I think he'd have got the first one relatively comfortably. Watkins was under pressure but that's the kind of thing an experienced winger is used to.

Anymore excuses for your Back2Back WCC failures and I might just die of laughter

Fingers crossed.

I've got to say it's harsh to blame Watkins i've seen international players butcher better chances that occured last night.

It might be harsh, but it is something he has got to learn from.

Bread and butter super league is one thing, but when you play in finals you find the number of chances are much reduced, and more importance on taking them.

Blowing one can be excusable, blowing two is extremely costly, as proven.

You reckon he "blew" both of those?

I thought the second one in particular he did well to get as close as he did without being pushed into touch.

Seconded

You might, but I don't. I am more expectant of my wingers.

Motion carried. I'll grab my shotgun.

I agree, the second one would have been a lot closer if he hadn't stumbled. The first one he did well to get over the line, but was bad to drop the ball stretching.

I think last year he made a lot of handling errors, either through daft offloads, or a loose carry. These are different though as stretching for the corner is a totally different skill, and as a centre by trade one he won't have had as much practice at as Donald.

He should have converted the first one. There was no need to extend his arms out to try and plant it down, it should have been in both arms, held tightly to his chest. These things are all part of experience and that's exactly how you gain the experience. Not having a go at Kallum at all, as he was player out of position in a very big game.
The second one was a very difficult finish, not sure Donald would have made it, it was one an Inglis/ Vainikolo probably would score, not sure about many other wide players.

I just had a mental picture of Elma Fudd armed and dangerous singing "Kill the Wabbit"

that's a very good point, should have slid in for the first though, in those conditions.

Re: Watkins. The first I think he should have got, the second was good defence to get him into the corner flag first before the (almost inevitable) fumble and I don't think you can altogether ignore him leaving his wing when Delaney had Inglis lined up allowing Quinn the overlap for the final score. Again that was an issue present last season also.

The potential is there but he's still a way to go.

Do you think he's going to be ready to be the left centre when/if Senior hangs up the boots next year?

I know you are asking tvoc, but will just throw in a viewpoint.

We will know more about that over the next 12 weeks. Truth is, if he can't look the part on the wing over the next 12 weeks, then it is going to be some step up to replace Senior.

No excuses, the game time he needed is here now, and it's up to him to take it and learn.

Thank you for doing so. Your viewpoint is most welcome.

I don't. I think he will have to grown into the role and if that means some errors a long the way then so be it. I think the signing of coadey would suggest watkins Is not a shoe-in for that position.

I think, like a couple of other posters, you are placing too much on the signing of Coady.

Coady is a gamble, hopefully one that will pay off. I doubt very much that the club made that signing with the thought of him been down as a 1st choice player. It was more in hope.

As the club have stated all along the lad is raw talent and work in progress. Centre may not even be his position by the time he is finished. Most of his games for Donny were at fullback.

Don't know if this has been mentioned elsewhere but there is talk of BJB getting recalled from Quins after Donalds injury. I thought he was primarily a fullback? McClennan did state he didn't want to over play Watkins and with Delaney's fitness also a doubt what other centre/wing options do we have?

I think Coady, like Ambler and, possibly Pitts, have been signed to boost a particularly weak Academy crop at the higher age group.

If he can improve the weaker areas of his game then hopefully he'll fulfill that undoubted promise. Whether that will be in time for Senior's retirement is the great unknown and the quality of coaching will have the biggest say in that. He's nineteen in eleven days time and has made twenty three 1st grade appearances for Leeds.

It's perhaps interesting that Jones-Bishop will be twenty-two in August and (if both have a potential future at the club) he's certainly had to bide his time much more on the fringes than the younger protegy.

Firstly i am of the opinion that no-one will "replace" Senior when he hangs up his boots.
As for young Kallum he's shown he has plenty of potential and he's only gonna get better imo,whether that'll be as quick as many hope remains to be seen but we should back the kid and give him time to settle into the centre berth as and when he takes that mantle.
As a side i still shudder at the thought of the bleedin doylems booing Senior when he first signed so maybe there'll be an element that doesn't give Watkins any grace.

I bet you somebody does. Even if it is Watkins.

You knew what i meant