

If I was coach I'd tell him to take a few weeks off and go recharge his batteries and get away from RL for a couple of weeks. We're almost fully fit barring Galloway so we get through these next 3 games and then after the week off for Wembley we bring him back in for the final 4 league games and see where he's at.

He's seems just so at rock bottom confidence and body language wise I honestly think keeping him out there when you know he's going to be targeted is bordering on cruel, it might sound like jumping to conclusions but when you think about what we've heard from the likes of Stevie Ward and depression in the game I am seriously worrying about him, another horror show against Wigan and where does he go from there?

I think you make some good points but one thing that contradicts one your point is: Leeds are second despite carrying a player all season. What is going to change if the table is a true reflection of where the teams are?

I hope Mac picks Briscoe. Dropping him will destroy him. If it was me, I'd want to be on the field, not stewing in the stands. He was publicly backed by his coach straight after the game, so he needs to pull up his Y-fronts and box on.

What you are suggesting is taking the best player in his position in the competition and playing him out of position - madness in my view.

It looks to me that your more worried about Wigan's attacking threat than what Leeds' attack can do to Wigan.

I agree with you regarding Ferris, despite his experience he currently looks slow and ineffectual and lacks discipline. Briscoe has totally lost the plot and needs taking out of the firing line. Wing these days is a more specialised and important position that centre and for that reason I would move Watkins there where in fact he could have more opportunity to run with the ball.

So Sutcliffe and Keinhorst in the centres with Ward given a role to stiffen up the right side from second row.

We were unable to put any kick pressure on Sneyd - Hull's only kicker - so I can't see that we'll be able or willing to do that against Wigan who have at least two last tackle kick options in Williams & Leuluai.
Putting pressure on either or both those will leave gaps elsewhere that Wigan will surely exploit.
We need to get more bodies around the defender. Easier said than done.

All Williams does is a little grubber with the outside of his foot 9/10 times. Can read him like a book.

Obviously won't do it if Briscoe is playing like.

Delaney returns to the 19 and Briscoe keeps his place.

Golding
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Mcguire
Parcell
Cuthbertson
Ablett
JJB
Ward
Sutcliffe
Delaney
Singleton
Garbutt
Keinhorst
Ferres
Mullally
Lilley

Going to be a long night Friday watching Briscoe how not to defend a high ball. I expect Burgess to get at least a hat tick.

So a back three of Ablett, Delanney and JJB - I bet Wigan are quaking in their boots

The pace in our forwards should compensate for us having no pace at half back and Briscoe not being able to defuse a bomb

all 3 can do a good job.
its those three being there next season that worries me

I appreciate that Ferres has had a number of serious injuries and according to an interview he was unable to get into the condition that he wanted to to play at his optimum. Returning to the training with the Yorkshire regiment ..years ago when Yorkshire Carnegie was Leeds Carnegie , if I recall they did pre season training with them one year..as it was noted they were not so fit...they did it as prior to that one year the Rhinos had done it. So would give that intensity needed. Mind shape should not be misjudged because if you look at Whiteley in U19s, he is built naturally heavy boned ..but he can shift..I would though question the players diet, if you go on twitter there are frequently posts with players in some fast food place which to me doesn't seem right for a modern sportsman. Some times players seem out of puff but then another they have a blinder..take Garbutt coming of bench against Wakey ,according to stats he made 223m , he done a 191m but most around 170 or below, Cuthbo had a few in 190...but looked at Zak when we played Cas he made 203m , so was impressed by Garbutt...yet other times the metres made is below 100. I would not be averse to the squad using similar training and conditioning methods to those used by the WRU squad of 2011, who were at peak fitness ( some argue they should have been in finals). They trained using Hyperbaric oxygen therapy..after spending time in the chambers it enabled them to train longer and increased their fitness levels. So hopefully that would aid consistency.

No to playing Watkins on wing...against playing too many players out of position. As someone else mentioned he is our best centre not only that at his best world class...but I see your view that he has not had so many opportunities to score. Then as JP said when he played for Leeds, the squad just need to ensure they get the ball to him as much as possible .

I would still wish Golding to play at FB but if Briscoe is not be in match 17, then I think Golding is capable of playing on wing ,did well there 2016 on occasions he scored. I would then move Sutty to FB, who btw as best stats for that position ,including over Walker.

tad - agree re JJB, Ablett and Delaney. The problem is that if you look at any one of them individually they look OK (assuming Delaney isn't mummified), but when you put them together as a group its mind-bogglingly average. Add another year to each of them and its hard to envisage them even being average as a group.

Our back row needs freshening up no doubt about it.

Got a funny feeling the season could take a turn either way tonight. Not so much the result but the performance.

tonight game will define our whole season. the gamble of resting players and giving wigan at easy 2 points will give them a boost. they will be pretty confident of taking another 2 off us and putting them selves in a position to assault the top 3. we must not only match them but better them and make sure we put another two points between us and them, which will pretty much put us in a position were top 4 is pretty much ours to lose, so a good win will hopefully catapult our charge to old trafford. a loss or a bad loss puts us back into danger zone.

Will be interesting to see how Wigan perform, they are still pretty much in must win territory especially with Saints' winning last night and the fixtures panning out with them away to Saints right after Wembley doesn't help.

Not looking forward to tonight's game!

First few sets will be crucial. Wigan will go all out on briscoe. Hopefully there are some plans to close down the kicker and support him in defence.

Expect the kick off to go to him.

Hope he can come through it and play a big role could be the boost his confidence needs.