Thursday afternoon and not much talk about Saturdays big game yet. IF and with the cats it's always a big 'IF' they can bring some of their recent home form over then we are in for a tough test and will have to be at our very best.This may end up being closer than we would like or are expecting. Not seen the 19 yet but assuming all are available i would go:

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall

Sinfield
McGuire

Kylie
Burrow
JP
Delaney
Ablett
JJB

subs:
Aiton
Bailey
Achurch
Singleton

Not the easiest first game but hopefully our playoff form will kick in, combined with their inability to win at Headingley, and will see us through.

Given our recent form, I think the music played as we come out should be that old Bon Jovi number "Livin' on a prayer"

That's the team I'd go with too.

If we turn up in the right mood, ie like we've been in the Cup this year, then I think we'll win by about 18-20 points.

If we're not quite on the ball then it'll be close. And we don't do well in close games this year.

Maybe we should have had Greenday 'Wake me up when September ends' for the regular season?

Have Catalans ever won at Headingley?

Many of times they have turned up in good form, but have failed to turn up at Headingley. let's hope that doesn't change on Saturday, but it has to at some point.

Perfect fixture for Leeds IMO, the uphill contest starts now.

OTOH we tend to win close play offs. Quite looking forward to this one TBH - hopefully we'll see some signs that the boys have it in them.

Leeds Record V Les Catalans at Headingley : Pl 10, W 10, D 0, L 0, Pts For 385, Pts Agst 133

15-Sep-06 ….. CHP ….. SL 11 - 28 ….. Won 60 - 12
27-Apr-07 ….. CHP ….. SL 12 - 12 ….. Won 54 - 8
22-Feb-08 ….. CHP ….. SL 13 - 03 ….. Won 34 - 6
27-Mar-09 ….. CHP ….. SL 14 - 07 ….. Won 42 - 14
=#0000FF02-Oct-09 ….. PO ….. SL 14 - QSF ….. Won 27 - 20
20-Aug-10 ….. CHP ….. SL 15 - 26 ….. Won 52 - 6
13-May-11 ….. CHP ….. SL 16 - 14 ….. Won 30 - 6
20-Apr-12 ….. CHP ….. SL 17 - 12 ….. Won 34 - 18
30-Aug-13 ….. CHP ….. SL 18 - 26 ….. Won 20 - 12
29-Jun-14 ….. CHP ….. SL 19 - 18 ….. Won 32 - 31

______

Leeds have played Les Catalans twice in the SL Play-Offs winning both times 27 - 20

I`m going with Leeds by 7.
25 - 18
2 brawls and Zak sighted for saying something in French that might have sounded a tad gay.
And no Tad I am not saying you are gay.

The squad in full is:
1 Zak Hardaker
3 Kallum Watkins
4 Joel Moon
5 Ryan Hall
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
9 Paul Aiton
10 Jamie Peacock
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12 Carl Ablett
13 Kevin Sinfield (c)
14 Stevie Ward
15 Brett Delaney
16 Ryan Bailey
19 Mitch Achurch
20 Tom Briscoe
21 Liam Sutcliffe
23 Brad Singleton

Same for me...with Aiton and Singleton starting; Burrow and Kylie on the bench

BUT we all know Singleton will miss out to Sutcliffe who has somehow ingratiated himself into being part of McDermott's 'inner circle' ....even Kirke must be doubting his cemented in spot

1. Zak Hardaker
20. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Joel Moon
5. Ryan Hall
13. Kevin Sinfield
6. Danny McGuire
16. Ryan Bailey
9. Paul Aiton
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Carl Ablett
15. Brett Delaney

7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai
19. Mitch Achurch
23. Brad Singleton

Bailey always plays better when he starts - be good to bring Kylie on later for some impact against Catalans' big pack. For the same reason I'd pick Achurch ahead of Sutcliffe. Hardaker, Sinfield, McGuire, Aiton & Burrow should have enough creativity to outmatch Escare, Bosc, Dureau, Henderson & Pelissier. It's up front we'll need some extra grunt.

Irke seems to have fallen out of favour since the cup final. I'm not sure if he's even played. I wonder what has changed

Mac must have seen the enthusiasm he put into lifting the Challenge Cup and finally realized he ain't motivated by winning.

No doubt it's this! After all the team has been through (Kirke included), Kirke made it about his 10 mins on the day not all the effort he put in over the years to win a CC final. I don't think he ment to do it but Kirke let himself down.

His name?

Thought he played against Hull?

He was definitely on the team-sheet.

Define played ....