It will be interesting to see how Keinhorst is doing in a few more weeks when Ward is ready to return. Like Handley he probably won't have expected such a prolonged run in the side and in the back row position so will he start showing the effects of this soon? He's still a bit lightweight for 2nd row so it might be a big ask for him to keep the form up.

JJB has not performed well enough, since 2012, to be an automatic selection when fit. His record of breaking down badly during matches also suggests that selecting him is a significant risk that we could end up playing 16 against 17. Keinhorst, Ablett and Delaney have been fantastic in the last few weeks, none of them deserves to be dropped for an injury-prone 34 year old who wasn't breaking any pots when he was fit.

Our best team for the run-in is:

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. McGuire
8. Leuluai
9. Aiton
10. Peacock
11. Keinhorst
12. Ablett
13. Singleton

14. Burrow
15. Cuthbertson
16. Garbutt
17. Delaney

You get the physical benefit of five props, plus you can rotate really well when you have Cuthbertson & Garbutt coming off the bench. Bringing Cutho & Burrow on at the same time injects another dimension into the team given their abilities, and no defence wants to deal with a fresh Garbutt after 25 minutes of Kylie & JP.

EDIT - re: Keinhorst / Ward, Ward is 6'1'', 14st 9lb. Keinhorst is 6'1'' and 14st 6lb. They're nearly identical in stature. Keinhorst is 25, he should be able to handle playing regularly in a way that Handley, who is still physically developing, can't.

Ward's form this season puts him in the starting 13 above any back rower IMO

Why do people keep listing the 2nd rowers when discussing JJB chances of playing? He hasn't been playing there for a while but in the middle as a loose/prop.

So it's not a case of Keinhorst/Ward/Delaney being picked ahead of him. It's the likes of Garbutt/Singelton and Leuluai.

Ward is an automatic starter once he's fit (he'll be ready for the semi final). Keinhorst has done nothing wrong. In fact he's been brilliant. Delaney is a bench player now. The issue is who plays at loose? Ablett, Cuthbertson, Singleton? For me, Ablett must start. A bench of Burrow, Cuthbertson, Delaney, Garbutt is immense. Singleton will probably be the one who misses out. JJB is nowhere near the 17 now

Because the LF tends to be one of those back rowers not one of the props, although with Garbutt's arrival it's much more likely to be .
Assuming Keinhorst and Ablett are now solid starters, JJB has to be considered ahead of Singleton, *and* (if fit), Stevie Ward.

Sorry, but I just don't see that.

Keinhorst is playing really well but he isn't a "solid starter" in a fully-fit squad. He's a really useful guy to have around though. First reserve for centre and cover for backrow/bench. Should still get 15-20 games per season.

Keinhorst is a solid starter. He was before Ward got injured too. He got his chance and never looked back. JJB should be the bit part player now. We're lucky if he can play 10 games a year now

Keinhorst may be a solid starter now but Stevie Ward was in our top 3 best players so far this season.

When fit I'd imagine the first choice 2nd row will be Ward and Ablett. Also I'm not seeing Cuthbertson starting on the bench whilst Singleton starts at loose like some are listing.

I would have a couple of captains next season at Leeds! Ward being one with him taking the role full time in a few seasons (captains would be Mags, Ward, Burrow with club captain JJB)

Hardaker will be captain, and you could see it in everything on the pitch Friday night.

Keinhorst is never in a million years a solid starter. The lad works hard, has great hands, and I am sure will put his body on the line, but he is far too lightweight. Nearly bombed two tries Friday also. Can't see him in seventeen when all fit.

McGuire will be captain next year, who takes over from him when he's missing will probably tell us who gets it long term.

While McGuire probably will be captain for 2016, he wouldn't be my choice.

Leeds need to identify another long-term leader for the next five years or so, rather than just have a one-year stop gap.

Nearly everything you say above is incorrect.
1) McGuire will be captain
2) Keinhorst is a solid starter (and was before Ward got injured).
3) Keinhorst is lightweight? He is near enough the same build as Ward!!

In your opinion of course. Which I am happy to disagree with, and comfortable enough with my own.

Some things of course can only be subjective opinion...BUT whether Keinhorst IS no more 'lightweight' than Steve Ward is surely not? One way or the other there must actually be an objective [ufact[/u in this case?

I agree...as much as I like most think McGuire is very much in the present team on merit and his experience is invaluable, I don't perceive him to be captain material. He loses his cool too easily. Finding somebody to succeed probably the best captain the club has ever had (certainly in my lifetime's viewing; better even than the indomitable David Ward) is not going to be an easy task.

Ward's just 3lbs heavier according to the Leeds website - both 6'1". I don't think Keinhorst dominates the collision quite like Ward has this year, but what he does do well IMO is find his front and get a relatively quick ptb.

Keinhorst runs a lovely line. He could easily bulk up.

Gotcha stated position on Keinhorst was that he was "pet project" and wouldn't ever make a SL player. He has to justify that opinion which is increasingly looking wide of the mark. However, he's right about the size issue, whatever the web site says. But Ward has bulked up significantly this off season so no reason Keinhorst can't.

Personaly, I think he has the makings of a capable centre and seems to understands the nuances of the position a little better than the exciting if erratic Moon.

IIRC 2014 was his first year as a "proper" full-time player, having completed his degree studies. With the right programme over the off-season there's no reason he can't add say 5kgs without losing his mobility like Walters has done.

That's out of date on the Leeds website. However, it isn't purely about weight. I bet you in the gym, Wards weights are significantly higher, which is that strength he shows in the collision. Keinhorst doesn't break tackles, hence the lightweight. He does however run good lines, which is what G1 said.

I wonder if Keinhorst would be a good option for 13? He runs great lines, has great vision and a good pass and as a lot of posters are sayign at the minute he is a bit light weight, at 13 he may need to stay agile and keep running good lines. I know when he played for GB Students he played 6 or 7 and won single handedly most games for them including the world cup final at 6. I personally think it may be a good option.

No need for Keinhorst to bulk up just yet. He may well end up in the back row but for now he provides much needed centre cover for us and will get other utilty opportunities because of his skill set which could include half back and hooker cover.

Lifts that predominantly utilise lower body strength I'd tend to agree. I'm assuming the stats were up-to-date as of pre-season, not sure how you'd know otherwise.

I don't think he absolutely needs to bulk up, because he's more valuable to the club as centre cover than second row, where if fit Ward, Ablett and Delaney will between them be 11 and 12, with Singleton, Cuthbertson, Delaney and JJB being the options for a "big" 13 and Sutcliffe being the option of we're going for a ball-playing loose (especially if Brierley joins)

Keinhorst will be very useful to have around with the new interchanges, where I'd imagine the ideal bench make-up will be two middle forwards, a hooker and a utility who can fill in for the backline with minimum disruption in the event of injury or alternatively spell a bit of second row. Keinhorst could be perfect for that.