We've already played Wakefield twice this season and they have both been pretty dodgy! Fair to say we didn't play very well in either game and the defence has improved vastly since then.

The big question is would you play JP? He said in the BBC interview after the 1/4 final that he felt the knee twitch a couple of times during the game. It wouldn't do any harm in giving him the week off to get 100% fit and fresh.

We're really starting to get going now, 3 fantastic wins on the trot. Eastwood looking like he's worth his weight in gold. Donald's return gives an exciting competition for places in the back line. We beat Wigan and Bulls without Brent Webb who was in magnificent form prior to his ban. Things are really looking up and I have a big feeling this will be the week where Leeds will put in that perfect performance and really take a team to the cleaners

. Its nothing against Wakefield, but when Leeds are in top form they can be unplayable, and this could be one of those nights...Or maybe not. Thoughts...

....or get ambushed again.

That's always a danger when you play these provincial sides.



I'm with RhinoNeil on this one, as I think the last 3 games have kick started our season. There has been a measurable improvement on the field and I reckon team spirit is as high as you can get it.

I'd consider parking Jamie on the bench, and only play him in a couple of short spells if it looked like the Wakey lot were getting a roll on and scoring tries. The pack, and Bailley in particular, has stepped up to the mark in his absence and I'm sure Bluey will be looking beyond this game.

Could be a good summer here in Leeds.

If all the backs are fit I hope Webby plays inthe halfs with Kev back to LF

Team must be (if fit)

Webb
Donald
Delaney
Senior
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Leulai
Buderus
Bailey
JJB
Kirke
Ablett

Smith
Peacock
Lautiti
Eastwood


Let's keep the momentum going as much as possible: no complacent resting of players thinking we're going to get an easy win. I appreciate this team might be genuinely disrupted by injuries from the tough CC match, but this should be (IMO) the first 17.

The season is really starting to gather momentum at just the right time. 3 crunch games and we are in the semis and closing in on 4th spot.

Teams like saints may have started the season better but they won't have the same sudden upsurge in confidence and belief that we may get now because they didn't start the season as poorly and it's these upsurges that can result in big unbeaten runs.

Now we have wakefield again. Just a few weeks ago we were staring down the barrell of a defeat to wakefield and them opening up a gap over us in 7th place. We got the win near the end and that looks like being the turning point of our season.

no one wants to play us right now ,and it was good to see bluey playing mind games when he commented on teams getting edgy in last 10 munites when the scores are close

Indeed! like how he sowed a little seed about us having the knack of getting teams at the death. he also commented previous about a season been all about getting the ingredients for the bigger tests. Bluey said niling a team was a test we hadn't done yet? we went the 80 against the top side in the comp with the best attack without a breach so I think we can tick that one off too. this team should be lacking no confidence. If we can get to wire unbeaten and turn them over we won't be far off leap froggin them. no slip ups now. it's time to put teams to the sword.

There looked a lot of battered and bruised players after the game on Saturday. Leuleui has played very well lately and looked groggy in the last two fixtures so maybe due a rest. We don't need to be running any players into exhaustion yet, so if they are carrying niggly injuries then give them a rest, save them for the tougher end of the season. I think Wakefield could be a very tough match after Wigan's game.

What would Smith offer off the bench?

Agreed, i think we need Webb, Ali, burgess and maybe pitts
to feature against wakey, plus ambler and clarkson in the next few weeks too.

Little, as a few of us have mentioned Webb in the halves and smith to stay where he is.

Agreed, I think, even when Robbie is fit that it will stay that way with Burrow coming off the bench and attacking a tiring team.

That's another thing. How often in the past few years have we snatched games at the death?

when it's close going into the final 10 minutes, you just fancy us to pull it out of the bag. Whereas other teams get edgy, we start to smell victory.

Squad rotation is desirable but we can't afford to take Wakefield lightly & assume that all we have to do is to turn up to get the points.
As we know to our cost each game regardless of the opposition is only worth 2 points.
We can't afford to drop any more points if we still have aspirations of a top 3 finish. Not an easy task esp with the Wolves & both Hull teams away still to come.
We should rest any players carrying injuries but that should be the extent of the rotation IMV.

Quote ="sgtwilko"Little, as a few of us have mentioned Webb in the halves and smith to stay where he is.'"

Smith would offer more options coming off the bench to that of Diskin.

However, I am not averse to the idea of Smith staying at FB with Webb in the halves. It's also a good option....but think we will still miss Webb's attacking prowess/great form at the moment from FB.
Also Sinfield and McGuire are looking good in the halves. Further, it allows us a bigger pack with Ablett at LF (or maybe Eastwood).

I agree Burrow, when back, would also be the better option off the bench.

Hoping to also see Ali back this week.

Spot on OF we have to kick on and maintain the momentum we've created this past month and i personally don't think Wakey will be an easy task especially since they've had a week off.

Wakefield have taken SL points away from Headingley before.

They are more than capable of giving any other SL side a game, just ask the in-form Harlequins last week.

Fortunately I have faith that the coaching staff and players will be aware of this even if some fans fail to realise it.

John Kear allways has his teams up for Leeds and after mugging them at Edinburgh you can bet that they will be flying out of the traps to get one over on us in revenge.

We seem to have got back that elusive winning mentality in the past few games and i would hate to see us squander it by taking the wailcats lightly.

OR if all fit

[iSmith[/i
Donald
Delaney
Senior
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Leulai
Buderus
Bailey
JJB
Kirke
Ablett

[iWebb[/i
Peacock
Lautiti
Eastwood


Pitts and Ambler/Clarkson to make up the 19.

Who said Wakefield are not capable of giving us game?



I said I have feeling this could be the week when Leeds take a team to the cleaners. Now what you have got to understand is that is nothing against Wakefield. Leeds could be playing anybody maybe bar Wigan and Saints and I would have said the same thing. Because when Leeds put in that perfect performance which we do tend to do a few times per season, we're simply unplayable.

Leeds have now gone 120 minutes of rugby league without conceding a try. And them games we're against the high flying Wigan Warriors and the Bradford Bulls, no mugs.

But forgive me for having a feeling that this could be one of those perfect performances.

Webb is another option in the halves if we need it but Bluey will put him straight back in at FB IMO and rightly so, Smithy does a good job but Webb is the better of the two. It's a tough choice who to drop this week. I'd put Smithy on the bench and drop Diskin, let Buderus play the full game for a change as we look much better when he's on the field but i cant see Bluey doing that. I think he'll drop either Smith or Donald.
Hopefully Ali is back this week, him and Eastwood coming from the bench will give us some good impact.

Someone on SS apparently bumped into him and asked if he was going to be fit for Wakey. Answer was : No chance.

In your opinion will Lauitiiti be available this week?