So a back three of Ablett, Delanney and JJB - I bet Wigan are quaking in their boots

The pace in our forwards should compensate for us having no pace at half back and Briscoe not being able to defuse a bomb

all 3 can do a good job.
its those three being there next season that worries me

I appreciate that Ferres has had a number of serious injuries and according to an interview he was unable to get into the condition that he wanted to to play at his optimum. Returning to the training with the Yorkshire regiment ..years ago when Yorkshire Carnegie was Leeds Carnegie , if I recall they did pre season training with them one year..as it was noted they were not so fit...they did it as prior to that one year the Rhinos had done it. So would give that intensity needed. Mind shape should not be misjudged because if you look at Whiteley in U19s, he is built naturally heavy boned ..but he can shift..I would though question the players diet, if you go on twitter there are frequently posts with players in some fast food place which to me doesn't seem right for a modern sportsman. Some times players seem out of puff but then another they have a blinder..take Garbutt coming of bench against Wakey ,according to stats he made 223m , he done a 191m but most around 170 or below, Cuthbo had a few in 190...but looked at Zak when we played Cas he made 203m , so was impressed by Garbutt...yet other times the metres made is below 100. I would not be averse to the squad using similar training and conditioning methods to those used by the WRU squad of 2011, who were at peak fitness ( some argue they should have been in finals). They trained using Hyperbaric oxygen therapy..after spending time in the chambers it enabled them to train longer and increased their fitness levels. So hopefully that would aid consistency.

No to playing Watkins on wing...against playing too many players out of position. As someone else mentioned he is our best centre not only that at his best world class...but I see your view that he has not had so many opportunities to score. Then as JP said when he played for Leeds, the squad just need to ensure they get the ball to him as much as possible .

I would still wish Golding to play at FB but if Briscoe is not be in match 17, then I think Golding is capable of playing on wing ,did well there 2016 on occasions he scored. I would then move Sutty to FB, who btw as best stats for that position ,including over Walker.

tad - agree re JJB, Ablett and Delaney. The problem is that if you look at any one of them individually they look OK (assuming Delaney isn't mummified), but when you put them together as a group its mind-bogglingly average. Add another year to each of them and its hard to envisage them even being average as a group.

Our back row needs freshening up no doubt about it.

Got a funny feeling the season could take a turn either way tonight. Not so much the result but the performance.

tonight game will define our whole season. the gamble of resting players and giving wigan at easy 2 points will give them a boost. they will be pretty confident of taking another 2 off us and putting them selves in a position to assault the top 3. we must not only match them but better them and make sure we put another two points between us and them, which will pretty much put us in a position were top 4 is pretty much ours to lose, so a good win will hopefully catapult our charge to old trafford. a loss or a bad loss puts us back into danger zone.

Will be interesting to see how Wigan perform, they are still pretty much in must win territory especially with Saints' winning last night and the fixtures panning out with them away to Saints right after Wembley doesn't help.

Not looking forward to tonight's game!

First few sets will be crucial. Wigan will go all out on briscoe. Hopefully there are some plans to close down the kicker and support him in defence.

Expect the kick off to go to him.

Hope he can come through it and play a big role could be the boost his confidence needs.

Why not? We've still got a healthy record against top 8 opposition this year. Wigan haven't won at Headingley since 2012. We had 3 good wins vs near opposition in Salford, Saints and Hull before resting for Wigan away. One defeat against what was a very good Hull performance and people start fretting so much.

As wthe Pie Eaters will just follow on from where they left off 2 weeks ago.

Hope to eat humble pie if I'm wrong but in the last few games (exclude Salford) we have not a clue near the line at the moment!

Golding
Briscoe Watkins Sutcliffe Hall
Moon McGuire
Singleton Parcell Cuthbertson
Ablett Ward
JJB

Delaney Keinhorst Lilley Mullally

that's a weak bench

Delaney's brave to return from a knee injury against Wigan

in fact it's bloody odd. a second row, a prop, a half back and a centre/second row. with 3 props in the 17 they could easily be totally gassed by the half hour mark

Garbutt and ferress both injured. Obviously Galloway put as well.

JJB will effectively be playing prop at LF

I reckon keinhorst on the bench will offer cover for briscoe, keinhorst to centre, sutcliffe to fullback, Golding to wing. Or just straight sutcliffe to wing.

very impressive 20 minutes. crunch will be when changes are made. let's hope this carries on

Feel like we've had our pockets picked easily the best side for 25 mins then gift them back into game. Need one of those legendary Brian mac inspirational team talks

Been like watching NFL the amount of Wigan passed which have been forward!!
Showed some real intent for 20mins but give Wigan ANYTHING and they kill you
Golding has had more attacking involvement & intent that half than the rest of the season put together... and has looked well for it
C'mon Leeeeeeeeeds

credit where it's due, fantastic performance. top 4 all but booked and Wigan gone.

Brilliant, exciting display straight from the hooter in 2nd half - a great way to sign off the South Stand for me as I'll miss Sts game

Golding showed attacking potential which was great to see after offering so little in that dept. all year - and it's clear he LOVES Leeds

Briscoe showed bravery to turn up but still looks broken, and Delaney having what you've got to imagine is his swansong

Ward has got to be captain for next year in my mind

outstanding performance Mags was excellent, bye bye Wigan

McDermott out