Judging by the squad, I’m guessing moon isn’t going to play the game, Handley is going to be in at centre & Sutcliffe is going to be Stand off.

Golding
Briscoe Watkins Handley Hall
Sutcliffe Myler
Garbutt Parcell Singleton
Ablett Delaney
JJB

Dwyer Oledzki Ormondroyd Keinhorst

Just spoken to Jack’s girlfriend’s mum at school, and he’s tweeked something in his knee, that’s apparently quite minor. She reckons Andy Barker has said with some physio, he could be back next week. Not as bad as first feared.

I know you start young in Leeds but even that's extreme.

I was picking my son up, and he’s friends with her’s. Idiot

Ablett and Moon out in town tonight, guessing that means they aren’t fit to play on Sunday.

Walters in the 17.

Things should never be this bad. I can bring my boots if we are that desperate

Things wouldn't be this bad if we didn't insist on playing an unnecessary extra game on the other side of the world.

I agree, always said it was more likely to hinder our season and saw it as pointless when Melbourne showed their regards for the concept by booking a testimonial on that date.

I think we had to play that game as Champions of England.
Yes we could have refused but that might have been the end of the concept.
My opinion is it should be played a week or two after the GF and wherever the internationals are going to be played.
That way club players selected could stay in that country, maybe.

I think we look strong enough to get the win, especially if Garbutt returns

I wonder if it was worth it financially ?

Leeds, nor any other team, should turn down the opportunity to try and better thenselves by playing the bests sides in the toughest environment. Regardless of the impact on winning yet another SL title their ambition should be to grow, themselves and the relevance/profile of SL. Its not like the competition is so tough you cant throw a few games and still make the 4.

What a load off tosh. You obviously don’t see the game through the eyes of a realistic person. Why travel halfway around the world to play a team that is bigger, stronger, faster, more technically and mentally adept, without a realistic chance of winning. “Grow themselves and the relevance/profile of SL”.
You are Ralph Rimmer and I claim my £5. You gave it away when you said SL instead of Rugby Keague.

Surely its realistic to have your team play in a game against far superior players - it might actually open their eyes as to what world class really is and how far away from that they are. Myopic supporters like you just want the team to be a big fish in a very small pond that is getting smaller as the quality drops.

It would interesting to get the players honest view of the trip

Are you suggesting Melbourne didn't take it seriously - what would the score have been if they had?

Would you have been happy if the game had been played here - not sure you ever complained about the WCC in the past

Personally I enjoyed seeing Leeds, Wigan and Hull on the tv playing Aussie clubs. It just looked and felt more exciting than watching the majority of uk only games.
I actually enjoyed the WCC game more than the first 2 League games. And this weeks TV games just felt small time again.

I suspect it’ll happen again next year in different combinations. With Hull and Wigan seeming to go better in the 2nd week having had a week to acclimatise you might get a similar thing where teams try a league game before playing an Aussie friendly or wcc game. Perhaps Leeds go closer if they had played a warm up game the week before in Aus to acclimatise better?

I agree with others that Leeds had to go as English Champions and so we bloomin should. We’ve hosted for so many years. There looked a decent crowd and Melbourne certainly looked to be taking it seriously despite the suggestion they wouldn’t. The players did plenty of PR stuff and hopefully raised awareness of the Rhinos and Leeds itself.

As for the “game causing injuries and we wouldn’t have them if we hadn’t gone as we’d have been resting up” I assume we’d have had a league game if not going over there so we could well have had injuries from that anyway so I think it’s not the right point with all the players involved. Moon might not have played I suppose but Ward, Cuthbo and Walker would have and could have got injured as could anyone else.

Jeez peoples mentalities. Maybe Leeds should pull out of Super League just play Hunslet, Stanningley and Milford and Oulton. We don't want to test ourselves after all.

The trip to Melbourne was superb. All the players I spoke to after the game said it had been an amazing week one they would want to do regularly. The young players in the squad will benefit from it greatly.

It's amazing how the people that moan about the quality of SL then moan when we play superior opposition. What the hell do people want???

Wonder why football has Champions League??? To improve you have to play the best.

Well said Dan.

We need more games against the nrl teams. Would love to see Leeds go back down under again next year.

Little Loiners for you - players should have to forgo a trip of a lifetime because to some on here a game against Widnes is far more important - some on here need to broaden their mindset.

No, i am saying they don't really care for the concept which they proved by choosing a testimonial over the WCC date.at that point, my interest in the event had waned too.

A trip in which we were already hampered by injuries to the point it was damage limitation and then return to UK with two more key players on the treatment table all for a glorified friendly half way round the world.

I will add, i am not against the WCC. Something needs doing about the planning though. They need to find a way to make it right after both GF's, if that means making our GF the same weekend as NRL or the week before then do it. Play the WCC in whichever country is hosting a tour that particular year. I remember it happened a few times years ago when Canberra came over to play Widnes right after and i think Brisbane,Penrith and maybe Manly did the same so why not now?