He definitely did. It may be down to defending as to why Hampshire hasn’t been tried there. What I seem to notice is that 9’s have a lot of forward traffic come at them down the centre.

True but you look at Hampshire and physically he's as big if not bigger than both Woods, so it's not his physicality. Also can't say I've noticed any deficiencies in his tackling style, though I do think Josh Wood is an exceptional tackler.

If I were to suggest anything it's Hampshire distribution, the same issue in truth that stops him from being a great HB, though that's just my opinion. I see the same fault with Ryan as I still do with Miller and that both have a yip, a moment of indecision when deciding whether to run with the ball or let it go. I suspect it's because both players are clever and both are nice guys and those kinds of players overthink at times, I know that from my own experience (not me personally).

People say Brough was a great thinker, ditto Gazza or Best etc, IMO they were quite the opposite, they could think strategically obviously but when quick decisions were required they didn't think at all, they just did. It's something I always wished I could do and I'm convinced it's what separates good players from genius players. On the plus side, if you want to view it that way, is that to a man, they are all virtually useless off the pitch.

It's a hard balance to find, especially when like Ryan and a fair few others you're not short on talent.

I agree, Josh Wood is exceptional in defence, his technique is brilliant and he`s as tough as the come, you don`t see many about like him anymore.

Kyle Wood gets targeted in defence a lot but still always defends down the middle, I have seen teams push hookers out to ease there workload in defence but we just seem to compensate with an extra man in the tackle but Wood usually goes up top, clings on and that to me allows the opp to get a bit of a roll on with a couple of extra yards and a quick play the ball. I don`t necessarily think he is a bad defender, I just think he is genuinely a bit light weight for defending down the middle, still he gets on with it.

Hampshire, I haven't seen defend down the middle although he does seem a bit more physical and stronger than Wood, he does at times seem to get bumped off of tackles, he`s never particularly struck me as a good defender.

Defending down the middle is physically more demanding no doubt but it's also much easier than defending wide or at least that's what I always found.

When the traffic is coming down the middle channels you have no time to think you just have to go for it, sometimes you affect what looks like a great tackle by simply being in the way. Out wide it's more tricky, it's all about speed and timing and if you get it wrong you can easily get bumped off. For me Lyne is our best tackler out wide but limpet though he is he can get owned, it's the nature of things.

What makes you a start down the middle is partly technique as pers J Wood but also bravery, I reckon Ryan has that and eventually the technique will follow.

That said I'm not especially interested in making Ryan learn yet another position when for me he's pretty damn good at the three he already does.

Finally, they don't come much lighter than Kyle Wood who still looks as boyish as he did 1n 2004 when I first saw him play, as a half back as it happens.

Sounds like Gale is playing on Saturday.

Yup, both he and Lino suddenly seem ok

Where did you get that from?

21 man Squad

Tom JOHNSTONE
Bill TUPOU
Reece LYNE
Liam KAY
Jacob MILLER
Mason LINO
David FIFITA
Tinirau ARONA
Matty ASHURST
Kelepi TANGINOA
Joe WESTERMAN
James BATCHELOR
Chris GREEN
Innes SENIOR
Jordy CROWTHER
Joe ARUNDEL
Alex WALKER
Adam TANGATA
Josh WOOD
Brad WALKER
Yusuf AYDIN

Shame Hampshire didn’t make it but it gives Walker a shot to impress and we should be thankful we have that depth.

I think it mostly picks itself tbh.

Walker
Johnstone
Tupou
Lyne
Senior
Miller
Lino
Fifita
Crowther
Arona
Tanginoa
Batchelor
Westerman

Green
Tangata
Wood
Ashurst

Aydin, Kaye, Arundel, Walker - to miss.

I’d be happy with any of that 21 tbh. I’m confident they can go to Leeds and bring back the win.

Leeds have quite a few backs missing - walker hurrel Newman handley plus McLelland
2 Tom Briscoe sponsored by Wetherby Whaler
7 Luke Gale (c) sponsored by Vale Services
8 Mikolaj Oledzki sponsored by BadRhino
9 Kruise Leeming sponsored by Fenton Finance
10 Matt Prior sponsored by K-Bins
11 Alex Mellor sponsored by Horbury Dental Laboratories
12 Rhyse Martin sponsored by The Ortus Group
13 Zane Tetevano sponsored by NIC Services Group Ltd
14 Brad Dwyer sponsored by The Artisan Drinks Co
15 Liam Sutcliffe sponsored by Mtech
16 Richie Myler sponsored by Y F Furniture
17 Cameron Smith sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
19 King Vuniyayawa sponsored by Vale Services
20 Bodene Thompson sponsored by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings
21 Alex Sutcliffe sponsored by Alternative Windows
22 Sam Walters sponsored by Warners Fish Merchants
24 Luke Briscoe sponsored by Roxy Ball Room
25 James Donaldson sponsored by LR Motors (Yorkshire) Limited
26 Jarrod O’Connor sponsored by Leeds Rhinos Supporters Club Kirkstall
27 Jack Broadbent sponsored by Johnstone’s Paint
33 Kyle Eastmond sponsored by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings

Both teams have a similar amount of injuries with wakey missing Jowitt, Hampshire, Wood, Battye, Pitts.

All points to a pretty even contest to me on paper certainly. Looking forward to this game and seeing what wakey can do.

For me it’s a first game of the season whoever wants it most type game.

If we play Leeds with the same hunger we have in the past few seasons we are in with a shout.

Win or lose these games rarely indicate how the season will progress. Though winning is clearly better.

It’s a shame Hurrel is missing, Leeds fans are desperate to love him but against us at least he always looks a liability.

Kyle Wood is a big miss, Josh Wood is a good defender but a terrible passer. I hope Liam Kay plays as he can defend, was really surprised that we took Senior on loan as in the games last season it showed he either cant defend or didn't want to defend. Liam Kay started out as a half back he came through the Bradford Academy as a 7 and I think also represented England academy at 7. I remember it was a real coup when we signed him first time round. Hope Arundel gets a start. I like the idea of Rocky playing at 9, he is a natural footballer, he is rapid, has a great fast pass both left and right and is a top defender. That said I think he is joint first choice full back with Jowitt , he is obviously our first choice 7 given that no one has seen Lino play I simply don't understand how Lino is some posters first choice, Rocky would also be my first choice 6, Jowitt would be 2nd, Walker 3rd, Kay 4th, Westerman 5th and Miller 6th

Hurrel must be the most overrated import playing at the moment.

Would think their backs would be myler at full back , briscoe and briscoe on wings , jack broadbent in one centre Alex sit life in other with east mind and Gayle in the halves or east mind at full back .

Significantly weaker than walker , briscoe , Newman , hurrel lui and Gayle although we are lacking jowitt other than that it’s our first choice backs so really will be interesting to see if we play to our theoretical strengths

For me the biggest miss is jowitt and hampshire as it means walker has to play who was shocking v dewsbury

No, he isn't our first choice HB and never has been in all the time he's been with us or with any other club, wanting it to be so doesn't make it so.

You may not have seen Lino play but you must realise CC will have, he doesn't strike me as a man who would sign a player blind. Nobody is going to bring an NRL HB all this way and not try him straight away, come on. If he's gash then nows the time to find out, then I suppose Ryan will get another go.

Agreed, that's the real miss, I'd have had either of those in before Walker.

His biggest single failure for me is that he can't handle the high ball nor does he command his backline. I'm afraid that for me he was a player who suited London but isn't really a SL player. That said if he wants to feed me humble pie I'll gobble it down. But it will be a busy night for him because Agar and Gale will have noticed and will bomb him all night long, if they don't they have failed in their mission.

I cant believe how you've managed to squeeze so much rubbish into 6 lines - well played sir!

This is the area we look to be stronger on the edges. I would certainly be looking to put up some high balls to the edges close to the line for TJ and Senior who have a destiny height advantage. Also I’d have Tanginoa running wide at the younger lads too. Play to your strengths and all that.

Walker im hoping has a good game. He needs to release the ball in good time when joining the line To the centre/winger. I’ll be backing him to have a stormer though along with the other 16 players.

Why are the Leeds injured players deemed on Sky to be “Stars” but ours are not.

Just plain media bias. It’s normal practice so no point questioning.

I agree.

Good point , suspect they are softening the leeds fans up for a thrashing lol