Looking forward to seeing him up against Jake Webster tonight

Watkins is still pretty slight and Webster is a big strong player with no little speed, Watkins will get a good test of his defensive ability tonight

on the other hand, Webster seems to get stepped [ivery[/i easily, is slow on the turn and struggles massively with agile and fleet footed centres, which sounds tailor made for Watkins attacking abilities, he relies more on skill, speed and agility than a centre like Senior who is a more bash and barge type centre relying a bit more on his strength,

if Watkins was a boxer, i think this would be a great fight for him, a 'fairly' big name, with some obvious weaknesses that are suited to Watkins, but still poses a threat and will test the young kid

we could probably say this most weeks, but i think specifically tonight we will get a good idea of Watkins true potential, i would be disappointed to see him bullied out of the game, which i can see happening with a player like Webster, but similarly i can see him running riot and it being the making of him

Good analysis there. I like Webster when he can be d but a nimble player whos poorish defensively should go well against him.

If Senior is back on the left and Webster replacing Walker on the right I wouldn't expect Webster and Watkins to see that much of each other.

Of course if Webster plays on the left he will.

Webster is likely to play on the right with Colbon. He's likely to be a bit rusty too, as he's not played yet and only got a bit of game time in one friendly. Should be a good contest, regardless.

Watkins is on the bench!!
Smith
Donald
Ablett
Senior
Hall
Sinfield
Mcguire
Leuleui
Diskin
Bailey
Kirke
Peacock
Jjb

Mcshane
Burgess
Watkins
Allan.

Very lightweight bench. Good idea though I think to give Watkins a bit of a rest. It will be interesting to see McShane against Berrigan.
Whoops brainf*rt, Berrigan plays for the other lot in 'Ull.
Fitzhenry at hooker 1st time playing there in 5 years.

I'd say we've weakened the team and bench, Watkins should be in with Bailey on the bench after a shuffle in the forwards.

Buderus rested my



edit: now it's raining I've changed my mind, nice pick Bluey

Gibson is now very clearly the fourth choice at Centre for Leeds. You have to wonder how much longer he will be around as I'm sure we will pick up another Centre in the next close season to replace Senior.

Not really you have to take into account how long he's been out and not rush him back playing week in week out.
I'm sure he'll prove his worth and will be given plenty of time to do so we saw glimpses last week what he can do so there's no rush.

I'm not bagging the kid, but you have to wonder if he will break through with the other young centre options we have, and the fact that when Senior goes we will have to recruit another first class centre.

It seems to me that we have Watkins in front of him (and rightly so) and that he really isn't any further on that say Broughton who has had recent SL experience with Hull.

Of course none of this means that he can't turn it round and have a future at Leeds, I hope he does. My only concern is that his boat has sailed and it's someone else on the rise now.

Keep the faith they'll still wrap watkins in cotton wool from time to time and gibson will be eased back aswell and in terms of centre positions gibson is way ahead of broughton who imo will compete for the wing spots.
Lets not forget how many wrote jjb off and questioned disko after his nightmare injury.

I'm not saying he won't make it, I'm saying that he's now been out for so long that the competition for places will get the better of him IMO.

It's a different scenario to JJB, who although he shared a similar injury record, was always a much more talented player. JJB also seems to have more "desire" to me.

Like I say, I hope that Gibson proves me wrong, nothing would make me happier than another Leeds lad winning a GF winners ring in a Leeds shirt.

Do you not remember gibson breaking into the team then???????
I'd say at the point of being picked for their respective debut's gibson was the more talented without questioning jjb's potential or knocking him.