Another tough test to come at Headlingley with short turn around, as although Leeds were poor against Warrington I can't see them being as bad for their home opener and we will no doubt face a side that wants redress their last performance.

Hopefully we will have Sao and Savelio back and also include Brown in the 17 and not run with both Lovodua & Houghton on the bench again if Dwyer starts (which he should).

We've got to go with a big bench against Leeds because they are so soft up the guts. The ease Warrington got a roll on against them was crazy and on the other side of the ball, Leeds couldn't make any yardage in exit sets.

Same starting 13 but with a bench of Sao, Evans, Brown & Joey for me, can't see Dre playing this week either.

Can't argue with that as Leeds look like they may well be bullied out of a lot of games as like you say they look very soft in the middle. Though I would think that Rohan Smith will have been addressing that in someway this week leading up to Friday.

That's also the bench I'd go for if Savelio doesn't make it.

There's been a lot of talk at Leeds about Rohan Smith doing things differently and revolutionising the game. Short kick offs, new defensive structures, trick plays, training ground moves. When I watched Leeds last week I couldn't help but think that they have simply forgotten that you can't do any of that stuff if you are getting bullied down the middle. Big pack, Dwyer and Lovodua testing them behind the ruck, I think we can dominate them.

The saying 'Forwards decide the winner and backs decide by how many' will always be true. On trick plays, I loved our perfectly executed short dropout yesterday.

Is Mitch fit?

If so i would bring him in for Mcintosh with Ligi,Savelio, Brown and Lovodua (interchange hooker) on the bench.

Hoy
Mitch
Scott
Sutcliffe
Swift
Mcnamara
Clifford
Satae
Dwyer
Taylor
Lane
Griffin
Fash

Sao
Brown
Savelio
Lovodua

Mitch has a sprained ankle and they can take 5/6 weeks to heal so cant see him being available yet.
McIntosh is another average signing by Brett Hodgson and we need better.I agree Mitch is a far better defender and has more pace than McIntosh.
Hopefully Ligi Sao back with Brown should give us a better balanced bench.
Second row for me is still a concern.Lane had potential but seems to be stagnating and not pushing on.

Better defender, quicker, stronger in collision. When he's fit it's a no brainer for me. I just don't think McIntosh is good enough at this level.

With regards to Lane I tend to agree as after a really strong showing previously he has been quite abject in terms of his performances and like you say really needs to push on..

I would agree with this but I still expect Houghton to feature.

He has to hit the ground running this season imo , needs a big year but I would have Mitch in front of him also .

Spot on mcintosh makes too many errors and his defensive positioning is terrible

Mitch far and away better

Pressure is on leeds after getting tonked at wire I'm confident we can beat Leeds just hope Austin doesn't have his wonder game against us

Didn't lane miss the most tackles of any player in the league last year? Cas seemed to have joy attacking down his and Scott's side yesterday

Mcintosh aswell

45 missed tackles !! that has to improve or else it's the same as last year and Lane was very poor in D on one of the tries.
We can have more 'Tonyball' attacking flair but counts for nothing if we can't defend and 30 points at home and 45 missed tackles is sh*thouse

Hoy
Swift
Sutcliffe
Scott
Mcintosh
McNamara
Clifford
Satae
Dwyer
Taylor
Griffin
Savelio
Fash

Evans
Sao
Brown
Lovodua/Houghton

Cator (18th Man)

Agree with comments above, Leeds looked desperately weak down the middle last time out, Vaughan made over 200m for Wire with Harrison and Bullock also over 100m. Its an area which we are strong in and have to target, it may also explain why our bench was rather light on Sunday. Sao in for Cator and Savelio for Lane. Personally would rather have Lovodua on bench but I imagine it will be Houghton.

Yep would agree with that team and a fit Savelio replaces Lane and hopefully Sao is back. Dwyer has to start at 9 and then its one of either Lovodua or Houghton on the bench but not both, Brown has to also be included in the 17.

Leeds look vulnerable down the middle and against Warrington really did look like they missed Prior especially, along with the likes of Dwyer, Sutcliffe & Hardaker. Think with the likes of Satae, Taylor, Sao, Evans & Brown pounding down then middle should gives us some dominance in the game and give the likes of Dwyer, Clifford, & Hoy opportunities to create. I'd hope that the defensive deficiencies we saw against Cas have been worked on and resolved somewhat. Its certainly not going to be easy as it never is at Headingley as they still have players than can hurt us but do think we have a good chance.

Might be best to have a SR option on the bench if Savelio is fit.

Coming back from his 3rd ACL, might be a tough ask playing the full 80

A fair point but if Sao is back and with say Brown and Evans on the bench, then Sao is more than capable to step in & spell Savelio if needed. Not to forget Sao was a standout last time we played at Headingley when he was put in the SR.

[url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/tony-smith-provides-injury-update-8173866Doesn't sound like Sao will be playing Friday but more promising on Savelio & Brown making it.[/url Sounds like Brown wasn't risked against Cas so maybe Smith had an eye on the Leeds game with such a short turnaround.

It's funny how people jump to conclusions. It was even suggested by someone that maybe Smith has already decided he doesn't rate Brown and will ship him out at the end of the year! It turns out he just had a knock. I personally think Brown will thrive under Smith.

I hope he does but if that was the case why name him as 18th man? You never know when 18th man could be needed

Our other options in the forwards are very inexperienced. So even though he wasn't 100%, and even though we weren't intending him to play, maybe he was deemed the best option in the event that someone went down.

Quote ="bonaire"I hope he does but if that was the case why name him as 18th man? You never know when 18th man could be needed'" The 18th man doesn't come into effect until 3 players fail a HIA assessment, the chances of that are very slim so Tony obviously thought it was worth the risk. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-le ... ays-67439/

Quote ="bonaire"I hope he does but if that was the case why name him as 18th man? You never know when 18th man could be needed'" The 18th man doesn't come into effect until 3 players fail a HIA assessment, the chances of that are very slim so Tony obviously thought it was worth the risk. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-le ... ays-67439/

Must admit I thought it was a bad omission to leave Brown out the 17 if he was fit and there’s been lots of talk about progress of all injured players other than Brown. He’d also taken part in preseason game it just seemed a strange omission as Bonaire mentions given he’d been named 18th man rather than just not naming him due not risking him ala Sao, Savelio & Carlos etc.
Hopefully he’s fully fit and in the 17 as think it’s fair to say he’s in the top 4 forwards at the club and still developing.

Must have been one hell of a Charlie Horse that Sao suffered if he’s still unlikely to feature, but better safe than sorry and no need to risk him at this stage. Hopefully we’ll see him back in the 17 soon enough.

If Sao doesn’t make it & Savelio does then I’d be tempted to leave same starting 13 but go with a bench of Savelio, Brown, Evans and one of Lovodua or Houghton.