Too many times when we thought we were comfortably in front and got the game won and lost in the last 15 minutes

The majority on here seem to be settled with our BR options, but for me we are short of quality there. Especially now Merrin has left. Hopefully some young players can use this as a chance to break through.

Short of 1 more quality prop, second row, and outside back imo.

I am looking for a huge improvement on last season and I think the club need to be bold in the challenges they set themselves and the players this season. They shouldn't advertise this externally but internally I would want the senior management to be targeting;
Top 3 finish. Yes it's a big challenge but we should aim high.
Finish the cull of the old guard. The likes of Briscoe, Myler and cuthbo to me three but there are more.
Blood the youngsters in a controlled way and develop genuine paths to the first team.
No panic buys. If we can't get anyone in the off-season then sit tight. Get the right players in.
Proper succession planning needs to be constantly in place and understood by scouts at all levels and the coaching teams of the lower age teams.

I think we are making reasonable progress on all of these fronts already but we need to keep going and really push this club back to the top again.

Walters A Suttcliffe and Muizzi are the young ones we have.If we have injuries im hoping we give these kids a go.Morley broke into the team young I don't see any reason why Walters shouldn't get a go next season.

I’m sorry but you keep going about a centre? Newman has a very bright future and he needs to keep playing. If Hurrell has cut out a lot of the errors and stop coming in on defence he will easily be the best centre in super league. Things will go different this year with better support and Gale and Lui providing better passing options and with Martin the attacker he is, centres should have an easier job.

Wait till we get Jai Field, possibly.

And where would he play?

Featherstone

Cuthbertson came good towards the back end of last season. No way he doesn't get one of the four prop spots. Even more likely if you play a prop at Loose Forward.

Cuthbertson was excellent in the second half of the year, he has said that was down to Agar coming in and letting him play his natural game. I think Furner ed quite a few players off in one way or another

Cuthbo has spent a fair bit of time with niggling injuries and out for form (for various reasons) over the last couple of years for me. When he's good he's very good. Not necessarily a prop for me still though. Certainly not without more direct. big impact bodies around him anyway.

Would imagine this will be his last playing season at Leeds in any case.

I wouldn't be surprised if Muizz, Holroyd, McLelland made an impact on first grade this year. I know people want to sign and solve problems now, but actually if we're patient one or two more seasons we do have a very strong team developing here.

Made me laugh out loud that

Wellington Albert has been announced as joining Fev on loan from Jan 3rd, for an unspecified period (so presumably recall possible at any time after the 1st month).
Don't think this will surprise anyone, he'd be miles off the Leeds starting 17 you'd think barring a rash of injuries, he did pretty well for Fev late last season and it enables Leeds to keep an eye on him.

Where does this leave us with him in terms of salary cap and a quota spot? Does his wage or a part of it count on ours? Does he count on the quota in any way?

He didn’t/doesn’t count on our quota due to special dispensation when signed from Widnes when in administration

Thanks, I thought that was only for last season though?

It was/is for the length of his first contract signed with us that I don’t think was ever officially commented on anywhere but people were saying or at least speculating that it was a 2 year deal

Ah I see. Every day is a school day. Ta.

Starting XVII: Is this how Leeds Rhinos will line up in 2020?

I have to agree with the team they've picked probably start Mellor in back row for us and have Ward at 13 and cuthberston on bench also rather have Cam Smith on the bench instead of L.Sutcliffe but that bench that they selected is way to lightweight to play a full season with.

But when you look at our squad we really do need to fill the vacant 20 and 21 shirts with a bit of quality has to players who would be picked in the match day 17 on a regular basis, we do need a utility back who can cover Wing and fullback that's why were looking at Field only down side is he'd be using our last quota spot and we definitely need another big prop to help Seumanufagai and prior out with workload, Oldezki is gonna need a big season for us to make sure he can cement a place in 17 ever week, Cuthbertson will be steady for us but should be coming off the bench at best and this should be his final year as a player I think, then Crosby can help for competition when he gets fit hopefully, but a metre making prop is probably the last bit of our rebuilding for the future whether we can get one from NRL or Super League we'll have to wait and see.

Based on performances from the one friendly so far and availability/existing injuries, this is how I would start.

1. walker
2. Newman
3. Alex sutcliffe but suspect it might be Liam sutcliffe
4. Harrell
5. Handley
6. Myler
7. Gale
8. Ava
9. Leeming (expected to be fit)
10. Prior
11. Ward
12. Martin
13 C smith ( play him at his best position and let him play offers little off the bench)

14. Dwyer
15. Cuthbo
16. Mellor
17. Oledski

Miss out Liam sutcliffe Donaldson
Lui

Injured Crosby both the Briscoes, we look a bit light after top 21 players. We will be awfully reliant on the likes of Mclelland Johnson Walters Holroyd mustappha. That's a lot of untested kids to have to throw in at once, can see why the club are still looking for two more players.

Lui in for Myler imo. Lui is a better kicker and more creative, Lui and Gale could be very very good. But Myler is very useful coming off the bench as a running half when opposition legs tire. But yes the squad is a couple short.

Just based my side purely on boxing day, lui/gale did not impress (lui took a knock) Myler/ gale gelled well. Lui probably gets the nod if fit, myler in bench if Leeming still carrying a light injury. We will gave a better idea when everyone available for Bradford game. Expect that well be our starting line up for first game. Excluding long mid term injuries.

Is Luke Briscoe definitely not going to be fit for the first game?

Starting back 3 for mine is Smith Loose Martin and Ward Second row.