Assuming we're without Briscoe, McGuire, Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Achurch, Cuthbertson & Sutcliffe:

1. Hardaker
2. Handley
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. Aiton
10. Singleton
11. Keinhorst
12. Ward
13. Ablett

14. Lilley
15. Peacock
16. Yates
17. Walters

Walters? No thanks! Mulhern or a bag of spuds should be ahead of him now. And probably Robbie Ward before Lilley....

I'd also consider my 'secret weapon' of Keinhorst at SO alongside Sinfield.. Our German international seems equally adept at running and passing both left and right (witness his pass to Watkins when he recently scored on wing).

cuthbertson says on twitter he will be ok for friday

Walters has probably played himself out of the team for now. I like the idea of Cuthbertson off the bench, coming on after about 25. Really hurt Hull when it happened yesterday (ruined somewhat by getting injured).

Suppose have to play Burrow at scrum-half rather than his best position of bench. Would be tempted to play Sinfield & Moon in the halves with Keinhorst centre but probably too much disruption. Would expect Delaney to be fit too.

Hardaker
Handley
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
Burrow
Peacock
Aiton
Leuluai
S.Ward
Delaney
Ablett

R.Ward/Lilley
Singleton
Cuthbertson
Keinhorst

Wouldn't have Walters anywhere near the team been really poor

Walters is puzzling and infuriating in equal measure.

Not sure where the blame lies, but he's tried to pile way too muscle on way too quickly IMO. Whether the S&C coaches at Leeds have got it wrong or he's gone off and done additional work on his own over the winter I don't know, but it's killed the mobility and footwork that was one of his biggest threats.

He's now just basically a plodding back rower, when he could have been so much more. He's perhaps fortunate that the cupboard is somewhat bare in terms of back rowers in the 19s at Leeds, but as it stands I'd rather have Alex Foster back next year than Walters, which I didn't think I would be saying at the start of the season.

I'm not his biggest fan but I'd rather have Clarkson still here over Walters at the moment.

I don't think you're the only one .....

Come back Ian Kirke: all is forgiven

....come to think of it can we not dangle an illegal carrot under Ali's nose?

Hardaker
Handley Moon Watkins Hall
Sinfield Burrow
Leuluai Aiton Peacock
Keinhorst Ward
Ablett

Cuthbertson Delaney Singleton

Any one of Yates/Mulhern/Walters/R Ward/Lilley

What did Singleton do to get dropped?

He's injured too I think.

To be honest, I didn't even realise as I put Leuluai in starting line up, he's been out that long, I thought I put singleton. Add singleton to the bench, then one of the others on the list.

Imagine the LOLz if McGuire ends up being fit though.

Sa claiming 'karma' for this challenge cup game. Cuckoo.

Hardaker
Handley
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
Burrow
Singleton
Aiton
JP
Ablett
S.Ward
Cuthbertson

Kylie
Deleaney/Mulhern
Keinhorst
Lilley/R.ward

With matches against Saints and Wigan to follow I wouldn't risk anyone who is carrying a knock for this game.

Neither would I. Let the game go if that is what it takes.

Wins against Saints and Wigan will not only guarantee us top spot going into the 8's, but will probably all but mathematically secure a top four spot for the end of the 8's.

Too much money in the cup for it to be 'let go'. Whilst I expect no major risks, without a doubt there will be a few battered bodies in the Rhinos side, probably in the Hull side too.

And for what its worth I think Leeds, Saints & Wigan will all be sitting pretty in the Super 8s. The gamble will be to go for the League Leaders Shield or rest players for the play offs. 100K or the GF.

Rest players for the playoffs?


After Super 8s there is the Semi final and then Grand Final! Won't need to rest players for them

Yes I'm aware of the Semi Final and the GF....



During the latter stages of the Super 8s hopefully it will be mathematically possible for Leeds to rest players up with a top 4 spot consolidated. (Or maybe not if they want to chase the League Leaders Shield) At the moment we're opening up a nice gap between us and 5th. For us Its more about the top 4 than the top 8.

Can't see players being rested this week. The only thing these players haven't done is win the double. After last years poor end of season, I have a feeling that they're looking to go out with a bang and get the full house.

I'd say the only way you could rest players towards the end of the season is if you're guaranteed top two. You want home advantage in that semi-final.

RFL have announced a change of ref for the match, Thaler is ill so Child is taking his place.

At least we know that when tempers flare, which is inevitable after last weekend the ref will be able to control it -end sarcasm-

Both Mags and Cuthbertson announced in the 19, although I know this has no real bearing on final squad.