Every team runs at Deacon. He's good with the ball in hand, but defensively he's a huge weaklink. That's only going to get worse.

As for Mellor - I'd hand him the job and let him sink or swim. He's at the age now where he's either going to make it at Wigan, or we move on. Time to find out.

The game these days suggests we need five experienced props.
Fielden has only played one game this year and Prescott is still struggling with the hamstring injury. Mossop has stepped up to prop and has been excellent.
Last Saturday showed what a shrewed signing Cross was. Nothing spectacular just honest hard work and graft putting in some good runs and hard tackles.
His physical presence is enough to make the opposition take notice.
Without Cross we would have gone into the game with three props. Would we have won? Don't know!
The last games we came unstuck at, Catalans and Cas both away we went with three props. The game these days you have to go with four props in the 17.
I'd bring a quality prop in and try Crosby and O'Carroll in games where the first line props may be rested.
Mellor should get the 7 starting slot as he will be surrounded by experienced players like Lockers, Finch, Hock, Hansen, Joel and Carmont. Charnley to right centre and Roberts to right wing.

Without Cross we'd have played Prescott.

I don't think you can go into a season having more than 5 props who you would expect to get regular first team appearances. O'Carroll should be being a regular in the first, otherwise he should be released. He has to be considered as a first team prop now or we may as well ship him out to Wakey/Salford/Widnes

Tommy is our first-choice hooker now, not a half-back, and that's where he needs to stay IMO. If he wants to go Down Under after his contract runs out at the end of next year that's his decision but we would need to start looking at whether the likes of Logan Tomkins and Liam Carberry are good enough to make the step up from youth level to Super League. Mickey Mac would fill Tommy's shoes well enough (in spite of what some say about him on here) but asking him to do 80 minutes every week is too much

Agreed. It looks as though our first-choice backline will be the same going into next season (unles we sign a centre and move Joel to SR), which would be the perfect place for Joe Mellor to come in should we decide to go that way. It's far easier as a youngster to come into a settled, experienced side with proven SL standard players than to come into a struggling team and be expected to run everything and be a leader from the off. Mellor can let the likes of Finch, Tommy and Sam do the organising and while he can focus on fitting into the offensive systems we use without having to worry about his team-mates

Benji Marshall would be awesome

Fully agree with this, especially the Amos Roberts bit. I would love to see him firing on all cylinders for us again. Charnley in centre, Roberts on the wing sounds good to me.

You made a post earlier re-Joel Tomkins in at centre which IMHO I couldn't disagree more. For me his defence there is suspect, causing Charnleys to be suspect, he throws stupid balls out (the certain try in the SF one example) and generally looks out of place. He's wasted at centre and needs to be back in the back-row to replace Hoffman.

Should Roberts not be given another chance, I'd like to see a new centre signed along with a new prop. Keeping Joel at centre is simply not an option IMO.

Awesome but sadly unrealistic

and I think we can safely rule out anybody from the NRL of this calibre, or even close to the first team in an NRL team for the near future, we're no longer the safe haven pay day, Super League will only attract the journeymen from now forward I feel.

but aslong as they're journeymen in the George Carmont mould, i'll be happy

Todd Carney.

Could be on way out of The Roosters due to issues. Could sort himself out over here and would be ideal for us. Excellent player, a running 6 to partner Finch.

More trouble than he's worth.

This. Super player but hes had far too many off field issues to be worth a risk. Doubt hed get a permit anyway, Hudds couldnt get one for him.

Quote ="Guerrier"More trouble than he's worth.'" www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6111846658

Quote ="Guerrier"More trouble than he's worth.'" www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6111846658

If we did sign Carney, he wouldn't want to get in Wane's bad books I'm sure.

Ali Lauitiiti ?
leaving leeds end of the year?
hes a great player,
not sure he would fit into the side but i dunno, mayb id make a space for that offload,

He's always injured.

I see Craig Gower has signed for Quins fantastic signing for them even with his off field antics this guy could turn the London club around next season. I feel its very exciting times for London rugby league.

not a problem for Wigan

He was a great player 2-3 years ago. If he was still a great player would Leeds be willing to let him walk away? He looks out of shape to me and it's not like we're short of quality second rowers, even with Hoffman leaving. Louis Anderson would be a better freebie pick-up but even he'd still be an unnecessary luxury looking at what we've already got and the needs we may have elsewhere

We have plenty 2nd rowers not a shortage. Ali is now pretty poor and Leeds fans are not bothered one bit about him leaving.
Doesn't seem a Shaun Wane kind of forward to me!

Ali seems to be nailed on for Wakefield. About his level now. Leeds have certainly had his best years, he is still capable of turning it on now and again but the consistancy has gone.

I'd like a prop and a half back, preferably one with a good kicking game.

Ali Lautiti, I wouldn't want him if he played for free.

I agree

However he was a class act a few years ago. A big classy forward who could turn a game on its head single handed.

Hasn't done anything for over two seasons. Isn't he off to rugby union though?

Solomona? He's about one and a half Fekas these days