How do you expect both sides to line up for the cup final providing everyone is available? I am not sure how Wire will line up especially with the Tony the tinkerer at the helm!!

I'm praying we dont become the St Helens of Challenge Cup Finals!!

LEEDS

Hardaker
BJB Watkins Ablett Hall
Sinfield McGuire
Kylie Burrow JP
Delaney JJB
Bailey

Ward Lunt Griffin Kirke

WARRINGTON

Hodgson
Monnaghan Bridge Atkins Riley
Ratchford Briers
Hill Higham Carvell
Waterhouse Westwood
Harrison

Monnaghan Morley Grix Cooper (not really sure about the last 2)

What's the latest on McGuire, reports don't seem too positive?

whatever the 17's on the day, we are going to have to step up a few more levels of intensity from the semi performance to challenge Warrington in this mood

Especially when you look at how we have just dismantled the pies!
Oooooowwwww!

We certainly do.Wire in great form.

Its not rocket science with warrington though,they will come and try and blow us off the park in the first 20.If our pack can muscle up and complete our sets keeping the score tight for an hour,watch the doubt grow in the wire players minds and i would fancy us from there.

Last years play off semi is the perfect template for us in the final.

IMO Bridge won't play because of his knee problem. Ratchford will be right centre. I'm happy with that as Bridge has been struggling for some time. Wood will be on the subs bench and Cooper will miss out.

Hopefully Grix will be OK after his head clash today.

McGuire said this morning he was hoping it wasn't too bad and it might just be a twist
But even a twist on a knee can keep a player out for a couple of weeks.

1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
4. Ablett
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. McGuire (or Burrow if McGuire injured)
8. Leuluai
9. Lunt
10. Griffin
11. Delaney
12. Ward
13. Bailey

14. Burrow (or Moore if McGuire injured)
15. Peacock
16. JJB
17. Kirke

If Mcguire is fit the same 17 as the semi final for me.

4. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
12. Ablett
5. Hall
13. Sinfield
6. McGuire/7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
7. Burrow/31. Lunt
10. Peacock
11. Jones-Buchanan
15. Delaney
16. Bailey

31. Lunt/25. Ward
17. Kirke
20. Griffin
25. Ward/21. Moore

Nobody wanting webb to play 7 if mcguire is out then??

No. but McDermott might want him to play there.
If all fit same as the semi.

Can i suggest we play in france first and see who's fit?

That's far to sensible approach.
Always a worry the last game before a cup final.

Tony smith will have a headache as will be tough who to leave out as they all deserve a spot but would guess wire

Hodgson
Riley
Atkins
Ratchford
J monas
Briers
Myler
Hill
higham
Moz
westwood
Warehouse
Harrison

M monas
Carvell
Wood
Grix

Said a couple of weeks ago that i expect the same 17 in the final that played against Wigan with Webb probably the only one that could break into the squad.

Hauraki - blew his slim chance with his dire showing at Wakey.
Clarkson - not really done enough to warrant dislodging anyone from that 17.
Moore - gone ok when giving the chance but as seen all year he won't be picked if all other props are fit.
Keinhorst - got a couple of games under his belt but won't be exposed to Wembley unless injuries strike.
Webb - Thought he'd blown his chance with his performance and ban against Wakey but McGuire's injury might open the door for him.

I imagine McGuire will definately miss the Catalans game which gives McDermott the chance to try Plan B (no not the singer) in case McGuire misses the final too, it's just a matter of what his back-up line-up is.

A, Straight swap and play Webb at 7.
B, Burrow to 7, Lunt start at hooker and Ward to come off the bench and slot into the halves with Burrow moving up to hooker.
C, Ward to start at 7 with Burrow remaining at hooker with Lunt on the bench.
D, Have Webb on the bench......don't like this idea as playing against a strong Warrington forward pack i'd prefer to see the 1 Hooker & 3 Forwards bench rather than a halfback option who would come on after only 50 mins and disrupt the defensive line if they insist on Webb slotting in at 1 whilst defending but at 7 whilst attacking.

I like this option the best.Too late to start experimenting with an out of form and sorts, Webb so close to the final.

For me,Webb would only get considered if we got an injury to a three quarter,but i do have a gut feeling Mac will try and squeeze him in.I would like to see a team as close to the semi side as possible though.

fingers crossed no more injuries at the Cats in a game which takes on some significance after recent results.

Agreed my preferred option is B but like you i can see a desire to get Webb involved. Whatever his back-up plan is he should be playing it against Catalans. With 3rd/4th back in contention i expect a full strength line-up even in the forwards with Peacock, JJB returning. McGuire even if given the all clear from the worst, probably won't be risked though i imagine.

Blew ANOTHER chance you mean.

It would be a big call to leave Webb out of a big match if he's fit, but Hardaker is very much the man in form at 1, and Ablett at centre, where I am becoming increasingly convinced he'll end up playing as first choice.

But, as Tad says, let's see who's healthy after the Catalan game before hanging shirts on pegs at Wembley.

Really it's almost irrelevent who lines up 1-7 for Leeds, we know we have the personnel there to do damage if a platform is created by the forwards and that's the question mark on this game for me, if our forwards can hang with the Warrington pack on that particular day.

its not irrelevant who lines up 1-7 for leeds, if 1 of mcguire, sinfield and burrow doesnt play for leeds we look lost, even if our forwards match wires we would find extremley difficult. Mcguire is essential to our chances in my opinion!

Ward/Burrow at halfback for me - Webb at fullback or not at all. Webb's strength is chiming into the line and throwing the odd good pass. I don't think he's ever been convincing as a halfback.

The rested forwards have to play against Cats I would have thought, or else they'd not have played for 3 weeks before the Final.

My preferred approach would be to pick a full strength side and really go for the win in France, as to me that is by far the best way to prepare for a big game, especially with Wire having just played Sts and Wigan in consecutive weeks and built some very impressive form. Going through the motions won't do any good in terms of confidence, preparation or - quite often - injuries.

Now with Mags' confirmed absence for the CC final i wouldn't be surprised to see Webb at 7 but i wouldn't have him at FB with the way ZH has played there since his switch.
Wrad and Burrow remain options at 7 and imo RB is still very much a good 7 which would put Lunt at 9 to start and Ward in the BR or on the bench.

Hardaker
BJB Watkins Ablett Hall;
Sinfield, Burrow;
Leuluai, Lunt, Peacock;
JJB, Delaney;
Bailey

Ward, Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Hauraki, Clarkson.

Ward to come on for Lunt, Sinfield or Burrow. Sinfield, Lunt and Burrow share the 9 duties.

4. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
12. Ablett
5. Hall
13. Sinfield
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
31. Lunt
10. Peacock
11. Jones-Buchanan
15. Delaney
25. Ward

16. Bailey
17. Kirke
20. Griffin
21. Moore

If we need to spell Lunt, Sinfield to hooker and Ward to SO.