This is not a wind up (Unless fox sports in Aus are doing this as a wind up), nor is it a rumour from my aunties hairdressers butchers milkman.... Apparently Willie Tonga is to be offloaded by the Eel's next year on a 1 year long loan, so that they can get Israel Folau in under the salary cap. I am unsure the ruling of posting links so forgive me if it is not allowed but here it is.... www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl- ... 6518086207 personally if we got him even for a year we could possibly have the best back line in 2013.....

This is not a wind up (Unless fox sports in Aus are doing this as a wind up), nor is it a rumour from my aunties hairdressers butchers milkman.... Apparently Willie Tonga is to be offloaded by the Eel's next year on a 1 year long loan, so that they can get Israel Folau in under the salary cap. I am unsure the ruling of posting links so forgive me if it is not allowed but here it is.... www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl- ... 6518086207 personally if we got him even for a year we could possibly have the best back line in 2013.....

Quote ="leeds rhino 04"This is not a wind up (Unless fox sports in Aus are doing this as a wind up), nor is it a rumour from my aunties hairdressers butchers milkman.... Apparently Willie Tonga is to be offloaded by the Eel's next year on a 1 year long loan, so that they can get Israel Folau in under the salary cap. I am unsure the ruling of posting links so forgive me if it is not allowed but here it is.... www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl- ... 6518086207 personally if we got him even for a year we could possibly have the best back line in 2013.....'" If anything, the linked piece says the opposite of what you're claiming. No mention of any loan deal; in fact it states that he's only likely to move for a long term deal.

Quote ="leeds rhino 04"This is not a wind up (Unless fox sports in Aus are doing this as a wind up), nor is it a rumour from my aunties hairdressers butchers milkman.... Apparently Willie Tonga is to be offloaded by the Eel's next year on a 1 year long loan, so that they can get Israel Folau in under the salary cap. I am unsure the ruling of posting links so forgive me if it is not allowed but here it is.... www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl- ... 6518086207 personally if we got him even for a year we could possibly have the best back line in 2013.....'" If anything, the linked piece says the opposite of what you're claiming. No mention of any loan deal; in fact it states that he's only likely to move for a long term deal.

my apologies, its the same article on that link as the app on my phone but on my app there's a slight difference, there's one line at the top of the article stating that the eel's are only looking for a one year loan deal, then the rest of the article is the same.

sorry for the confusion.

No prob, lazy Aussie journos to blame

What's happened to the Leeds youth system?


Mitch Achurch.

An attempt to sign Joel Moon.

That no-mark Aussie having a trial.

Now, Willie Tonga?


What's going on? Sort it out ey.

Martyn Sadler in today's LE is 90% certain Tonga will sign for Leeds.

You're a bear, what would you know?

Agreed..... Keinhorst, Chisholm, Singleton.....get them the game time, Tonga on a year loan potentially good move, but as long as Keinhorst would see a good handful of games as well to continue his development and a spot the following season. Chisholm get some time on BJB's wing or covering potential injury.....Singleton has to be a regular interchange this year to offset pack depletion next year......

Agree regarding singleton getting game time this year. Keinhorst is a potential prospect but tonga would be significantly better and a good signing IMO.

Still don't think we will get him and we will see ablett with the 4 shirt next year

Tonga would be better for a year agreed....but if signed longer a salary that would no doubt be 4 or 5 times that of Keinhorst with the the need for 2/3 starting forwards the following year would be short sighted....however this is not GH's weakness so if we get him I would say a year loan deal.

As I say I am still very doubtful that tonga will come to Leeds but if he did would be a very exciting back line

Hardaker
Ben jones Bishop
Watkins
Tonga
Hall

It's not a major worry for me. The club has shown time and again that they will play young players when they are ready and when the time is right. More recent examples being Stevie Ward and Zak Hardaker. The ones that leave have very rarely gone on to achieve major honours, although there are obviously exceptions. I do agree about Singleton though and his lack of game time last season was a little bit of a surprise.

If Tonga signs I would expect it to be a 2 or 3 year deal. But I certainly don't think that is a problem for Keinhorst, Tonga has a questionable injury record recently, and Keinhorst could be classed as backup for both centre positions. Let's not forget also that Keinhorst is now in the final year of his degree, so for the first half of the season at least, we might not see as much of him as he concentrates on that.

After the Sam Moa scandal (when it turns out he's not even from there), I think we should at least establish that Willie Tonga is from Tonga before we spend good money and sign him !

thing is with singleton there just no way he can break into the side , weve got jp kl rb ik dg rm six props , so play 4 each game you still have 2 doing nothing before singleton, there just no room for him , so i would say out on loan next season , then year after we dwindle down on props , so that be time for him !

It's difficult to criticise because things worked out in the end again last season, but I thought there were occasions he could have been given a go. Games like Catalan away, Huddersfield away, or the likes of Salford & London at home. I trust the management to get it right again, but it does seem a bit strange when we've got a few players over 30 now, who probably don't gain too much from playing in some of these games.

singleton is better than moore and griffin for me

It seems to me that McDermott was of the opinion that we should always have our best team out, and that by going through tough times together that would make them stronger. They did ultimately prove that they had the legs for the full season. However, I would expect a bit more rotation this year with JP and Kylie a year older, and singleton a year more mature

I agree, I think he kept picking the same players because we were poor for most of the season and he wanted them players to put it right, If we start better this year (after the wcc) I would expect him to try a few of the youngsters.

I don't think the lack of rotation had anything to do with making them 'battle hardened', I think McDermott's sticking to the same guys had more to do with a lack of confidence in the fringe/young players to do a job. IIRC he and Sinfield said something along the lines of needing to address the lack of quality in the depth of the squad after the GF.

As for Singleton, if we sign Moon (or Tonga) then it will lessen his chances of any game time.
Ablett will return to Loose Forward,
which in turn means Bailey will revert back to Subsitute Prop,
which leaves you with Achurch (if used as prop and not 2nd row), Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Singleton fighting for the 4th prop spot in the 17.

I think the forwards will look like this when/if everybody is fit.
8 - Leuluai
10 - Peacock
11 - JJB
12 - Delaney
13 - Ablett

14 - Subsitute Hooker
15 - Bailey
16 - Achurch
17 - Ward (another season of subsitute back rower for him because he won't be getting near the halfback positions for a while yet unless injuries strike)

That leaves Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Clarkson and Singleton out of the 17. And they might not be everyone's cup of tea but i'd be very surprised if Singleton got picked ahead of Kirke and Griffin if 1 or 2 injuries occur or rests are needed. Might as well try get him out on loan to another SL club if possible.

I'd be surprised if Kylie plays as much as he did last season, and would also be surprised if Achurch walks into the squad as a prop. Also, teams based on injury-free scenarios never really work.

As far as I can see our depth charts (if we sign Moon) are:

Fullback: Hardaker (BJB, Watson)

Wing: Hall, BJB (Watson, Vickery, Chisholm)

Centre: Watkins, Moon (Ablett, Keinhorst, Delaney)

Halfback: Sinfield, McGuire (Burrow, Moon, Ward)

Prop: Peacock, Bailey, Griffin, Leuluai (Kirke, Singleton, Moore, Achurch)

Hooker: Burrow (McShane, Hood)

Backrow: JJB, Ablett, Delaney, Ward (Achurch, Clarkson, Bailey)

____________________

Plenty of combinations available to cover for most injuries or rotations. Can see all of those named above except maybe the reserve wingers getting good gametime.

As above the squad on paper looks good and capable of covering injuries.

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joLegend[/u:27xo53jo:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[Year Contract Expires:27xo53jo
:27xo53joOQ:27xo53jo – Overseas Quota [Max 5
:27xo53joNFT:27xo53jo – Non-Federation Trained [Max 5
:27xo53joCT:27xo53jo – Club Trained [Min 8
:27xo53joFT:27xo53jo – Federation Trained
:27xo53joK:27xo53jo - Goal Kicker
:27xo53joE:27xo53jo - Exempt

[url=http://www.twitter.com/leedsrhinos:27xo53joClub Official Twitter[/url:27xo53jo

:27xo53joCoach::27xo53jo Brian McDermott [:27xo53jo2013:27xo53jo
:27xo53joAssistant Coach::27xo53jo James Lowes
:27xo53joUnder 20s Coach::27xo53jo Chris Pulme
:27xo53joUnder 18s Coach::27xo53jo Damien Gibson

[u:27xo53jo:27xo53joOOC 2013::27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo
:27xo53joBacks & Halfbacks::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JamelChisholm7:27xo53joJamel Chisholm[/url:27xo53jo; 07/11/92; Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
:27xo53joForwards::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Hayemaker16:27xo53joRyan Bailey[/url:27xo53jo; 11/11/83; Prop/Loose Forward - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Rob7Burrow:27xo53joRob Burrow[/url:27xo53jo; 26/09/82; Hooker/Scrum Half - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/IanKirke:27xo53joIan Kirke[/url:27xo53jo; 26/12/80; Prop/Second Row - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
Kylie Leuluai; 29/03/78; Prop - :27xo53joOQ:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/BradSingo:27xo53joBrad Singleton[/url:27xo53jo; 29/10/92; Prop/Loose Forward - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joFirst Team:[/u:27xo53jo:27xo53jo
:27xo53joBacks & Halfbacks::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/LukeBriscoee:27xo53joLuke Briscoe[/url:27xo53jo; 11/03/94; Stand Off/Fullback [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
Ryan Hall; 27/11/87; Wing [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/ZakHardaker1:27xo53joZak Hardaker[/url:27xo53jo; 17/11/91; Fullback/Centre/Wing [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/BenJonesBishop:27xo53joBen Jones Bishop[/url:27xo53jo; 24/08/88; Wing/Fullback/Centre [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JimmyKeinhorst:27xo53joJimmy Keinhorst[/url:27xo53jo; 14/07/90; Centre [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/DannyMcGuire6:27xo53joDanny McGuire[/url:27xo53jo; 06/12/82; Stand Off/Scrum Half [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo- :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
Kevin Sinfield; 12/09/80; Stand Off/Scrum Half/Hooker/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/KalWatkins91:27xo53joKallum Watkins[/url:27xo53jo; 12/03/91; Centre/Wing/Fullback [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JimmyWatson91:27xo53joJimmy Watson[/url:27xo53jo; 09/09/91; Fullback/Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
:27xo53joForwards::27xo53jo
Carl Ablett; 19/12/85; Second Row/Centre/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/MitchAchurch:27xo53joMitch Achurch[/url:27xo53jo; 14/07/88; Prop/Second Row [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joNFT E:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/ChrisClarkson00:27xo53joChris Clarkson[/url:27xo53jo; 07/04/90; Second Row/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/BrettDelaney15:27xo53joBrett Delaney[/url:27xo53jo; 26/10/85; Second Row/Centre [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joNFT OQ:27xo53jo
Darrell Griffin; 19/06/81; Prop [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/LiamHood24:27xo53joLiam Hood[/url:27xo53jo; 06/01/92; Hooker/Scrum Half [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
Jamie Jones Buchanan; 01/08/81; Second Row/Loose Forward [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Mcshane_Paul:27xo53joPaul McShane[/url:27xo53jo; 19/11/89; Hooker [:27xo53jo2015:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/MooreRJMoorey:27xo53joRichard Moore[/url:27xo53jo; 02/02/81; Prop [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JamiePeacock10:27xo53joJamie Peacock[/url:27xo53jo; 14/12/77; Prop [:27xo53jo2014:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Ste_Ward:27xo53joStevie Ward[/url:27xo53jo; 17/11/93; Loose Forward/Second Row/Stand Off [:27xo53jo2017:27xo53jo - :27xo53joCT K:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joTrialist:27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo

Joe Vickery; 29/09/89; Centre/Wing - :27xo53joNFT E:27xo53jo

:27xo53jo[u:27xo53joAcademy::27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo
:27xo53joBacks & Halfbacks::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Ducky_94:27xo53joJames Duckworth[/url:27xo53jo; 09/04/94; Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JoshuaSunley:27xo53joJoshua Sunley[/url:27xo53jo; 22/08/93; Fullback/Wing - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
:27xo53joForwards::27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/JordanBaldy:27xo53joJordan Baldwinson[/url:27xo53jo; 10/11/94; Second Row :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/AlexFozz94:27xo53joAlex Foster[/url:27xo53jo; 25/09/93; Second Row/Centre - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo
[url=http://www.twitter.com/Liam_Sutcliffe:27xo53joLiam Sutcliffe[/url:27xo53jo; 25/11/94; Loose Forward/Stand Off - :27xo53joCT:27xo53jo

--------------------

[u:27xo53jo:27xo53jo2013:27xo53jo[/u:27xo53jo

Rumoured - In: [url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/10047646.Bradford_Bulls__Leeds_Rhinos_swoop_for_teenager_McAvoy/:27xo53joLiam McAvoy; Prop [:27xo53jo2013:27xo53jo - :27xo53joFT:27xo53jo [Bradford Bulls[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/rhinos-move-on-tonga-may-allow-folau-to-join-eels-20121115-29ewn.html:27xo53joWillie Tonga; 08/08/83; Centre - :27xo53joNFT OQ:27xo53jo [Parramatta Eels[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/leeds-rhinos-close-in-on-transfer-target-1-5149050:27xo53joJoel Moon; 20/05/1988; Centre/Stand Off/Scrum Half/Second Row/Loose Forward - :27xo53joNFT OQ:27xo53jo [Salford City Reds[/url:27xo53jo

:27xo53joIns - Confirmed::27xo53jo [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/20023.php:27xo53joMitch Achurch; 14/07/88; Prop/Second Row [:27xo53jo2016:27xo53jo - :27xo53joNFT E:27xo53jo [Penrith Panthers[/url:27xo53jo
:27xo53joOut - Confirmed::27xo53jo [url=http://www.catalansdragons.com/index.php?article=2012-09-04_2260:27xo53joBrent Webb [Catalan Dragons[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/halifax-rlfc/fax-sign-leeds-ambler-on-a-two-year-contract-1-4743302:27xo53joLuke Ambler [Halifax RL[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/19015.php:27xo53joJay Pitts [Hull FC[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/19885.php:27xo53joLee Smith [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.therhinos.co.uk/news/20280.php:27xo53joWeller Hauraki [Castleford Tigers[/url:27xo53jo, [url=http://www.giantsrl.com/news/article/1841/giants-welcome-lunt-back:27xo53joShaun Lunt [Huddersfield Giants - Loan Return[/url:27xo53jo, Daniel Smith [Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Jared Stewart [Newcastle RU.

:27xo53joUnder 20s Released:, Ollie Olds, Clayton Stott, Ryan Smith, Douglas Foster, Brad Cox, Luke Teasdale, Gareth Morgan, Jose Kenga, Jake Normington, Ben Finder, Gerry Lee-Pierre.

I think Keinhorst will cover wing ahead of Vickery. Otherwise, the squad doesn't look too shabby to me. I would like to see one or other of McShane and Hood showing that they're ready to step up this year.

Does the same apply to Joel Moon?

I'm pretty sure he's not from the Moon... Or Tonga