Danny Addy, Jean–Philippe Baile, Matty Blythe, Omari Caro, James Clare, Dale Ferguson, Dan Fleming, Lee Gaskell, Kurt Haggerty,Vila Halafihi, Rhys Jacks, Ben Kavanagh, Epalahame Lauaki, Joe Lumb, Alex Mellor, Adam O’Brien, Tom Olbison, Jay Pitts, Ethan Ryan, Adam Sidlow, Oscar Thomas, Jonathan Walker, Lucas Walshaw, Kris Welham, Danny Williams.


Conspicous by their absence are Paul Clough, Adrian Purtell, Etu Uaisele, Steve Crossley & Dan Caprice.

Johnny Campbell & Mitch Clark are well known to be injured. James Mendeika not announced, but also known to be injured.

Leeds have also announced their team:

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Galloway
Falloon
Cuthbertson
Delaney
Ablett
Singleton
SUBS
Sutcliffe
Garbutt
Keinhorst
Achurch
Walters
Handley
Golding
Baldwinson
Lilley
Ferres

So pretty much a full side for Leeds, minus their injuries of Jones-Buchanan, Ward and Mullally.


Good job this is a friendly, as looking at those sides on paper, you would expect a good tonking. Hopefully we get what we need out of it though.

I've been told Walshaw has signed for Wakefield when his contract runs out. Any point him playing in a friendly designed to ready the team for the season ahead?

This is just all about getting everyone some match practice and working on fitness levels. I'd expect those who don't play on Sunday to feature against Cas the week after (not counting the injured).

A bit disappointed not to see Caprice there. Reports earlier in the week were about him looking forward to playing in this one. Maybe he'll get his chance against Cas instead.

I'm more interested to see who plays where. These friendlies usually take a route of strongest 17 for the first half, then plenty of rotation to get the match practice.

He's contracted until the end of 2016. So......yes?

Told by a relative of his that is was pretty much an immediate move. Surely if this is true, Bradford would know he's on the move?

With the amount of second rowers we have I'm not surprised if he goes. I don't think he got a fair shake with us to be honest so if Wakey want him back good luck to him.

Part exchange deal for Craig Hall?

Back on topic I think we'll get murdered by Leeds with that squad.

If Walshaw was on the move then I don't think there is any chance Walshaw would be in the team. Wouldn't say he's one of Jimmys favourites and when Shaw was off to KR, he didn't get a sniff.

I know there's been a few on here announcing random signings/transfers, but I've no reason to doubt the person who told me. Unless they're not really who they say they are. I wasn't going to bother posting anything as, although a decent player, I didn't think it'd be breaking news

You would certainly hope so, but is he on the move now or, "when his contract runs out" at the end of the season? To be honest, as said by others, Walshaw has never seemed to be one who was in the forefront of Lowesy's mind, so if he's off then so be it. Does make you wonder why though if he can apparently get a gig with a superduperleague club.

Good job you can trust the boards. EVERYONE on here is who they say they are. Especially Peter Hood....

Is like to see us line up like this.

1. Oscar Thomas (think he's going to be first choice FB)
2. James Clare
3. Kris Welham
4. Matty Blythe
5. Danny Williams
6. Lee Gaskell
7. Rhys Jacks
8. Ben Kavanagh
9. Adam O'Brien
10. Adam Sidlow
11. Dale Ferguson
12. Jay Pitts
13. Danny Addy

Rest on bench. Add Purtell and we have a SL back line IMO. With the amount of props we have an option of putting the likes of Kavanagh/Clark at loose to add some real size to our pack.

TBF we've named a 25 man squad, so a 12 man bench. Even allowing for unlimited interhanges we can virtually field two different 13's. There were always going to be some players missed out and I'd expect them to feature next week. We already know what clough, purtell, uiasele and crossley offer the team so guess lowes wants to get a look at some of new guys as a priority. Caprice has only being playing league for a week or so, so its a bit harsh to throw him against reigning SL champions as his first outing. Give him another week to learn on practise pitch then give him a shot against Cas. Dont think we've put a time period on his trial soI wouldnt be surprised if it doesnt carry on into season proper with him taking part in training during week before any a decision is made re signing him permanently.

I will be surprised to see a lot of Crossley this year as some of the new lads are far more aggressive than him.
Didn't someone say Clough was leaving. Happy to see he hasn't.

We can pick a pretty decent 17 players if they all stay fit. Just our luck to see Gaskell come off with a season long injury on Sunday!
I hope Jimmy has the players he wants this season as I think he has 5 months to secure a new contract otherwise Ferres starts looking for alternatives.

I would hope that both Crossley and Luakai look at the in coming players and realise that they can't get away with last season's level of contribution.
And hopefully the coaching team won't allow them to either.

Team and also an insight into some squad numbers

1. Thomas
5. Williams
3. Blythe
4. Welham
28. Caro
6. Gaskell
13. Addy
10. Sidlow
9. AoB
8. Kavanagh
11. Olbison
12. Haggerty
22. Mellor

7. Jacks
14. Clare
15. Fleming
16. Pitts
17. Walker
18. Lauaki
20. Halafihi
23. Ferguson
24. Walshaw
29. Ryan
30. Lumb

Some of these squad numbers are confusing and worrying in equal measure. Ross has just said on twitter that nothing is official, but those numbers must have come from somewhere.
If they turn out to be accurate then Clough has lost his 2015 squad number, which does nothing to ease my anxiety about him leaving. I know squad numbers mean nothing these days, but still. Also Clare at 14 is weird and Blythe with the 3 shirt? Ferguson also dropping down to 23. Odd.

Anyone know of any live coverage? Radio?

One of the new RL Twitter accounts has tweeted that a SL club have made an offer for Clough. Would be a big loss for you if true I'm guessing?

I think the fact that he's been left out of today with no news on an injury, added to the fact that Kavannah is playing in the No.8 shirt... pretty much sure he's going. Just a case of sorting out a fee for his release.

Big big lose for us but probably one planned for givem that we signed up 7 other props this year!!!

Hopefully the first half showing against Whinos continues and we can cope without him.

10-12 at half time to Bulls.

How are the new lads doing?

14-12 to Whinos

The pick of the tweets for me so far is... "...Rob Burrow just about outpaces Oscar Thomas..."

...despite being half the size and almost twice as old.

Came away feeling very happy after that performance.

On the numbers front I think some have put 2 and 2 together and come up with 5. Blythe had 3 and there's no way our club captain would lose his shirt. Still not fully convinced that Clough will leave. He was on the team photo and been part of some features on the bulls Twitter feed. If he does go he would be a massive loss though. But I'm pretty sure O'Brien to Leeds was a done deal earlier in the year too...

Onto the game. Impressed by the team especially defensively. I thought the new boys all did well. Walker got stuck in, OK gave a couple of penalties away but I would still rather a prop get involved the game and mix it up rather than have no impact on the game which is what we had last year. Kavanagh ran hard and looks a find. Haggerty was busy and again I thought he went well. Jacks showed glimpses what he could do. Would like to see him get the full 80 next week. He came on when Leeds dominated the half.But he took the line on on numerous occasions and threw out a brilliant long pass late in the half so he has got something in his locker. Defensively he was brilliant too. Thomas also looks a decent find as he went well at FB.

Gaskell and O'Brien looked a class a port and if we can have them fit and firing come the end of the season, we will be in with a shout. We look a better side than the one that lost the MPG

Clough is leaving?