Not too much to decide for me:
Webb
Smith/Donald (I'd play Smith)
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai/Bailey
Buderus
Peacock
JJB
Ablett
Sinfield

Diskin
Bailey/Leuluai
Lauitiiti
1 of Eastwood, Clarkson, Kirke

I'm going to go against popular opinion and say I'd probably leave Clarkson out. I'd expect both JJB and Ablett to play a lot of minutes and I think Clarkson is a similar player who benefits from playign long spells bt doesn't add much impact. I don't think, despite his good form, he is a better player than the the other 2 and I think it's important to maintain some balance.

I also think we'd benefit from having strike players in what I'd expect to be an open game, so at the risk of being slaughtered by the masses I'd probably go with Eastwood.

I'd start Leuluai and bring Bailey on from the bench to avoid having Ali, Eastwood and Kylie on and defending together.

If Peacock is injured I'd be tempted to spell Kirke at prop and still leave Clarkson out, who will have many games of this magnitude to come hopefullyin his Leeds career.

I wouldn't have played Burgess even before his injury.

I think what this discussion shows is that at the moment we have fairly good strength in depth, especially when everyone is fit.

Does everyone think JJB is deserving of a dead cert spot in the team, he seems to always make errors and commit penalties when I see him, I'm probably been too harsh.

I have changed my mind. Eastwood should only start if we have a prop problem and we use him there (please let Peacock be okay

). He seems to be coated in teflon, because he doesn't stick to anyone when he tackles. He's also very unfit. Clarkson by plenty, with Ali on the bench as well.

He is guilty of brain farts but does perform in the big games and has a high work-rate and imo that gets him the spot.

A couple of nice cameos apart Eastwood was poor last night, again.

I thought that. With a fit ALi I would go with Clarkson and probably Kirke over Eastwood at the moment

Eastwood and Ali were both poor last night. But if they're both fit to play they will.

On the money again mate.

Curse of 'the work shy Show Pony' strikes again.

KAPOW!!!

I was just pleased to see Lauitiiti get some game-time in and not leave the field injured (unless I missed it)

Clarkson again was very solid.

Clarkson is already a good player. The sooner he's given a chance in a final the better in my book.

Given that Peacock and Biffa are ruled out i reckon Bluey will go with......
Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
Mcguire
Burrow
Bailey
Buderus
Leuleui
Clarkson
Ablett
Sinfield

Diskin
Jjb
Ali
Eastwood(reserve prop).
I'm loathe to include Eastwood and i would love to see Ambler given the shirt but i don't think it will happen.

I agree that Eastwood was poor, offload for Clarkson try, and monster hit on Huby asside, but he's always been a slow starter when coming back to fitness. Let's see how he goes against the Dragons.

I'd be inclined to start Ali if fit (big if, I know) in effort to get well on top in the first 30 and without having Peacock to drain the defence. Also, for various reasons, the loss of JP means Eastwood has to play.

The selection problem will probably come down to Clarkson or Kirke for the last spot, though really it should be picking four from Clarkson, Kirke, Ablett, JJB and Eastwood. The latter three seem untouchable though.

I think without further injuries it'll be Clarkson who misses out, harshly. (Webb; Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Bailey, Buderus, Leuleui, JJB, Lauititi, Sinfield; Diskin, Ablett, Kirke, Eastwood)

It's a tough one.... realistically one of

Lauititi, Clarkson, Eastwood & Kirke will miss out on the final 17.

If Ali is fit, he'll play. With the loss of Peacock, I think Eastwood has to play to give us some power off the bench. I'm 50-50 on Clarkson - he looks very solid and I've been very impressed so far, but a cup final is a big game for a kid with only half a season or so under his belt. By the time the final comes around, Ablett will not have played for a month, however he'll be fully fit and very fresh, so I'm assuming his selection is a given. If Ambler gets a game against Catalans and has a stormer it'll make things very interesting, however he seems to be on the fringe of things at the moment. That leaves Kirke..... villified by certain posters on here, but with some big, solid games in Grand Finals, in pressure situations, behind him. His chase back to tackle Dixon on Friday was immense, and Ive a feeling he may really go for it against Catalans to well and truly throw his cap into the ring.

I have a hunch we'll go with

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuleui
Buderus
Bailey
Ablett
JJB
Sinfield

Diskin
Eastwood
Lauititi
Kirke

I feel sorry for Scott Donald, but Smith is too much of a big game player to be left out. It's also harsh on Clarkson, who's done nothing wrong, but I think we'll go with experience and power. Plus, Sinfield & McGuire missed out on cup finals in the past, and it didn't do them any harm long term.....

I've gone with the same 17 as you, but I'd rather have Lauititi on the bench to make more use of him in the second half. Given his fitness in recent times, having him on from the start would run the risk of him being a spent force come the 2nd half.

Re Clarkson, it would be very harsh for hjim to miss out, but the very fact that we're saying this shows how very far he's come in such a short time.

With Peacock and Burgess out I'd go for:

1. Webb
2. Smith
3. Delaney
4. Senior
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. Buderus
10. Bailey
11. JJB
12. Clarkson
13. Sinfield

14. Diskin
15. Ablett
16. Lauitiiti
17. Kirke/Eastwood

As has been said I'd also favour Smith over Donald (just slightly), most of the team picks itself its really the last bench spot. For me it depends on how fit Eastwood is. If he's back to his form at the early part of the season then I'd go with him. But if he's not fully fit I'd put Kirke in. He's never let us down in the major games before and won't this time.

With the latest devastating injuries to Burgess and Peacock it just demonstrates the questionable worth in this speculative picking of Wembley teams at this stage....(I'm just as guilty).

Let's wait and see what happens against Catalans....I'm not religious but I'm willing to pray to God, Allah, Jehovah or any bluddy necessary sacred cow that might make a difference......no more injuries please.

Quote ="Matt23"I agree that Eastwood was poor, offload for Clarkson try, and monster hit on Huby asside, but he's always been a slow starter when coming back to fitness. Let's see how he goes against the Dragons.'"

I agree...it is a [iteam[/i game remember.

You need the grafters, but a team of grafters would less likely set the likes of McGuire, Burrow, Webb etc free. You need the line breakers too....and Eastwood is the epitome of that (along with Ali of course). Providing they are fit they are both in the ideal 17 (off the bench) for me.

So many decisions/options....despite losing 2 forwards! Has to be said we are better covered than most for dealing with injury. As discussed on another thread, I'd like to see Donald & Smith included, releasing Delaney for 2nd row cover (in turn releasing Eastwood for prop interchange.

I also don't like seeing an interchange place used by a hooker to be honest. Whenever our starting 17 has had Diskin [ior[/i Buderus in it we've looked good, yet somehow when they're both included we seem to struggle for 10 mins after the interchange whilst the team adapts to the different style of play. So, given that Buderus is a) a better no. 9 and b) is capable of 80 mins I'd leave Diskin out. I'd also have Burrow on the bench to cover hooker if needed, but also to keep him out of the firing line in the opening 20 (as he'll certainly be targetted) and have him fresh when opposition forwards are tiring.

So, my line-up would be quite different -

Webb
Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall
Sinfield, McGuire

Leuleui, Buderus, Bailey
JJB, Delaney
Clarkson

Burrow, Lauitiiti, Eastwood, Ablett/Kirke

Even with Peacock & Burgess out, who would certainly have been in the 17, Leeds still have the squad to cope. That showed on Friday, although in fairness Cas were t

Just my opinion, but I reckon it'll be our forwards who are tiring with that bench.

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leului
Buderus
Bailey
JJB
Clarkson
Sinfield

Kirke
Ablett
Eastwood
Ali

Diskin to miss out for me. I know hes won 4 gfs but imo we go flat whens hes come on lately and our play the ball slows down. We need beef on the bench to combat warringtons big pack.

Is a back row containing JJB, Clarkson and Sinny have enough go forward in it to combat Warringtons very tough back row?
Also don't frget they'll be bringing Solomona on, who rarely has a day where he doesn't offload at least 5 times, the 2 backrowers really need to keep him under wraps.

Having thought about it a bit, I reckon we have to go for broke and pick both Ali and Eastwood, regardless of the risk involved, as they are both strike players. I'd pick both against Cats though for fitness. The only question mark is whether it would be better to start with one of them rather than have both on the bench. Again I'm leaning towards that.

An additional concern is whether Leuluai can add more time and quality than his recent efforts that I've seen. There's a reason Bailey has stood out at prop - Peacock's a grafter and tends to be less noticeable for periods, but given Leuluai's short game time we ought to be discussing how influential he is when on the field.

Yes.