Listening to that maybe something like:

Watkins

Briscoe
Handley
Moon
Hall

Sutcliffe
McGuire

Bailey
Aiton
Singleton
Walters
Achurch
JJB

R.Ward
Kirke
Mulhern
S.Ward

If Watkins and Briscoe play surely it's best to keep them together.

Not sure if Mulhern can play, he picked up a one match ban from the last academy game. However the u19's match is the day before on the Saturday so wouldn't that count as his ban done?

Think after McDermott's interview that Peacock, Ablett and Delaney will definitely miss this one and given that we still have a good hooking combo in Aiton and Robbie Ward then he really should rest Burrow if his groin isn't 100%. That BJB isn't available makes me think he might still go with Hardaker, and wouldn't be surprised to see Sinfield still out there. No mention of Leuluai carrying a knock even though he seemed to be struggling at times in the Wire game.

Interesting to note that whilst he confirms the obvious (that we could all pretty much guess his starting 13 for Wembley) he does claim that bench spots are still available and they'll be some forwards who'll have the chance to fight for the Wembley shirt. Sadly I think it's probably more to do with the backrow option (Sutcliffe may well play halfback vs London so could give the likes of S.Ward, Achurch and Walters a chance to take his place from the semi).

We all know that the squad for the final will be

So the question is, who gets those three bench places? We want 2 props and one back rower.

Available props: Bailey, Kirke, Achurch, Singleton, Mulhern

Available back rows: S.Ward, Clarkson, Achurch, Sutcliffe, Walters

Given Singo is the nearest thing we have to Kylie, I'd strongly back him to start. Leaving one place for a prop. Achurch & Bailey are of questionable fitness, and we're expecting JP to do 60+ minutes, so we don't need to risk someone not fully fit. Kirke most likely, maybe Bailey.

Back row is most difficult, think Sutty is first in line here - has that X factor and ability to do something with ball in hand that Ward seems to have lost. Achurch if he's fit is probably worth it, Walters has also done enough to justify it.

so I'd expect the three remaining bench spots to go to Singleton, Kirke/Bailey and Sutcliffe.

I can see Sutcliffe missing out at Wembley, and those three bench spots going to Bailey, Kirke and Achurch.

Still, missing out on a Cup final as a teenager didn't do Sinfield any harm.

Well, we're resting more than "one or two"

1 Zak Hardaker
3 Kallum Watkins
5 Ryan Hall
9 Paul Aiton
14 Stevie Ward
16 Ryan Bailey
17 Ian Kirke
18 Chris Clarkson
19 Mitch Achurch
20 Tom Briscoe
21 Liam Sutcliffe
23 Brad Singleton
26 Elliot Minchella
28 Josh Walters
29 Robbie Ward
31 Ash Handley
32 Ben White
33 Ashton Golding
34 Jordan Lilley

The squad announced today

1 Zak Hardaker
3 Kallum Watkins
5 Ryan Hall
9 Paul Aiton
14 Stevie Ward
16 Ryan Bailey
17 Ian Kirke
18 Chris Clarkson
19 Mitch Achurch
20 Tom Briscoe
21 Liam Sutcliffe
23 Brad Singleton
26 Elliot Minchella
28 Josh Walters
29 Robbie Ward
31 Ash Handley
32 Ben White
33 Ashton Golding
34 Jordan Lilley

As predicted key men rested

I suspect Hardaker and Watkins will drop out of that with Aiton or Bailey given the captaincy.

We all know that Burrow will start and play the full 80 if fit

It's going to be some effort to get a result at London with that squad IMO. Fingers crossed. Having lost to Bradford, I think we need to get a win at London.

would you select Aiton on the bench or at all or go for size or an extra back rower?

Think how hungry London will be to just to get a win on the board.

It says in the article that the backline will be

Hardaker
Briscoe Handley Watkins Hall

I hope they've put Handley and Watkins the wrong way round there. The Watkins/Briscoe axis needs more game time, not less.

Aiton on the bench is a close call for Wembley. I would want Sutcliffe on the bench as utility cover and at the moment I think Singleton has earned the 3rd prop spot. Aiton has put in some good tackling stints as a back rower but for the Final I would be tempted to not to pick him as we have others that can share the acting half back role should Burrow get injured. So I would go with either Stevie Ward or Walters and one from Achurch/Bailey/Kirke based on their performance against London.

Much will depend on the weather forecast as if fine and dry we may want a bench that has speed and mobility rather than size and power as Cas will perhaps spread it wide at Wembley particularly if they are without Huby and Millington.

However I think Brian Mac will stick with experience and having Aiton come on from the bench at 9 allows Burrow to go roaming.

Yes of course we need a win against London but Club and the golden era players also want a Cup winners medal. Mac was never going to risk injury to his key players before the final - Cas have done the same and although BM is going for a top spot finish he knows we can can win it from anywhere when the chips are down.

The named squad has got enough talent to beat London and there will be several players motivated to up their game to try and win a bench spot for the Final.

We don't know we can win it from anywhere at all. We know we have won it a couple of years ago from that.

I know Mac has said bench spots are up for grabs, but he has to say that.

I'd imagine Mac knows his 17 barring injury.

I think he knows 16 of the 17 for certein. I'd like to think Singleton has a good chance of replacing the mountain at Wembley.

1 Zak Hardaker
20 Tom Briscoe
3 Kallum Watkins
31 Ash Handley
5 Ryan Hall
21 Liam Sutcliffe
32 Ben White
16 Ryan Bailey
9 Paul Aiton
23 Brad Singleton
14 Stevie Ward
19 Mitch Achurch
18 Chris Clarkson

17 Ian Kirke
26 Elliot Minchella
28 Josh Walters
29 Robbie Ward

33 Ashton Golding
34 Jordan Lilley

I would go something like that.

Well you may not know that we can win it from anywhere. At least you are consistent as you didn't believe it in 2011 or 2012 either.

But I feel sure the players and the coach are quite certain they can. Without the belief and confidence in themselves and each other they will have no chance at all. The mental side of the game is as important as the physical performance and in this we have proven to be dominant in the big games.

We have the talent and the proven mental toughness for the big games and there are clear signs that we are running into some form now that Brian Mac has a full squad to choose from again. I get the feeling that Leeds will be the side that all the other contenders will least want to meet in the playoffs home or away.

I would agree, and this could be the same as against Warrington. But I think he may well have concerns over the form of Bailey and Kirke and as I say the weather and performance against London may affect a couple of bench spots.

Actually I said we would win in 2011.

Optimism on your part I can understand, stating we KNOW we CAN I find arrogant and complete rubbish. For a start the 17 on Saturday, there were four members who have not played in a GF winning side from any position. That is a lot of members. We didn't do it last year, which is the modern position.

As I said, we know we HAVE won it before from any position, we do not know we CAN. What we would prefer however is to finish top two and ensure we don't have to go round it that way.

It's like the other one that gets trotted about regarding this "group" of players who deserve a CC final win after so many dissapointments. Actually it is only really four players that have had so many dissapointments, and a few others that have had a few. This "group" when justifying the comment really is only, Sinfield, JJB, McGuire and Burrow.

That seem the likely question mark to selection.

I agree with this guy.

I'm not saying we can't win it from 5th or 6th, but I also don't think we can take the fact that we have done it in the past as a strong indicator that we (or anyone else) should be backed to do it again. I think there are 6 genuine title contenders this year, which I don't think was true in 2011, and none of them are currently looking like collapsing at the business end (time will tell, of course).

We proved that it's possible to win from outside the top 4, but I think it's a bad model to try to replicate. As I said above, looking at how tight it is at the top, there isn't much to choose between those teams, and home advantage could be a crucial factor.