Could and should. Different words, different meanings.

And this right here is what is wrong with our sport! Leeds should now be sweating about their place in the play offs (top 4) after losing 3 SL games in a row. They may still make top 4 but it would be a tough thing from now till the end of the season.

But as is they may think 'Our League Leaders Shield bid is over so we will ease up a bit'.

If Leeds "ease up a bit" there's a serious danger they won't make the 8.

They're without a number of key players, and still have to go to Wigan, Warrington and Huddersfield in the league (three guaranteed losses on current form).

Right or wrong, they've got players who will have to back up on the Monday following the Exiles game against Widnes due to the lack of numbers in their squad, so that's not a given.

At the moment they look completely shorn of confidence, direction or motivation. There's a real risk their season could fall apart from here.

They are 5 clear of 9th with a game in hand.

The most points that have been needed to get into the play offs would have been 28 last year if Bradford hadnt have had their points taken away. (they would have gone to 29 and wakey would have missed out on 26 and Hudds take 8th with 28.

That means that from the last 12 games that leeds have they would have to win 4 and draw 1 to make the play offs. 27 will probably make the play offs this season so thats just 1 win every 3 games. Leeds could play their u19's and win that many games.

What?

Ryan Hall outplayed by the next best English wingers in the same week.

I want Tom Lineham in the England team, he is an international winger for sure. What an athlete.

Would have loved Lineham to go himself for the long range try as i dont think Hardaker would have got close to him, but good that he gave his best mate the try!

I’ve been a big fan of Briscoe for a few years and I think he suffered a little by being outside Yeaman who isn’t a wingers centre (Briscoe on the end of the Wigan or Warrington backlines would have a field day)

The competition for wing spots now is fantastic if you are an English RL fan... Hall, Lineham, Briscoe McGilvary, Riley and Charnley could all do a job for England (and a few others no doubt)

Gone are the days where we had to play Richard Horne on the wing or Calderwood was the best option

Ben Crooks was always a stand out player in the junior ranks but when he first started getting picked last year some questioned whether he was ready. A year of learning the game and developing physically and there is no doubt that he is now. However I wouldn't be throwing him in against the Aussies yet, I think he would get exposed slightly against their big backs. Give him another year or two and he will be ready.

Lineham on the other hand could play international rugby no problem, and not only would he not let anyone down but I think he has the speed and physical presence to trouble any team. The thing I have loved about him from day one is that he knows he is good, yet unlike some young players he hasn't let it go to his head and instead goes out every game with the attitude that he is going to prove how good he is. Plus not only is he the biggest winger we have but he's probably the quickest too (at least out of the guys with a realistic chance of getting picked).

I hope Watkins makes a swift recovery. A back line of Tomkins, Hall, Atkins, Watkins and Lineham is a very exciting prospect.

Yep. We've finally got an exciting, fast and athletic 1-5. Something we've been lacking for decades. Plus with the Burgii looking good down under and some good young forward prospects here, the pack is looking pretty healthy too.

True, although remember Lineham, Mcgilveray etc aren't in the ETS, at the moment it's Ben Cockayne



Very exciting times for England in the future, if clubs start developing half backs, i genuinely believe we could go be just as good as Australia. This world cup, although we have a great chance, may just come too soon for us, a lot of our most exciting players are in their early 20s.

But in 4 years time, when the lights of Burgess, Clark, Bateman, Ward, Tomkins, Currie, Lineham are all 4 years older and starting to hit their peak, Australia's golden era of Smith, Slater, Thurston, Cronk will have all moved on. Yes the Australian conveyer-belt will produce more top players, but i can't see them been as good as them 4.

I'm not being funny but, golden era? You say that as if its a one off, can I just remind you of the very recent people that held some of those positions directly before the 'golden era' - Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Danny buderus. Unfortunately Australia have had a golden era for a few decades and it will continue for a further few I'm afraid

A golden era that will continue for many more years, espeially given the balls-up that is dual-reg instead of clubs investing money in what was known as Alliance. As opposed to the time when Richard Lewis was in charge, we now have a group of sycophants, whose only motivation is their next lunch.

The talent we are seeing now is a result of investment that started 10 years ago. We've decided to take the cheap option on development, there's no doubt, the results will be equally as cheap

True, but the players I mentioned have been the spine of the time for nearly a decade. Australia will lose their spine more or less at the same time. They will bring more world class players through, but when you have always had the same 1, 6, 7 and 9 playing together for Queensland and OZ for the nearly a decade, to suddenly lose it could effect them. Well I hope

None of that has got anything to do with the fact that in Australia Rugby League is a massive sport and will attract the best athletes that the country has to offer, we will be second fiddle to Australia for a long time BUT we can win the WC If we can get to the final and play to the very best of our ability.

And the winner of the 'Biggest Kneejerk Reaction Prize' is....

Seriously, are you for real? There's half a season to go, but already Leeds might not make the 8? Despite the fact that Jones-Bishop, Peacock & Ablett will all be back in 6 weeks, leaving lots of games against the likes of London and just Wigan away on the final day of the season?

With our two games in hand we sit 4th, which is better than we were doing last year with a full squad.

Would also point out that but for Sinfield's brain fart and poor goal kicking we'd have beaten Wigan at the Etihad, and we gifted Hull two tries as well as carrying a half-fit Delaney and playing most of the game without two of our key strike players.

We may well be without Watkins & McGuire for the season, and winning the GF without them will be tough. That said, by the time we make the playoffs we will (those two aside) be at full strength.

Which two?

the kick to the corner breakway, which was a diabolical kick and where the cover defence was nowhere/was slowcoach Vickery. And the one for Houghton where we parted like the red sea, Vickery having given you lot possession.

Also just seen Stevie Ward is estimated as 8 weeks, so he'll also be back for the playoffs.

Sorry to be pedantic, but that is not true at all! You sit 6th, not 4th. Leeds have 19 points, Cats and Hull both have 20.

Just because your players aren't tall enough to out jump Lineham or fast enough to catch Crooks doesn't mean you "gifted" us a try.

Hull nilled you other than the try they gifted you so we won 6 nil

Yes, I know that. But with four points from the games in hand, we'd be fourth. Which is why I said 'with our games in hand'



No, but the fact that there was no cover defence, and the kick was nowhere near close enough to your line does.



Well done on completely missing the point.

Very simply, the obituaries of Leeds' season are incredibly premature. We're carrying lots of injuries through the most difficult run of fixtures in our calendar and are still doing better than we were last year, when we finished as champions. Given that even McGuire is fifty-fifty to be back for the playoffs, I think you'd be incredibly foolish to write of Leeds' season at this stage.

You do realise you'd have to win these games before you get the 4 points don't you?