[i'The Bulls have had the toughest set of opening fixtures of any team this season.'[/i

Regards
Steve McNamara (Sky Sports pundit)

I think it was the same night he predicted the Crusaders would finish the season inside the eight. He declined to comment at whose expense.

As an outsider looking in, I think it is obvious what a great player Sinfield is at this level.
Both Burrows and Mcguire are runners/support players, Burrows looked lost the other night running across the line. Sinfield alone will make a massive difference.

There are a couple of things that are clear to me and, to be honest, can't really be argued.

This season, so far, we have been the team worst hit by injury problems.

In previous seasons, we have not had any major injury crisis and have probably been one of the most fortunate sides, when it comes to injury problems in our 25 man first team squad.

Now, we did have a poor start pre WCC and were beaten by better sides on the day but then played a very good WCC and walloped (albeit) a poor Quins side. Since then we have been ravaged by injury and, until last Friday, looked poor even based on the expectations and on paper line-up. We lost the Hull KR game for me, they did not win it, it was two poor sides and they were slightly less poor than we were!

I don't think we can be measured and assessed yet by any fans fully, including our own, until such time we have more-or-less a first choice 17 on the park, which as only happened at Quins (sort of) since the distraction of the WCC.

This weekend will start to show what our real form is looking like, even with some key players missing. If we can pull two wins out of this weekend I will be delighted and feel that the GF is easily within our reach. One win from two would not be a disaster, but would hope that would be Catalans away. Two losses and I might allow myself to worry a little, but the next 7 games, to bring us to half-way, is when I think we, and other fans, can start making judgements on our prospects for the rest of the season.

Just to repeat...win something.

As a Leeds fan for many, many years I know how you feel deep down. I know that all the insults you hurl and all the p!$$ taking never, ever feels satisfying. The hollowness of winning a league game when the team you beat later goes on to win [ianother[/i Championship.
I pity you. No, really.

Ponner the players missing games were not all due to injury were they ?? I think some were discipline especially in the case of mason? I may be wrong tho ? in one case that of kirmond he was no going to get a game anyhow

I think you'll find that the rhinos are all due to injury and at the same time hardly comparable

At last someone who answers in a proper manner, so I will return the favour.
Mason tore a bicep so has been out since the first minute of this season but should be back this weekend. Regarding Kirmond, he was a vital member of our team last year and probably our form 2nd rower until his injury. We've strengthened in that position over the off season though so his chances may have been limited but he would still have played some games before now i'm sure. Thanks for your reply.