Exactly - we haven't conceded over 20 points in a game since Bradford put 28 past us on the 16th August last year and before that it was Salford in May !! so only twice in the league in the last 10 months - thats some defence and Leeds' attack will have to be really good to break that down !

Giants will be without B. Hodgson, Kirkmond, Mason, Drew, Finnegan and potentially Wild still out but with talk of Horne going out on loan to Castleford he may be back in contention.

Spot on.

Don't forget that the Hudds attack will have to be really good too there aren't many teams in the world who can keep Melbourne tryless for a half of rugby

Yeh it would have been interesting to see how many they'd have scored though if they were into thier season.

And equally it would have been good to see how many more the Rhinos would have scored had they started the season well and carried any real form into the game and not lost to Cas & Wakey and been run close by a very week Salford side... these are all just 'ifs' but as we will never know the answer, not sure it matters any more!

True, I just wish the WCC was played during both team's seasons so the convicts can't use the excuse when they lose. But would the English club have had the upperhand overall if the games had been played during both teams seasons?

The thing is they are all Aussies, so they will continue to use any excuse available to them when they lose. Melbourne will be the best in the world, without question now in their eyes, but if the Aussie team loses next season they will conveniently forget that and talk about the fact it was in the UK, poor weather, out of season and should be moved to Sydney one week after their Grand Final to make it fair and the Aussies side is still better and lost for all of those reasons.

For what it is worth, I think that in the last decade or so, most of the Aussies sides have taken it deadly seriously and Melbourne (both times) and Manly took it very seriously indeed.

I am perplexed as to why this game didn't make the Sky schedules, looks like the tie of the round to me and neither Huddersfield nor Leeds can be called 'surprise packages' this season so far!

TBH i'm glad it's not as our attendances take a massive drop when we're on SKY.

I think the deal is, is that Sky announce the fixtures they will cover for the first half (or so, think it is currently end of June they have published fixtures for) of the season in advance and stick to them pretty much. They will then decide on remain fixtures to play-off's BUT will change them if form would dictate otherwise.

But, yes, CC finalist and SL 2009 4th place playing SL GF winners does look like a TV fixture to me as well.

Ahem...3rd

Do you know, as I was typing that I doubted myself and should now have double checked!!!

I think sky have to show every club at least X number of times per season, so whilst it would be good to watch the tie of the round every week it's not possible.

Recently by Regular Round 6 Leeds have been televised:

2004 - 2
2005 - 2
2006 - 2
2007 - 2
2008 - 2
2009 - 4

Looks like 2010 could be payback for last season.

I agree Tony! Every game seems like it has consisted of one of the 4!

Clearly I don't know the 'terms and conditions' of Sky's contract with the RFL, nonetheless I would expect that from a commercial standpoint they (Sky) would indeed attempt to forecast and then include the 'tie of the round' for at least one of their two live games each weekend in the first half of superleague. I think the amount each club receives from the television contract is fixed irrespective of the number of times they are shown - although I don't know this for definite. I would imagine each club negotiates with the RFL for an appropriate 'proportion of the pot' based on their exisiting support base and an historical analysis of audiences for each of the games shown in which they feature.

Bottom line I am peeved that I won't get to see the game on TV this weekend!!

This is hopefully going to be a tough and close game. Leeds have to be favourites simply because of their pedigree and previous results against Fartown. Although we are now a top side and any club thinking otherwise will get caught out. Can't wait.

Can somebody tell Danny McGuire that if he is planning on scoring one of the best tries of the season with a brilliant bit of skill, save it for a SKY game?

Just watched Boots N All and my god, what a try, think thats up there with Amos Roberts' forst v Warrington for try of the season.

Fraid not Ponner. The top four last year were Leeds, Saints, Wigan, Catalans. That's who contested the semi finals of the competition.

You becoming a closet Rhino`s fan Ewwen ?
You are getting too complimentary lately

He's playing possum, waiting for his miniute to strike.

That isn't reflected in the final table though mate so ponner is right.

Sorry : Ryan Bailey's a pussy



But honestly, that try was bloody awesome.

I'm still hoping you lose this week though

You do realise you're still completely failing to distance yourself from the average Leeds fan don't you?