They have, got some good English youngsters in the hudds team

Agree to a point. Your goal line defence was excellent, but whether it would have held so well with McGuire, Burrow and Webb running at it is another question. Similarly there is no doubt our attacking options were not that smart at times as a result of missing three of the most dangerous attacking players in the league.

I always thought Big Eorl was a bit overrated but I reckon he deserves special mention for Friday's performance.

They have, although Eden was signed from Cas.

I agree with the points made and the way foward. We are the world champions and I want us to stay at the top of the pile. However signing either a quality centre or fullback will not be easy and it depends whose available either in SL or the NRL. Any ideas?

I think Cas will rue the day they let Eden go, he looks 10 times the full back that Owen will ever be.

He looks a cracking player that's for sure. IIRC he turned down a new contract offer at Cas. Maybe they ought to have given him more first team opportunities though and he'd have been more inclined to stay?

They didn't 'let' Eden go, he chose to come to us...Cas were desperate to sign him up for the long term, bloody glad he did though he oozes class already.

BTW was impressed with that Ward lad.

What about Eden ?

...... wouldn't mind that chap called Roby too.

When i saw the team sheet last night the thing that stood out was the lack of leaders we had in the 17. With Burrow, McGuire, Webb and JJB missing it left just Sinfield and Peacock as real leaders on the pitch and when Peacock was interchanged that left just Sinfield on his own, and as much praise as he gets (and deservingly so) for his leadership qualities he has always been the first to point out the efforts of the likes of JJB, Peacock, Senior, Diskin etc in the past at contributing hugely in that aspect of the game.

Regarding Greg Eden i recall watching him years back in the Cas academy and was as elusive with the ball in hand but as bad as he was last night trying to pass the ball, he will make a very good FB or winger though and has stacks of pace

According to his ex amateur coach who i work with, He was never going to re-sign for Cas and would have gone back to OZ if another top SL side hadn't come in for him

Wigan had ten of their starting thirteen who came through their academy in the team last night.

Well done. Leeds had nine, and were without Burrow, McGuire, Bailey and JJB.

There were only 6 overseas player out of the 34 overall yesterday. 4 from Hudds and 2 from Leeds.

He played in the same side at Kippax as my youngest son - always looked a stand out player as a junior.

Gi dont worry mate the giants will be at full strengh soon,Brown,Ferguson,Lunt, Mason,and a few more.

Lunt & Mason were available played in the 20's game, hudds had nowt like the injury list the rhinos have.

Difference is our were key playmakers. If we were almost full strength and hudds had brough, Robinson and brown out I would suggest we would come out on top

Ferguson,Brown,MurphyInjured, Mason just back from injury geting game time in the 20s Lunty lleft out Lee prefered thats 5 first teamers that could have played.

I have no problem with the result. Just the fact our absentees were all internationals and key players in key positions

And so were ours mate.

Mason - 2 appearances for Wales 10 years ago.
Lunt - 1 international appearance
Ferguson - A Scottish International
Brown - 1 appearance for England
Murphy - 0 Internationals

Mate, you are seriously deluded if you think these stats compare to Webb, Burrow, McGuire, Bailey and JJB

Neither side were at full-strength but Leeds were '27' further away from 1st choice than Huddersfield on the night.

Difficult to argue with that.

Brown is the only one I'd call key for you. If Lunt was left out then he's obviously not first choice and it's not really weakening the side is it.

Saying that, I don't really go in for making excuses for defeats. Webb, McGuire and Burrow is a massive loss in terms of pace, creativity and support play, but we had enough out there to win.

Not deluded cheif ,every body has an opinion and in mine the Giants would have been even stronger if Browm ,Mason Lunt,,Ferguson played in this game.

Wouldn't deny the Giants might have been stronger...just deriding your assertion that in 'key player' and international terms your absentees were anywhere near to equalling ours.