Assuming Leeds don't go out and recruit ...... Ryan Hall to centre - Jones-Bishop, Hardaker, Smith covering wing/full-back.

Hall is a good strong runner, getting the ball in his hands more often could pay dividends. One game this season he made 11 tackle busts from the wing position - if that could be replicated more regularly from the centre position opposition defences would be in scramble mode and all of Jones-Bishop/Hardaker/Watkins strike me as having more toe to finish the half breaks if the pass is on.

The best replacement for a Senior is another Senior type and Hall has the attributes to be that player amongst the current panel of outside backs.

I dont think Hall has the handling skills to be a centre. I think he is a very good winger, I think he could be a decent centre, but not anywhere near the level he is at winger.

Smith, i believe, will come good again with another pre-season behind him and a set position.

Hall has no less handling skills than the majority of players used in the role for the last couple of seasons, indeed he probably has more but rarely has the opportunity to express them.

I'd like to see him used there and would cite Francis Meli at St Helens as an example of how it could go.

Smith has a long way to go before he should command a centre spot at Leeds on this season's showings both offensively and defensively.

fyp

Square pegs in round holes is a blue print for another poor season. Seniors replacement is years over due (lol at the watkins fanboys 3 years ago), lets go out splash some money and get at least one proven, established natural centre. Fill both 3/4 vacancies will be impossible considering how tough it is to get 1 proper signing out of GH, 1 is a must though.

fwiw i also think BJB is the best full back in the squad.

He'd probably by more Ryan Atkins than senior, but if we don't get a new signing, he'd be the best option there

Ok maybe I am not the only one on here blessed with imagination and foresight



As I have stated previously IMO the club's best presently available threequarters are Hardaker, BJB, Watkins and Hall. I just wasn't sure in the exact best make up of the four.

For sure both Ablett and Delaney should be filling in at centre in extreme emergencies. The idea that either should hold down the position on a regular basis is risible for a club with the lofty ambitions a club like Leeds should possess.

Delaney is the better second rower of the two ( and will one day make a good prop )... Ablett is best at LF. He has the handling skills, but not quite enough hard running grunt/tackle busting ablity to make a top class second rower.

.....Smith will have to battle it out with Webb for FB ( who can cover the halves ).

However IF the club does sign a world class centre then BJB should be given first shot at FB.
New guy and Hall to centre, Watkins and Hardaker on the flanks.

....although Wilson might yet spoil the party

















......and Chisholm

Ryan Atkins is currently the best English centre running around in the competition even if he remains a poor man's Keith Senior (when at a comparable age.)

Give over tvoc. All for understanding peoples opinions, but even a Warrington fan would be hard pushed to come out with that one.

He's playing well, but he's miles away from the best English centre in the comp.

Yeaman and Cudjoe, are in a different league to him.

I still don't rate Atkins all that highly. He's a good finisher, but lacks creativity. He offers a bit of strike power outside and Wire make him a lot of chances. I still think he'd look more ordinaryin a less free-scoring team. I also think he still struggles to put his winger away (or a 1,6 or 7 in side almost as often) in any but the easiest circumstances (of which Wire create plenty with big overlaps) which is the number 1 trait I like to see in a centre.

He's good enough, but I still think he's a bit over-rated.

If you didn't allow posters to over-rate English centres it'd be difficult to rate them at all.

True dat.

Why should I give over expressing a honestly held opinion? I shan't be asking any Warrington fans btw as I see enough RL (all SL teams - and not just when they are playing Leeds) to form my own views.

Atkins has improved out of sight since his move to Warrington or to be more precise since the arrival of Coach Smith. He may just be reflecting the current state of his club though .... only time will tell if and when they return to the pack.

I hear a lot about Yeaman but never really see it. Rose sharply but for me plateaued a few years ago. Perhaps needs a new environment to progress but I fancy he is more than happy to tread water where he is, firmly in the comfort zone.

The impression I get with Yeaman is that he catches the eye readily (scores a lot of tries, comes up with some big defensive plays occasionally) but doesn't do some of the basics too well. For ever big tackle there seems to be at least one occasion when he's mysteriously absent from the line, or has gone haring out into no-man's land and been by-passed. He's also another who doesn't seem to have the best handling skills.

It may just be that I haven't seen enough of him lately.

Watkins excites me.

Watkins on the dazzle with ball in hand does it for me.

That sounds horrific and shouldn't be viewable by a family audience.

It was a figure of speech. Lincoln and Leeds are not that far apart, so don't pretend.

I don't know what you mean.

Being the best centre in SL these days is like being the worlds tallest dwarf.

On the centre situation at Leeds I'd give Watkins the right centre shirt, and try and sign a quality left centre until Jordan Harper from the U18s is ready.

Down to natural selection then?

PLEASE don't give Nantwich more ammunition by dropping the name of an adolescent 3/4 who he's not until this minute heard of. He'll be wanting him to wear the 6 shirt for the semi-final.

Too late

Nail on head!. I think he's one of the dumbest players around. He looks better because he's playing in a better team which creates alot of space for him. He's fast, he's strong and unfortunately thats about it. I'm surprised he has not been converted to being a winger yet, especially as Warrington have King & Bridge whom I believe are much better than Atkins at centre.

I rate Chris Bridge as a centre, he's got a good rugby brain and good foot work. It's a shame he's not a couple of inches taller as he'd create so much more for his winger.

I disagree, i think his catching is probably fine but his passing ability is pretty poor to be honest. He does well at a hit and spin offload but he isnt going to reach out and put someone in a gap.

Ive seen plenty of times Hall opts to take the kick through rather than trust his ability to pass the ball back inside.

I really dont see him as a centre, i certainly dont see him as a centre of the quality he is a winger.