Who would you choose:

McNally / Smith?
Higson / Kay?
Worthington / Armstrong?
Ridyard / Burns?
Acton / Hopkins?
Maitua / Dixon?

Higson before Kay
Worthington before Armstrong
Ridy before burns
Maitua before Dixon

Full back is a tricky one. Smith is better defensively and decent in attack. McNally has looked good since coming back.

I'd imagine Acton and Hoppy will both feature in a couple of games each

It's nice to have the options!

McNally Higson brown smith Dawson ridyard drinkwater moi moi higham Weston hock matiua Patterson subs hood Acton Hopkins Hansen

I'd go with that Oggy.

Might start with Hansen as I feel Hock adds more from the bench but that for me is our best 17.

Players like Reynolds and Worthington would be tough to leave out but that is where the coach earns his money making the tough decisions.

Wrong wing.

McNally has to be full back is attacking skills gives us far more try scoring chances.Worthington is in fine scoring form and is very secure in defence,both to start for me

Just going off the choices given by the OP

Tonga has to play for me if he's fit he has the talent to make a difference, and whether Worthington is Toronto bound or not he's the form centre at the moment

With Dawson and Brown joining, I don't think Higson or Kay will be picking or choosing what wing they go on!

Difficult choices - positive in that we do not seem to weaken the team if and when we have to make changes.

Still not convinced that Tonga should be selected - yes he is a talent but seen nothing yet that would make be pick him before Worthington or Smith assuming McNally is at full back.

I don't think Tonga will play in the 8s unless there is injury, Worthington, Armstrong, Dawson and Smith in before him. He's handy back up for a game or so though.

No Tonga - really



Other than game time why not, surely he's got the experience and ability to make a difference. Otherwise why the hell did we sign him ??

You'd have to be bonkers not to pick Tonga, his experience alone is worth it. I think he will smash the 8's now he's getting the fitness back.

I think Worthington and Smith are on fire, why fix what isn't broken? How can you pick a player for a high intensity Super League match, who hasn't played all year!

Worthington has been quality all year but we have to fit Dawson and brown In there who are signed up for next year and want super league, worthington wants ch1 so would he do everything in he's power to go up? Who knows!! Same reason I don't pick Tonga! We could be playing with 16 men for 70 minutes a game with he's track record

Only Armstrong of the leavers to date has publicly stated he still has a job to do in trying to get us into SL. I fully expect more attempts to unsettle the club by Rowley and his cohorts over the next few weeks. It is admirable that Neil Derek and the club have come through the other side with flying colours.

Worthington has been our best back this season, regardless of where he will be playing next season he should be playing in the 8's

We will run with contracted 2017 players plus Maitua whenever possible imo, with the best leavers as back up
McNally Reynolds Smith Higson Brown Tonga Dawson with Worthington and Armstrong back up in the backs. Tickle Moimoi Weston Maitua Acton Hansen Patterson hock Higham Hopkins Hood with Dixon and Spencer as back up in the pack. Interesting to see what the half back combo will be

DB said Tonga had/has back problems.For me he is lacking confidence, which can only come back with game time.The question has to be, do Leigh have the time to rebuild that confidence at this stage.Possibly yes with the championship games,but I think we have too much at risk to be confidence building,it's the 8's not regular season now.

Same really for Dawson and Brown,game time required but for different reasons,yes nice names to have on the park,but no time to gel is my worry.

Burns must play a part in this 8's somewhere.

We can't go into the 8s with a completely new back line, don't want to go back to some of the chaos earlier in the season waiting for the team to gel. I'd go with:

McNally
Higson
Smith/Tonga (depends how confident they are in Tonga's fitness)
Worthington
Dawson
Drinkwater
Ridyard
Weston
Hood
Hopkins
Maitua
Paterson
Hansen

Higham
Moimoi
Acton
Hock/tickle (depends on hocks availability given his son's illness)

Can see Higham doing long minutes v SL to pack the bench with forwards

What you saying,Hoods out? And no replacement for Higham. He can't do long minutes.Pack a bench full of forwards and Higham would have to do the full 80.

Can we not pick John Duffy ?

I heard he fancies another crack.



& on a serious note, wouldn't select Kay, way off the boil & has the Toronto distraction.
Hansen has to start, he's a clever & SL smart player & has class.
Matuia, Josh, Mickey_Is_A_Leyther, Riddy_Is_A_Leyther, The Dayne Train, FFMM, HIGGY, Smith/McNally, Brown *if he knows the plays maybe*, Gaz Hock, Corey Patterson, Greg Worthington, Hood, have got to be in the 17.

Sure I read/heard that Brown can play Centre/Wing & FB.
Then you have other pack lads, centre's/wings to sort from the rest.

Acton has to be on the bench *but only if he writes a 1000 lines a day " I must not punch anyone .... I must not punch anyone ".

Ben Reynolds is a star in the making & has the skills, could be a surprise to some teams.

The banana skin could be London in the 1st game, get past that with a good win, build confidence & even with a loss v Salford at home, given a very good performance & narrow-ish defeat we could kick on.

Got a real funny feeling this year, KR or Giants ????

What's the latest on Richard Whiting? He was playing well before his injury.

are you B/r