Handley at full back would also scare me to death.Let Sutcliffe have a go for a few games which will keep everyone else in correct positions. Left field suggestion Craig Hall from Fev dual reg works both ways!

I've always thought Craig Hall was a good player - however I think in this case I would prefer to maybe look at someone from within our squad. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.

I just hope if we slip up tonight the forum doesn't go into meltdown!!!

Big shame regarding Walker. Could him trying to run the injury off have made it much worse?

Sutcliffe or Handley at full back concerns me a lot and despite Myler going well at full back last week, I do not believe he is the answer. No idea if any of the academy players are ready to step up? If not, I would possibly be looking to recruit.

Has McLelland ever played full back? He seems calm and collected, is a good runner and believe he would link into the line well. He also seems strong defensively. May be worth giving him the opportunity, as he needs game time in the first team.

Don't think Handley has the attcking sense and passing game to play full back and defensively I don't see him making a 1 on 1 try saver Handley would be last resort for me personally to play a long period of season at full back , if Walker's injury is gonna be months instead of weeks like some have suggested I think we'll have to go into loan market for someone like Escare for a two month loan, don't think any of our other outside backs L.Briscoe, Newman and Hurrell are the long term solution to Walker's injury and it would also take away theirstrengths and expose some of their weaknesses if they were to play full back. I think Sutcliffe could do a job for us their in 2015 before he had his knee injury that ended his season he was in fine form at full back but don't think Sutcliffe will be anywhere near that form again for us. Myler was class last week at full back but he's also our back up hooker for now with Leeming out and I can't see Dwyer doing full 80 every week in week out it'll eventually take its toll on him and I don't see him as a 80 minute hooker anyway, So if Myler did cover full back til Walker's fit I think that then leaves us short at hooker especially now Johnson has retired and left.

Wonder if McClelland ever played fullback when he was in Union?

Lussick still injured so misses tonight’s game. Stanley and Mellor not ready either.

Id take escare on a couple of months loan, the Jai Field signing looks like it could have been useful in hindsight!

Sutcliffe would be my choice. His versatility is his biggest asset. He could do a decent job there and has some experience in the position. Handley had a spell at fullback in one of the preseason games and didn't look comfortable at all.
Got to feel for Walker, he was in good form, but does appear to be a little injury prone.

Seriously, how many second rowers play fullback in the game, like ever?

Sutcliffe is 14 Kg heavier than he was two years ago, 8kg of that in this preseason. This was for him to play backrow as his position going forward.

What he did two years ago is a completley different player to what we have to utilise now. He does not have the speed of movement to handle grubber kicks, or breaks from players changing direction.

He will however offer a far better option for linking and passing. But that isn't the key role of the fullback.

I agree Sutcliffe at fullback is not ideal but what are the Alternatives? If Myler plays there ( as seems Agars likely choice) we have no interchange hooker. Handley didn't look convincing there preseason. Not sure who maybe available from the Academy.
He may well have been built up with the intention of playing 2nd row but spent all preseason and the 1st game of the season at centre.

This I 100% agree with you on. That is the problem in the balance of the squad we went with.

Personally, and I still don't like it due to changing things, I would go with Newman at Fullback and Alex or Liam Sutcliffe at Centre. But don't think that will happen.

Liam Sutcliffe is absolutely crap.

How long has he played for us now? 7/8 years?

The only highlights I can think of in that time are:

1) A kick (or 2) to Handley away at Saints. Handley got a hatrick.
2) His kicks against Barrow in the cup - was it Barrow? 16 from 16 goals?
3) His try v Hull in the 2017 semi

What am I missing? I just don't get why he's still a Leeds player

After that saints game I thought Sutcliffe looked like he would become a great player for us. Very intelligent play and great kicks looked like had loads of potential. Now I watch him and all he does is run straight forward like the most basic of forwards.

What happened?

Myler is playing there tonight

Does that mean McLelland on the bench?

I'd like to think so

I reckon Greenwood in for Walker will be the only change to the 17.

Im not sure. I know Holroyd isnt on the bench tho and no Greenwood again.

I suspect it will be Sutcliffe to cover full back, centre, half back and 2nd row and Cameron Smith / Myler covering hooker.

He was also actually very good in the centre position at the back end of 2017 when we won the GF, and then in 2018 came up with some important plays in the middle 8s.

Sutcliffe is a good player the problem he has had is he has never been payed in one position so never had chance to cement and learn that position.

His best position for us now is SR on the bench IMO, because of his utility value. However I don't think bar injuries he's good enough to make the 17 week in week out.

On another note, apparently there is an extended interview with Brian Mac on Sky before the game about what happened at Leeds, that will be interesting, from the clip Ive seen he seemed to be under the impression there wasn't actually anything wrong with the team or set up but that could be just a short clip taken out of context

There's a good interview with Cuthbertson in Love Rugby League giving an insight to McDermott being told to retire by Furner but told by Sinfield to dig in and fight for his position who he said had his back.

Interesting and to be fair Sinfield was correct, Cuthbertson has been doing a great job since Agar came on board

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Great read. I know a few of the lads did not like Furner at all. Mac was well liked.