It has to be Kearney at six with Briggs at seven IMO.

Too much of risk so early in the season to have Ah Van at stand off.

big call leaving whitehead out

i would have briggs at 6. if he's more dangerous at first receiver to run at the opposition then let him. Kearney has played 7 before in Bulls colours.

I think he forgot to put him in.

he put sibbit in starting line up instead and used bench for someone else.

aye but I think Sibbit has played himself in. It was mentioned earlier in pre season that the young lads wouldn't be relied on as much as last year and I can see us going with Sibbit for the weekend.

He wouldn't make the bench for me because I prefer having the 2 props on there with a replacement hooker (who can also play in the halves) and a back (who can play anywhere in the backs).

I wonder how late on in the week Potter knew that Herbert was deffo not going to play?

He picked up the injury against Wakefield, so I suspect it's at least been in the back of his mind for a couple of weeks.

I thought it was in the T&A earlier this week that he was all fit and ready to return along with the other players who had taken a few knocks.

Either way it gives us a good 48 hours now to try and get some link/support play going between the players that Mick Potter will play at 6 & 7.

kearney might have played 7 for bulls as has l'estrange but neither looked comfortable there tbh. dont think either was creative enough in the role. Potter has said several times since we signed him that briggs is equally adept at either halves role and played most of wakey game at SH after herbert went of. He looked a lot more creative once herbert went off so I'd give him a shot there.

pretty certain we'll have known for a lot longer than just last few gours that herbert was doubtful and will have been training with alternatives. We arent going to let on to opposition that he was a doubt any earlier than we absolutely had to.

Agree mate.

Leeds are coming into this game much stronger than I expected and it'll be a tough game with both sides putting out very experienced packs in the front row.

I really can't wait now for 14:00 on Sunday, just thinking about it is giving me butterflies and goosebumps. May the best side win.

You know me I'll worry over anything

Herbert a massive loss but i just hope kearney plays full back. Hes a very dangerous player there. Stand off is a waste for him. Ah Van and Briggs for me with royston on bench for cover with platt and walker in centres. Ainscough and Raynor on wing

With Herbert, it was probably a case of push it to the last minute to check his fitness.

I'd imagine that it'd be Royston at FB and Kearney & Briggs at 6&7.

Somebody hacked Gledhills account?



Has to be the most sensible post you've made Mick.

Leeds will be a different side in McDermott, Defensive and attacking structures have changed its just a case if they are going to firing straight away.

You're right, but you should benefit from a small turnover of players. Only 2 new players (1 if Hauraki doesn't play) means you don't have worries about players not gelling etc. I think that could be the big difference and is why I'm not confident (since we may have as many as 10 new players in the side).

Platt
Ainscough
Ah van
Walker
Raynor
Kearney
Briggs
Lynch
Diskin
Scruton
Whitehead
Elima
Langley

L'Estrange, Hargreaves, Kopczack, Sibbitt

I actually think we'll have an advantage on sunday from having so many changes, Leeds wont have a clue how we are going to play and what our strengths and weaknesses are. They're going to find it fairly difficult to devise a game plan for this match.

Our problems will arise 4 or 5 games into the season when opposition coaches have sussed us out, worked out where we are vulnerable.

Yep, I'd go along with that

Really



I said Bradford 22-14 Leeds two weeks ago but I really feel now that with no Herbert we'll be really up against it with 10 new faces in the starting line up.

If ever there was a game where performance matters over the result it's this one. I still think it'll be close run game mind and a victory is not beyond us but I feel it's going to be too fast too soon for us.

Platt at full back? do me a favour.

We need ideally need Kearney at full back as the Wakefield pre-season game showed just how effective he is at this role.

Kearney is IMO world class at FB. At stand off he is a waste. he is one of our most dangerous attacking players so FB is defo a must for him sunday. I wouldnt be confident with royston at full back in a big game at a big stage so soon. Kearney at full back. My team would be

Kearney
Ainscough
Walker
Platt
Raynor
Ah Van
Briggs
Lynch
Lestrange
Lynch
Whitehead
Elima
Langley
Bench: Diskin, Scruton, Royston, Kopzack

its a case of getting the best balance in the squad. if kearney stays at full back ( which is his strongest position) then we have to compromise the halves by bringing ah van in. Whilst he can do a job at standoff think he's much better utilised out wide at wing/. Think kearney is player in available squad who can do the best job in halves so I'd move him there. Roystons natural position is fullback so he slots in at fullback and we dont have any further disruption to squad with people out of position.

Sibbit or Sykes for bench spot is only question mark for me really.