Given he topped the tackle count at Wembley and we're down to the bare bones in the forwards I'd stick him in the second row, put Smithy back to centre and bring Donald in on the wing.
Team to beat Hull:- Webb, Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Bailey, Buderus, Leuluai, Delaney, Kirke, Abblett. (I know Kirke starting, it's desperate, BUT, lets have a bench with players that CAN make an impact. Eastwood, Lauitiiti, Diskin and Burrow)

[url=http://viewtopic.php?f=17&t=468834HTH[/url

Diskin make an impact from bench ? Only for the opposition.

Smith is not a centre. Kirke might be better actually...at least there he might win a collision.

Your half backs and three other benchers i would agree with.

I really don't see the point of putting Delaney in the second row. He was signed as a centre so why move him around? He offers more at centre than Smith and we've got adequate replacements that can play in the back row in Lauitiiti and Pitts.

Im sorry but what the heck. Whether you like Delany or not, and I know plenty dont, he is one of our first choice centres, why would you play him in the second row?? Perhaps we should give Sinny a shot at fullback while we are at it!

Thanks god Bluey is in charge and not you.

What an OTT response to Delaney in Second Row.

It's an obvious call.

Delaney is a big, solid, lump.

His biggest strengths in a Leeds shirt have been his industrious drives with ball in hand. And his work rate in defence.

Both key elements that second rowers have. Gareth Ellis springs to mind.

His weaknesses have been his defensive position (he hasn't slotted that well into our srambling patterns* so can get caught out - this has improved. He doesn't feed a winger in classic centre stylee. This has been the same throughout. I can recall dozens of times where it has been 'on' and he hasn't even scanned the situation. Also he has been found out with the bomb also.

So playing to HIS strengths, he would be able to do what he does best in a position where his weaknesses may not be as readily showable.

Playing to his strengths would probably help our cause. He would do more work and boost the yards we make and tackle anything that's in front of him.

So it's a fair call.

However this late into the season I don't know if it's viable in Bluey's eyes. But a combo of Smith and Donald with a work horse like second row near by is worth a consideration at least.



*that's if we still have any scrambling patterns

It was tongue in cheek

Though I stand by the end result that Dealany is a centre not a second row - regardless of his solidness.

How can you tell he's a centre rather than a second row. In the modern game there isn't much to choose between the positions if you've got the physicality to play both. Such as Walker (Chev), McKenna and Ablett have filled in both positions at Leeds and two of those were regarded as centres first.

That said I wouldn't shift him to accomodate Donald, providing Leeds have enough forwards available.

well said bloodbath....although i still have reservations about smith being a centre long term your intelligent and considered opinion commands respect. I would agree with you in giving that option a go until the end of this season.

mckenna signed as a centre but was far better when he moved to second row. Delaney to second row and smith to centre sounds reasonable to me

McKenna was signed as a centre but was proven second row down under. Even in State of Origin IIRC.

I can see why it's been suggested but at this late stage should we be messing about with different combinations and positional changes??
The club obviously see Delaney and Smith as 1st choice RW/RC imo so that has to be how they line up imo.

Of course it was.

FWIW my opinion is that Delaney would most likely make a great second row but it aint gonna happen so we'll never know

Fair comment and he would make a better 2nd rower tha Senior

I maintain that Delaney is a much better centre than Smith, who offers more at this stage of the season than Donald on the wing. Unless we get a better option or were absolutely down to the bare bones in the back row (which we're not) I'd rather he stayed at centre.

If Delaney moves into the back row permanently then the club will have to go out and sign a new centre. Smith simply isn't a long term option at centre, anymore than someone like Ablett. Good English centres are rare and good Aussies come at a premium so I'd rather things were left the way they are.

do you know, despite all my previous horror at the thought, i would now maybe see delaney in the second row .....with ablett at centre....at least he could put out a decent pass to his winger.

Because we are really light in the second row position arnt we?! Ali, Kirke, Eastwood and Ablett are all second rowers, are all fit, but for some reason someones calls for a centre to be drafted in

Both will be playing stints at prop for the rest of the year I would imagine. Personally, I'd rather see Ambler in there and move one of the two back if needs be.

You forgot Pitts



Ali might not be here next year (and is always better off the bench anyways)



Kirke shouldn't be here next year



Eastwood won't be here



Ablett probably makes a better centre than Delaney (and vice versa).

Not necessarily. BJB can play centre I believe (which might suit some better than the [iridiculous radical[/i idea of Ryan Hall playing there).



I agree Smith and Ablett are not long term solutions but for my money Delaney is even less so. Get him in the second row: his more natural position.

We could even go with Senior and Watkins as the centres partnership in 2011.

Delaneeey!!! OooooooooOhhhhhhh

Delaneeey!!! OooooooooOhhhhhhh


He's from Australia, he'll f****** murder ya!!!!

Deeeeeeelaaaaaaneeey.....

IMO I don't think Delaney would make a bad back rower at all.

You must have me confused with someone else.

The odds are you will get something right eventually!!