I heard they were having off field issues - could that affect them?

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/14249950.Lauaki_vows__I_m_fully_fit_and_raring_to_go/Lauaki says he's fully fit[/url

I'll believe it when I see it.

HC,

I think you are sport on, in the case of injuries for me it will depend on the quality of the Leeds DR players (not that I think DR is good for the game, because I don't).

He certainly fully fit's his shirt. He makes refernce to only playing 10/15 minutes. That's not a good target when we've got guys having to run for 50/60/70 minutes to cover his lazy backside. If he can't pull a minimum of 40 minutes a game then he should be dropped and fined for his poor fitness

And given the current weather report for Sunday, we're going to need our forwards punching forward as it's going to be a cold slog in the rain

Fit is defined as being suitable for a purpose, so I guess we need to ask what Lowesy has asked a particular player to do before considering whether he's fit to carry out those instructions.

Not being fully on song with all the modern training techniques, I'll stand to be corrected, but I d guess that a guy who is expected to do 60+ minutes every game is going to be a different shape to someone who has been asked to come on for 10 minutes [or so each half and charge in a bit.

good summary Bc. power or stamina. the proof is on the pitch and its a simple one. Will he run forward with power for 10-15 minutes and open up gaps either by breaking tackles or pulling in defenders and offloading (assuming he has support...), or as last season, will he run sideways?

We'll soon find out.

My problem last year was is complete lack of effectiveness for the brief periods he was on the field.

I thought he was more effective against Cas last week, although it's hard to judge considering the standard of opposition. He also did more minutes too as mentioned previously.

I agree though. As well as ideally lasting a bit more, you can excuse 15 minute spells to an extent as long as he makes an impact during it, which he just didn't last year.

Given the squad announced my team would be:
1. Thomas
2. Clare
3. Purtell
4. Welham
5. Caro
6. Gaskell
7. Addy
8. Kavanagh
9. O'Brien
10. Sidlow
11. Olbison
12. Ferguson
13. Pitts

14. Blythe
15. Walker
16. Haggerty
17. Mellor

The two to miss out- Lauaki and Mathers.
However I expect Jimmy to play Mathers at full back instead of Thomas and Lauaki as sub instead of Haggerty.

Yeah, I agree with that, it's just that I'm far from entirely sure that Jimmy does.

Like others have said he looked a bit more aggressive and put more work in against cas in the friendly. Hard to judge based on that but the article in T&A did mention he hadn't had a proper pre season in 3-4 years so maybe this will see him actually put a bit more in.

I don't mind him being used as an impact prop for 10-15 mins. I expect that was the plan last year but he needs to actually make the impact while he's on and should be trying to run though walls whilst he's on.