Yes that's him he's carrying outside the editor's orders

Always been a bit underwhelmed with Singleton really, would he get in SL top 4 teams ? I think not

The constant chopping and changing by Furner probably isn't helping, a settled side is always better in the long run. I do understand why he is doing as we aren't where he wants us to be but I wonder if we had enough senior involvement in pre season?

There were very few games where we got anything like a first choice 17 out and given we had a new coach and the biggest overhaul of players for a longtime it never felt like he got a good enough look at everyone. I think the weekly rotation of players we are seeing now is, in part, his way of learning on the job.

Performance still not refelecting in selection, wonder how long it will take furner to relize some of these players arnt out of form, theyr just not very good

I've always thought Singo a bit too small to have a chance of being a top draw prop, however at end of 2017 he was playing really well, in particular the semi v Hull.

However, he was poor last week. He could not seem to get in sync with the pace of the game. He made barely any ground and in defence was either charging out trying to whack someone, he gave Ellis one in the chops or was slow off the line.
I agree he deserved to be left out after that display.

I think he's been pretty consistent with selections so far, aside from changes forced by injury.

In the backs I agree, but the backs aren't really the issue.

In the forwards I disagree. Merrin is being moved when he is clearly better in the back row. Singleton and Smith are starting one week then at fev the next. Who is our starting hooker? The pack isn't settled at all and that only compounds the weaknesses we have there.

If we lose this 1 at home reality might kick in. We are in a dog fight to stay up

We are not going to lose.

Think we will win comfortably but either way the R word will ensure that whatever it takes will be done to ensure we stay up,failure is not an option,the stadium rebuild must be paid for!

Walker
Briscoe
Newman
Hurrell
Handley

Lolohea
Myler

Cuthbertson
Parcell
Peteru
Ferres
Ablett
Merrin

Dwyer
Oledzki
Buchanan
Sutcliffe (begrudgenly)

The forwards have been disrupted by Ward's injury. There was always going to be some movement when other injured players returned. We'd all love to see Merrin in the back-row but Furner clearly feels he's sometimes needed to do a stint in the front row.

Smith came in as a way of re-organising to cover Walker's injury. He didn't take the opportunity well by putting in a poor defensive performance. Likewise Singleton's form has been poor.

The hooker issue has been impacted by Parcell's injury. Dwyer has shown better form but clearly there are doubts about his ability to play for 80 minutes.

None of this looks unreasonable to me - it's hardly change for the sake of change.

This again. Why do people keep coming up with this? his defensive performance whilst missing a couple of key tackles, far exceeded that of his team mates. He was top tackler in the game in question, and he did that from stand off, a position nobody else in the game makes the amount of tackles he did.

So if poor defensive performance was the reason for his ommission since, then that would highlight the problem the club are having, as not treating players consistently.

Part of the problem with relegation though. Clubs toward the bottom end have to make short term decisions rather than planning for 2-3 years time. A club like Leeds probably has the resources to manage but lots of clubs don’t and so forfeit medium to long term planning in favour of “must stay up” decisions.

Exactly, he mad 40 tackles playing at stand off!

Our problem at prop must now be solved by Sutcliffe too, that must be his positionicon_wink.gif

Cam Smith should really be in the 17 and I can see him spitting the dummy soon,and i couldn't blame him

Something none of us knows, the reason(s) for him being dropped. The sheer number of tackles he made might be down to a failure to play where and how Furner wanted him to. We just don't know.

Cameron Smith is 20, if he's spat his dummy at not being a first team regular at that age I'd say his attitude is not great IMO

He's right to be frustrated when OAPs are getting games ahead of him.

Age is completely irrelevant. ANY player should be dissapointed if a player of less ability is taking a place they should have. At least I would hope EVERY player feels that way, otherwise their desire is questionable.

Disappointed yes, driven to get a place in the side, yes, spitting your dummy out when your only just out of the Academy, no. Anyway its all just forum supposition isn't it.

Cameron Smith is a very good player and IMO will be part of the Leeds side for years to come. If he wasn't part if their plans he would have been one of the 'free to go' players.

I still think the only reason Smith isn’t in the side is down to his defence. We’re shipping way too many tries as it is and for that reason he’s not getting selected.

It’s nothing to do with age or his ability going forward. Oledzski and Walker are first team regulars at similar age. Both can defend.

If you think he has a problem with defence, then I respectfully suggest you have rarely seen him play. There are far worse defenders in that side playing regularly.

I stand corrected. He did miss a few tackles but no more than Sutcliffe or Merrin. Smith's defence was highlighted by more than one Sky pundit for that game (including Barrie Mac) - presumably some of the misses led to soft tries? That's all I can think of.

I have high hopes for Cameron Smith, but I get the impression that he's going to have to come in to the first team and make a big impact to keep his place (unlike someone like Sutcliffe, who really must be ripping it up in training). What a shame that obstruction try wasn't given.

If London win will Furner be gone then?