Actually, it's called a "renash". Saw it on Call My Bluff.

Good Lord! I think we're being a bit harsh on our full backs. So if Leeds take The Man Tomato out of the equation and kick to our fullback, that's what the fullback is there for. If we're so scared of either of them facing a high ball they shouldn't even be our full backs.

I like them both as players but I'd say they're both below average at defusing bombs, wouldn't you?

Maybe, but the fact remains that they are our full backs. You can't form a game plan around ensuring that your full back never has to defuse a bomb. It's like putting a prop out there and trying to make sure nobody big ever runs at him.

A shock could be Blair at right centre.

Trying to play them up the middle is a sure fire way of losing, our strength is playing out wide, as long as its not reckless its our only chance

Because he kicked off with that young kid against Halifax then when the lad retaliated he did a brown onion in his shorts.
But more seriously I just don't think his form has been good of late although I will say he a decent first half against Warrington. The philosophy all year seems to have been to pick players on form so why change it now it's not like Leeds are a tough team to beat anyway!

Agree and Disagree. But if you look at the last 2 challenge cup games the forwards dominated the ruck and I think if we don't control or at least match Leeds up the middle they will trample us up the middle with arguably the best pack in the competition. With maybe the exception of Hudds they probably have the best sliding defence too so although wel no doubt attack out wide it may not be the smartest move when we have one of the best strike players in Albert Kelly who can create something out of nothing.

That was the point that I was making, His Bobness made the claim that Mantellato could just sweep through the middle and deal with any kicks targeted at the full back.

Larroyer has been one of our top tacklers all season

I don't get why people have an issue with Larroyer. I don't do stats, but over the last couple of months I think along with Donno he has been one our most consistent players both in attack and defence, and has been one of the most aggressive forwards.
As for backing off from the Halifax player, I don't blame him, a couple of matches ban for punching was the last thing we wanted and that fracas needed defusing as quickly as possible.

Stats mean jack for all we know 3/4 of his tackles could be 3rd man in so realistically they mean nothing. But there are a few players who have more tackles than Larroyer and played less games. I just think he's gone missing of late and doesn't offer much going forward.

That was only a joke BTW! But I definitely saw a brown onion pop out.

No just pointing out that in our last few games including the cup semi our full back hasn't had to take a single high kick Mantellato & Sio have dealt with the lot.

I accept that we haven't faced a kicker of Sinfield's quality but I don't think Dixon is going to have to take too many high kicks and if he does have to deal with the odd one he probably catches about 2 out of 3. For me it is not a good percentage play for Leeds to spend too much time targeting Dixon with high kicks down the middle which are probably going to be dealt with by someone else,when they have so many other quality last play options. It'll probably be a good sign if they are reduced to that.

We all see things a bit differently but personally I'd be more worried about Dixon's catching ability if he was on the wing. It would be easier to isolate him with those accurate Sinfield crossfield kicks to the corner and it would be Dixon vs Ryan Hall out there. Really that is what Hull did at the magic weekend, kick to the corner big man vs little man, almost undefendable. I said after that game Dixon must now be regarded as a full back his weaknesses are more exposed as a winger.

I agree that it's unlikely Leeds will put up too many high bombs direct to our fb, unless it's Danny Maguire or Rob Burrow doing the kicking on the last play around half way.

Kevin Sinfield is much more of a tactical positional and territorial kicker. He also kicks brilliantly into the in goal area from short distance or puts decent and accurate shorter high balls up for his outside backs to compete for near the corners.

Leeds also run more power plays on the final tackle than most other teams in SL.

We can't control what Leeds do, they look pretty strong all over the park and have few weaknesses. Our strength has been the ability to score tries, especially from cross field kicks. Briscoe has bags of ability but he can be dodgy on these and under pressure has a tendency to wilt. We need to target him with these and get JM running onto these.

It always baffles me that we don't use that kick as much as we should because it causes teams all sorts of problems.

I don't read to much into stats but watching larroyer he does a lot of tackling and not 3rd or 4th man and he's got the aggression some of our players lack

Mantallato caught everything in the semi because for some reason Warrington kicked to him every time not because he was covering for Dixon

Good point.

In the opening game of this season against Leeds, we got a lot of joy out of kicks to the corner and kicks to the in-goal in behind their defence. The Pies got a couple of their tries last week against Leeds with kicks to the in goal against Watkins and Briscoe. If we decide on kicks into the in-goal, I hope we avoid the sort that Chisholm produced against Saints in the last regular season SL game.

Briscoe is dodgy around his own try line under any sort of pressure.

When I saw us play Leeds at Headingley, we scored on the flanks for fun in the first half. Dixon skinned Ryan Hall twice. He has a tendency to come in early to shut down the play when the fullback joins the line. If Ken Sio holds his line out wide, it could be quite productive until they make the necessary adjustment, which they often seem to do.

Their biggest advantage over us is they have forwards who can offload at will, break the line with supported runs or short passes. Also Rob Burrow is a legend. Then mayhem.

The 'some reason' was Rovers aggressive midfield defence and line speed forcing Wire to hurriedly put in nothing kicks spraying anywhere and everywhere.

Or maybe Wire just thought it was a good idea to kick to Mantellato & Sio instead of Dixon, seems unlikely surely?

Combination of both.

Wire don't have a decent kicking game out of their half backs.

Our line speed was incredibly worrying at times.

My biggest concern, and one that Leeds will exploit is that we're very poor on kick pressure.

If we allow Sinfield et al time, we'll find ourselves having to do ninety metres every set.

It was that Salford game that caused everyone to conclude that Dixon was a liability under the high ball (Judging by Tomato's taking of all the high balls after that it seems that this was Chester's conclusion as well), but within the other games Dixon had taken some unbelievable high balls under pressure and had ran them out making valuable metres ......If Dixon has a mare in the final we will lose, but if Dixon has a great game in the final then we could very well go on to win it ......And the same applies to Kelly ......If these two players perform on the day, we have a chance.

I'm more concerned about our two centres than catching bombs, they've both been poor defensively in recent weeks, Salter is normally a good defender but he's looked out of sorts for some reason. Luckily they'll only be up against two average centres at Leeds

Have been away and not seen much of recent games.
Allgood was our best forward before being injured so has to play. Tilse was good in all the cup games and though isn't spectacular by any means is very good technically and does his share.
Walker Puletua should play also. If Green brings some attitude then he could help us get on top. If he doesn't he'll amble about contributing little. Has he deserved it on recent performances?
Puletua to second row or loose man for me.
Larroyer to play to. Horne and McCarthy too with one of these on the bench with Boudebza who continues to inspire. I love Toulouse Leutrec.
Dixon every time at full back. Le#ds will be terrified of him on that big pitch.
Hope Albert makes it. Chisholm to centre...again haven't seen enough.
Salter is tedious with the ball. 17 tries in 75 games is poor for a back row forward never mind a centre. He gives his wingers nothing. Maybe 2 assists for Sio all year. Most of his tries are from kicks or cut out passes. Big opportunity though for Salter to defend well. Their centres are terrifying. Watkins is world class and getting better. Don't see him making a mistake or taking wrong options. Man of Steel this year.
I hope for rain. We pressured wire and Wigan in the wet and they fell apart. Maybe a downpour could bring us the cup.
Can't wait for this.
Wish everyone a good trip and a great game.
Let's raise the roof off the place!

After the Widnes game today during which we displayed the sort of defensive intensity, resolve and spirit we will need again next week, here is my controversial starting 17 for Wembley:

Dixon
Mantellato
Welham
Salter
Sio
Blair
Kelly
Walker
Lunt
Tilse
McCarthy
Larroyer
Puletua

Allgood
Green
Horne
Boudebza