Most seem to be favouring Smith over Donald as our fist choice Wembley right winger and I completely understand why.

However, despite the emphatic superb win (defence the best) over Cas, both Smith and Hall showed they don't have the outright pace that Donald has to [ialways[/i go the full length when in the clear. Surely an attribute against Warrington on the big open spaces of Wembley ?

I know I might be guilty of labouring the point

, but Donald and Senior on the left for me; Hall and Delaney on the right and Smith (too good to miss out/can change a game) on the bench with three BIG forwards (Ali, Eastwood and Ambler ??). Sorry Diskin.

Again though who knows what might happen after Friday's game ?????? Fingers crossed.

Pace is all well and good (and I much prefer wingmen to have it) but it's not much use if he forgets to put the ball down when he gets there.

Smith gets the nod from me as he's not afraid to get his hands dirty and he will give it the full bananas. Poorish game from him at Wheldon Road though where I thought his opposite centre got the better of him.

As I said, I understand the preference for Smith... but loved that Donald try GF '07 and would relish seeing another like it.

(We should never have let Broughton go should we ?)

Donald's due a 'special'

I love smithy but donald has to play for me!

IMO it has to be one or the other

I don't see what Smith would offer from the bench.

Smithy for me ,a much stronger carrier of the ball coming out of our end and also has that X-factor to create a chance out of nothing.

A difficult choice. I don't believe either is playing to the standard of which they're capable. On balance, I'd go for Donald. I take on board the comments about Smith's "X factor" but with McGuire on form and Burrow getting there I think the halves cause havoc aplenty.

It's a fair point.

His USP is his ability to sniff out the unusual.

But against Wire, with plenty of speed out wide - Donalds sheer pace may be needed. It may even be vital.

As has been mentioned, I think Donald might have gone the full length twice against Cas when Hall was caught.

Donald has the blistering pace which against Riley and Hicks could be required.....you also have to consider King playing on the left (our right) against Smith (assuming Smith was to play right wing) when it comes to the high ball. Would Donald be a better defence against King when the ball goes up?

It's a dilemma.

Smith hasn't had the best of seasons but is solid and a proven big game player. Donald is the fastest and I think Wembley would suit him to a tee.

With the front row absences I might change my stance on Eastwood and use him as interchange prop. With this in mind there may be room for Delaney or keith in the 2nd row, giving freedom to select both Smith and Donald.

Kirke and Ali could just as easily fill in as interchange prop.

However Eastwood better games was away at Wire as prop, so who knows!!

Then there's Ambler in the mix......who is a prop who wouldn't let anyone down.

I'm with G1 we will need to utilise a second row as prop and smith in the centre spot

With respect, the Challenge Cup Final is not the time or the place to be experimenting with centres in the second row. I understand that Delaney has played for the Titans in the back row before but the contest between the forwards is going to be hard enough without having threequarters defending down the middle.

I'd also prefer to have size in the centres to counter Atkins and King.

We are blessed with two good wingmen in Donald and Smith. It's Bluey's call and I appreciate it's a tough one but that's what he gets paid for. Personally, I'm not a fan of making radical changes to the squad so that we can accommodate 3 wingers in the starting 13.

Donald or Smith will be disappointed but at least we'll have a quick water carrier.

It wouldn't be radical. We've been accomadating all 3 in the 17 for much of the season

I appreciate that, but the way injuries and suspensions have worked out it's only been an issue for the last two games.

Delaney and Senior have to my knowledge not yet started in the second row this season.

They may not have been named there on the team sheets but, particularly in the semi final, Senior was so far infield he was almost playing front row!

Our players are versatile and there's very little difference between centre and 2nd row these days. Senior has also played a lot of rugby there in his early Sheffield career.

Would this result in one of JJB/Ablett/Clarkson missing out?

Donald would be my choice.

I think the team will look something like this:

Brent Webb
Ryan Hall
Keith Senior
Brett Delaney
Lee Smith
Danny McGuire
Rob Burrow
Kylie Leuleui
Danny Buderus
Ryan Bailey
Jamie Jones-Buchanan
Carl Ablett
Kevin Sinfield

Matt Diskin
Ian Kirke/Clarkson/Lauititi/Eastwood

I think that Bluey is likely to choose Smith given that he got the nod for the game against Saints.

The last 3 bench spots are where Bluey has truly difficult decisions to make. Keep the young kid who has let no one down, or roll with your mate from NZ? Choose Kirke the plodder (I mean this in a nice way) or gamble with Lauititi's explosiveness?

I do have a feeling that Bluey will select the big names and have Clarkson experience Wembley as the 18th man. Not necessarily the correct decision but I just have a feeling it will happen.

Who'd be a coach?

Smith has to play - look at his record in grand finals (4 tries in 3) - and for me Clarkson would be one of the first picked in the starting line-up. He's been sensational in recent weeks.

It would so you've convinced me, for that reason, it's not on. Straight choice between Donald and Smith and it's a decision I can't make. I feel Wembley and those spaces are made for him (but how many chances will he get outside Delaney anyway) but Smith is a big game player and better under the high ball. As you say, who would be a coach.

If we had Peacock I'd be tempted to start with Donald and have Smith on the bench as cover for 1-5 and an 'X' factor if required. Without Peacock's graft I don't think we can afford that luxury and have to have 4 forwards on the bench. Peacock's absence makes even more important picking a grafter like Clarkson either starting or on the bench.

I've been watching Leeds for a long time, and this is probably the most 'luxury' I can remember in terms of wing options.

At last somebody that agrees with me

Smith on the bench. (Donald on the left wing with Senior).



We then need it filling with three BIG game changing forwards two of which should be Ali and Eastwood. That of course means, unfortunately, no place for Diskin who only succeeds in stopping our go forward momentum when on as an interchange.

Clarkson should start and probably play the full 80 as our main grafter if possible.

If you read my post I said I'd have Smith on the bench IF we had Peacock - without him IMO a threequarter on the bench is a luxury we can't afford.