Cool

Think I'd go for Kirke as starting prop with Ablett in second row and Burgess as impact prop.

Webb
Donald
Watkins
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Diskin
Kirke
JJB
Ablett
Sinfield

Peacock
Burgess
Gibson
Ali (Needs Must???)

Given that we have a spare place in the squad due to an injury, could we see a late call up for a youngster? Luke Ambler to make his debut? I'd rather we didn't risk Ali, but a bench that includes Allan and Gibson (or who ever) does seem rather light.

Is McShane still crocked???

It further illustrates how weak Leeds' overall squad is this season.

Ellis, Scruton, Toopi and Tansey have been replaced by Buderus and youngsters.

Champions need to build on their success not rest on their laurels.

We became champions by promoting youngsters and we're continuing that this season with players such as Watkins, McShane, even Burgess, who has effectively taken Scruton's position.

Thats true and agreed with. But we built our sucess on promoting youngsters when they we're ready. Not "because we have too," which is that case now!

Leeds have four props this season, last season they had five (which is where Eastwood would have come in.)

Leeds have already failed to defend their WCC title.

Leeds, IMO, need to strengthen the squad now before it's too late to defend the SL title. Money in the bank with cap space unspent will needlessly make the job more difficult than it need be.

Don't think so, he played in acadamy game before Saints game so suprised he is not in really

I agree. I can't see the reason for having unspent money and then failing on the pitch.
We are looking a little thin at the moment. It does remind me of 2005, when we lost/released/retired several squad players - especially in the pack. We failed at the last hurdle all year and then had a pretty poor season after while recovering.
We have Ali now spending progressively more time on the treatment table, and Senior is hinting this might be the year he proves he's actually human and picks up a few knocks. We have effectively one new signing and he's only played a half.
We have a chance to make history - we should be going for it.

Ryan Bailey and Lee Smith are out but Ali has been brought in. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/r ... 5112289.jp

Ryan Bailey and Lee Smith are out but Ali has been brought in. www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/r ... 5112289.jp

Agree to some extent - Eastwood not coming was a big loss as we were relying on him to fill certain boots.

Signing someone now when the seasons under way is a lot harder to do tho - do we look at lower leagues for talent, try and poach someone from SL or try abroad again?

Anselme and Thackray certainly aren't the best examples of our mid season shopping/borrowing.

Promoting the youngsters is commendable and i've no doubt Allan (maybe), McShane etc will be stars of the future but when you've conceded two tries before half time against Saints with Gibson, Allan, Burgess on the field and peacock, diskin, burrow on the bench it does make you worry.

Leeds, once again, have 5 props this season, with Luke Ambler being the fifth. Scruton leaving meant Burgess went to number 4, and Ambler took the "bottom rung" spot. As far as I'm aware Eastwood never played prop during his time down under, and was never intended to do so for Leeds, imo of course.

Leeds did indeed fail to win the WCC title, but that was more to do with the opposition than anything we did.

From what I've seen so far, I see no need to go out and waste money picking up left-overs in order to add to the squad. Of course, if someone such as Ali came up that's a different matter, but at the present time I'm happy enough with what we've got.

Yet to see Ambler so I can't comment there. Eastwood played interchange prop at Brisbane whenever I saw him and did likewise for the Bulldogs on debut last week. That's where I saw him fitting in at Leeds to be perfectly honest.



Melbourne prepared well for Leeds (including wupping Manly in a pre season warm up in Aus before coming across.) I'd attribute their loss more to Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis not coming over than anything Leeds did. I think Leeds' preparation for the Manly game was fairly low key this time.



It's more difficult to do your recruiting during the season but that's what happens when you fail to do it at the appropriate time. Hetherington went to Australia and only came back with Buderus, which was a spectacular fail on his part given who was known to be leaving at the time.

Although it may remind me a little of 2005 I take solace in the fact that Bluey has a better youth policy than TS and that this may see us home

Maybe we are having to fund the sister club.They can hardly be making money with a full time squad and crowds of a couple of thousand on average.After all thats the main reason Caddick is still there.

Caddick is there to oversea the most successful period in Leeds RL's history I'd have said and how much is his interest in Carnegie these days anyway?

I remember from a few years ago an article in the YEP when Caddick gave a rare interview he basically stated union was his first love before league.Otherwise why would he continue to pump money into a loss making situation.

You do know he isn't the majority stake holder now don't you???
He sold a major part of it when they were re-named leeds carnegie and we as the leeds rhinos are in no way keeping the union team afloat.
As has been the norm with GH we don't sign player's for the sake of it and surely if GH says there's funds available if the "right player" does become available we have no reason to disbelieve him.

So what exactly? I remember the article you mention and he said much, much more besides the bit you've recalled above. Without the full text your soundbite is fairly worthless wouldn't you say?

I'd say it's worthless on it's own, Caddick is a Union fan , whats the big deal? Ridsdale was a massive Leeds United fan and that went well.

On the WCC - Manly were excellent and deserved to win - however Leeds only had 11 fit players - Peacock, Bailey, Burrow, Diskin were not fit - and were seriously contemplating drafting in a load of youngsters - so I would suggest the game needs to viewed with this in mind

mr caddick the man from castleford who got you out of the mire when you had no money and 6000 crowds, yes i remember it well.