He may have played half before but I cannot remember seeing him their before. He did ok. As someone pointed out he had a hand in a couple of tries in the 1st half also.
Kirke played ok today imo. He gets critisism on here every week. Sometimes it is deserved but at times it is unjustified.

He really (hopefully) could become the new Neil Hague

Maybe so....but was he a better selection than Stevie Ward for example who today could have played LF (with Bailey in reserve on the bench) ?

Others can speak for themselves, but the puzzling thing (to me) is why does he continue to be selected, despite poor or indifferent performances, which is the usual expectation and result ?
If the club was genuinely short of options then it would be more understandable. However we have seen the departure of Lauititi and Amor (temporalily ?) to Wakefield and now Pitts to Hull....all of whom are surely better options. Additionally, look how long Singleton has had to wait to get a spot in the squad owing to Kirke still 'commanding' a place.

Is Kirke a better option than D.Smith ? Ambler ? .....and as already stated in today's match, Stevie Ward ? It continues to defy rational explanation IMHO.

More chance of him becoming William Hague.

Griffin got a head knock according to one of the Radio Leeds presenters.

As for not playing Ward, maybe the thinking was 2 games in 4 days was too much for him at this stage? Did the academy play today?

Hmmm....that would of course not be too much for the rest of the 17

Were the rest of the squad 17 years old and still at school?

Not saying it is definitely the reason but it's plausible.

Hardly ideal to be asking a 17 year old to back up having only just made his debut.

Agreed. Especially when he's been in an underperforming team. Shame he missed out on being involved in a big win though. As for Smith, I think it's an excellent idea, and also I think it always helps to have somebody a bit smaller amongst your halfbacks - not necessarily a Burrow, but someone who can be quick on their feet. Playing two loose forward type players at halfback will generally slow things down too much in the middle - or at least remove the sort of threat a classic scrum half should have.

Kirkes work with the ball is generally fairly limited. however he usually gives a good account for himself in defence. he not only makes a good number of tackles in relatively low minutes but he sldo gets involved as third man and slows the play the ball down.

as to why he's preferred to the various younger options I don't know. I would guess it'd because the coaches are happy with the job he's doing.

It was never a question of need a rest, but deserve a rest. But you knew that anyway, but like to play the Easter knobby.

As someone who's had enougth of Burrow, I thought he was superb yesterday. I am a big fan of Ablett but though Burrow was MOM.

Burrow, Ablet, Sinfield, Webb, and Kylie for me were the standout performers, and a nice cameo from Mcshane.

Hall's finishing was great, especially his last.

Smith was far better than given credit for, not surprising, although not to the level of the ones above.

I once again though our backrow was not good enougth, and you can add the loose to that this week.

But which one? We noted Bailey, Smith, Webb and Sinfield packing down there at various points in the game.

pedant. The one on the team sheet then.

I also forgot to add above, that personally I though Kirke had a decent game.

I thought Lee Smith had a decent game. Hung around and played some nice balls.

Was a poor game.

London with their early 10 minute hounding of us needed points on the board. Didn't happen. They moved the ball quite nicely, but there was no end product. They missed a few line-breakers and off-loaders to generate a second phase.

Thought their attitude was excellent to come back and have a go early doors in second half, but the same can be said about Leeds for putting them to bed.

Nice backtrack but we all knew what you were saying.

You are right. I am sure the coaches were thinking of the lads welfare. He made 32 tackles against Bradford and 27 against Huddersfield which will have been a big step up for him. They maybe looking after Hood in the same way.

Maybe their using up Kirkes allocation of games now so when it comes to the business end of the season he will then be 'rested'

In one of the many scrums JP packed down in the hooker position with Webb in the 13 slot.
That alone tells you that we don't actually need scrums any more.

Leeds - like a lot of other clubs - change the way they pack down depending on whether it's an attacking or defending scrum and which side of the field they are on.

Often the blind side centre comes into the second row for a defending scrum, while one of the second rowers goes out into midfield to strengthen the defence. The full back tends to pack at loose when defending, with the loose forward again going into the backline.

When attacking, the hooker often packs at loose forward to ensure better distribution from the base of the scrum.

There were a few scrums, where the Broncos had the feed, that JP didn't even pack down in, he was in defending in the traditional stand off spot.

There seemed to be general disarray and confusion about who was packing down and where at many scrums for Leeds I thought.

It was either a complex and genius game plan or a right mess.

This ... and in addition the scrum-half (both for offensive and defensive scrums) tend to alternate between the half-backs in accordance with which flank the scrum is set and which side they are tasked to defend on.

It's not complicated - OK maybe it is a bit for some - but the varieties can be seen every week for those who choose to take an interest in the game.

Delaney made 54 tackles

Kirke was forward top metre maker (105m) with the exception of Burrow (110m) and had the same number of carries as Bailey who was on for longer.

Is there an echo in here.......in here.......in here........