seem to remember his defense was suspect when he featured last year which is biggest problem I have with sykes at .

I thought Crookes looked pretty ordinary in all the pre season games.. even against Keighley he didn't really stand out that much. It will be interesting to see how Potter goes with this selection, Sykes and Ah Van would be targeted all afternoon in defence.

This team really needs to gel, and shifting people around too much won't do that. Crookes in for Raynor - even though he hasn't impressed yet, he deserves a chance.

Royston
Ainscough
Platt
Ah Van - He was shocking, but I think he should get a chance to put it right.
Crookes
Kearney
Herbert
Lynch
Diskin
Hargreaves
Olbison
Whitehead
Elima

O'Brien
Kopzcak
Scruton
Addy

crookes is a and looked ordinary on wing last year when he was tried there

But what are the other options?

I thought he did pretty well on the wing vs Wigan. Limited the damage Richards could have caused and showed some good strength at some points in the game.

I think you're only remembering one half of that game. If I remember right, one half he limited him well, but in the other he got absolutely creamed by him repeatedly.

I accept Crookes isn't the best option with a fully fit squad. But if we're short of three quarters, I'd be more confident with him in the side than Sykes (without wanting to jump on the Sykes Scapegoat bandwagon).

Crookes arrived at the club as a loose forward but stopped growing.

I'd go with this given the injuries:

Kearney
Ainscough
Platt
Royston
Ah Van
Addy
Herbert
Lynch
Diskin
Hargreaves
Olbison
Elima
Donaldson

O'Brien
Kopzcak
Scruton
Whitehead

Not ideal to be playing Addy and Royston out of position but these seem like the best options to me given what we've got to pick from. Whatever way you move people around one side in the backs is going to be weak on Sunday.

If Donaldson is up to speed now we should play him, was good last season before the injury and reports from the u20 games have been encouraging. Are either Donaldson or Olbison in a position to do a job at centre?

Olbison has played centre numerous times for the junior teams.

royston played centre for fax a few times, but still think he should play fullback etc as was before being dropped last week.

Red, you reckoned crookes was still gonna grow after i marked him as to small a few years back.

Sykes over crookes any day of the week for me. crookes is dire, cnt understand why he still here.

I can't believe that its only sykes that is getting all the stick from last weeks game. Some of Ah Vans positional play last weekend was the worst I've ever seen (that includes Sykes). He was caught out of position several times which resulted in tries. The try the Giants scored in the 2nd half after he stormed out of the line on his own (at least 15m infront of the rest) to chase the player with the ball around the pitch was laughable. If youre looking for a quick defensive fix, get Ah Van out of the centre for the time being. At least until he sorts his defence out. Problem is who to put there. This was the 1st time he's really been exposed but I'm pretty sure Mr Matterson know where to attack this week.

Sykes seems a better centre option to me this week. At this moment in time, I don't see what Ah Van adds to the side, in defence or attack. Playing someone out of position in the centres isn't an option if the team is to be improved.

Think Olbi would be a pretty good centre. His defence is up to it.

Thought he might grow a bit more but he hasn't.

Stick him in a bag of John Innes.

Ah Van in the centres. Please.

which is why I commented on his current position and not what he was signed as

you're pretty much guaranteed to get that this week anyway given our only 2 fit wingers are ainscough and ah van (discounting crookes who's on loan and not specialist winger anyway). Problem is who to play in in his place. basically comes down to choice between sykes and royston, wouldnt play olbison there and believe he picked a knock up at weekend anyway.

If donaldson is fit then we have more options as we could shift addy into halves, kearney to FB freeing up royston for . If donno isnt fit then I'd expect sykes in the .

Langley and Briggs in the squad according the radio Leeds.

If that gets confirmed thats awesome news. Pottor was doing interviews today, wonder if its come from that. Wait and see if it gets confirmed.

Does seem unlikely though given the information we've had up to now. Langley was pretty negative on his own progress just last week for example.

Apparently Briggs is fit, Langley is 50/50.

Ohh get you mister keyboard warrior.

If Briggs is true, it makes it nice and easy. Briggs to 6, Kearney to fullback, Royston in the centres, Ah Van on the wing. No need for Sykes.

50/50 has been abit of a kiss of death recently! See what the squad announcement comes out with.

Briggs fit is good news in itself though if its true.