Just got back, first one in a few years, some entertainment there, with some excellent trys.

Some very good performances, and some that are simply not up to it.

Cuthbertson, just excellent, really looking forward to him. Briscoe, an excellent centre option, great hands. Stevie Ward looks an absolute beast this year, plent of bulk put on, and will regain his spot in side. Singleton and Mulhern looked beasts too. Golding is a classy little player. Sutcliffe and McGuire worked well together. And of course the lad with five trys can not go unmentioned, great finishes, although a classy centre.

Aiton, Keinhorst, Kylie, looked garbage. Duckworth although not going to get a shot worked hard, but mistakes. Yates looked game, but not much product.

Enjoyed it.

What was the score?

I thought Yates showed some promise and easily offered more than Kylie who I agree was garbage

50-28 to leeds who trailed 18-6 after the first 1/4. Leeds then went 50-18 in front before Wakey scored twice in last few minutes

after reading that about Kylie I hope he doesn't ruin his legacy

Some great displays by the youngsters for me. Golding looked a little green but has great promise, Handley finishing was outstanding and his 5th try was one of the best try's ive seen at Headingley in a long time

Nice to see Kirke put in another great 'Ian Kirke Display'

I'm sure it's all legal too.

Down at the gym, that is.

agreed, so strange that a young player who finally has an off-season is able to bulk up

Thought Golding went well and took the high ball with ease.
Handley's try were top notch and showed plenty of pace and skill.
Briscoe at centre looked a much better option than Watkins but that wont happen
Sutcliffe and Mcaguire played well together after a slow start.
Agree about Steve Ward really bulked up and played well
Cuthbertson played really qell. Thought he dislocated his shoulder late on which was a worry.
His offloads were sublime.
Let's hope our coach doesnt stop him doing that like he did with Achurch.
For me Kylie is behind Cuthbertson, JP,Singleton who put in some big hits, Yates and Mulhern after that performance.
Admittedly only a friendly but this could be a long season for him.
Not sure I agree with Gotcha on Keinhorst as I thought his defence was ok.
All in all a good performance in fron of almost 10500 crowd.

With you vastly preferring the NRL product over SL I wouldn't talk about the legality of players growth if I were you

An averge personality the right diet technique and recovery should be able to put on about 7-10 pounds of lean muscle naturally in a 12 month period.
A still growing young lad who is a professional athlete should easily be able to put on that amount in 3-4 months. Nothing unusual there.

Like to see Briscoe at centre, that was touted as his natural position a few years ago. hardaker Hall, briscoe, Watkins, handley. Would be a good back line and keep moon on his toes. And golding to boot.

7-10 pounds in 12 months? Are you kidding, can do miles more than that.

I have been doing personal training for last 10 weeks, and put 1.5 inches on my biceps, and my quads. And in the last month alone have changed 4kg of fat into muscle.

He on the other hand is working with professional trainers every day.

I did say legally, and growth on biceps does not nececerraly equate to lean muscle growth, just good toning, plus muscle growth comes in spurts, that's why varying up weights and techniques can help sustainable weight/ muscle gain.

Well done you if you if you are natural. After a long lay of through illness/ injury hope to hit them gym myself soon and get fit.

Briscoe was always seen as a centre when in Hulls youth team, and he has played a few first team games there.

I remember he played there against Wakefield (I think) a few years ago and he had probably the worst game I've seen him play. Not exaggerating he dropped the ball with a clear run to line 3 times and was generally rubbish. I don't think it was because he was at centre, he just had one of those days, but anyway I don't think he has played there since.

I echo the majority of the points already made here:

- Handley took his chances very well, blistering pace with great finishing. He'll provide good cover for T Briscoe and Hall. I am sure he will get a couple of chances this season to build on.

- Briscoe went well at centre. A useful option again to cover for Moon and Watkins, both of who I would place ahead in the 3/4 pecking order. May save Ablett being shunted there when needed, although he did an exception job.

- Golding looked okay, flashes of class but still room. Defensively he took the high balls well (bar the mixed up with Duckworth) and was quick to shut down space and options. I felt he seemed a bit selfish in attack, took the wrong option on at least two occasions, although I do like to see players back themselves.

- McGuire and Sutcliffe ran the show. Complimented each other nicely and would be my first choice half back pairing.

- Mulhearn was the pick of the forwards, no nonsense hard runner. Singleton looked better even though he looks like a sack of potatoes with legs. People a bagging Kylie, but he's hardly going to get himself up for 15 minutes of Boxing Day. And Keinhorst didn't do much wrong.

- Yates was a willing runner, much like Bailey and Kirke of seasons past. But probably on a fraction of the wage.

- Cuthbertson went very well for his first hit out. Some glints of what's to come. We've missed a strong off load game since the likes of Ali/Ellis. I hope we play him as a 3rd middle man.

All in all, good performance but I really wouldn't read into it too much. Nice to be back at HQ, Gary must be rubbing his hands with the gate figures and the amount of 2015 merchandise of display.

Good effort mate, all about dem gainz.... Apparently.

pretty much agree with you with your assessment gotcha and i too had my appetite whetted at what cuthbertson could bring to our side this season

i thought that the halves looked very sharp once they got going and it reinforces my belief that sinny should be our starting 9 this season without a doubt

i was very impressed with mulhern v the aussie schoolboys and he certainly looks to have the toughness to make a mark this season in the first team

stevie ward looked very tough and i would like to see him progress to be our long term starting number 13

Professional trainers?

Is that what they're called these days?

<Guffaw>

Agree with most of that. Cuthbertson looks like he could be a good signing. Been saying most of pre season while some were having dicky fit over losing kirke and bailey, that we had decent youngster who are ready. Singo seemed to go well and Mulhern has physically looked ready for the step
Up. Was impressed most with ward who needs a big year this one. Seems to be good cover in the back line hopefully leaving ablett in the pack.
Not too worried by Kylie, as long as he isn't overused and block some of the good youngsters should be fine.
The two squad players showed today why it's no great loss neither turned up!!!

Regarding Leuluai, he looked similarly disinterested last year in the Hunslet friendly, wouldn't read too much into his showing today. But compared with last year he hopefully is only need as a 4th/5th choice prop with Cuthbertson and Singleton ahead of him and maybe even at times Mulhern or Yates. All in all he's a steady hand to have for those games when you want to rest Peacock for or on the bench for Peacock's 10 mins breathers.

Surprisingly I found the match really enjoyable and it has left me in a positive mood for the season. I thought Golding, Handley, Mulhern and Minchella all looked very good for youngsters.
I also thought Yates and Singleton did a decent job. Cuthbertson looked like he offloading game that I hope isn't coached out of him but we rather utilise to help the team. Also credit to Stevie Ward he looks like he has bulked up and I hope his shoulders last a season as he can be a great asset for the squad.
I also thought the halves looked good together they surprisingly both played well and the kicking game was impressive in particular Mcguire.
The only thing I thought was obviously an issue was the right hand side defence(Duckworth and Keinhorst) as it seemed that was where the tries were coming from but I do not expect either to play many games.
With the lads at Featherstone as well we do have some decent players coming through although alot do seem to be backs!!!
It will be interesting to see how it goes this season

I enjoyed the game too. From what I saw of it anyway. Apologies to anyone who passed the queue for the coffee stand at H/T where my poorly 2 year old was testing his lungs. As previously said, Cuthbertson looks to have a good offload. Hopefully the shoulder injury is nothing serious, as we've lost overseas players to injury on Boxing Day before. He could be a big player for us if we can get him match fit. I've a sneaky feeling he could be a Feastwood mark 2. I'm far from convinced about Keinhorst, but Briscoe looks a good option at centre, and I feel better about losing BJB after seeing Ash Handley today. He's got a great step. Singleton looked sharper. Sutcliffe has practised his kicking too. I don't expect to beat the big teams based on our defence, but it certainly looks like we'll have some exciting games ahead.

Yeah it what people who have actually played sports refer to them as......no surprise it's confused you.

Some promising performances.

Handley took his tries really well, and surprised at how comfortable Briscoe looked at left centre. Always useful to know he has that level of performance in his locker.

Golding looked assured under the high ball and elusive in attack. Needs to do some work on his passing though, butchered one chance and almost cost Minchella his try with a poor pass.

Mulhern, Yates and Cuthbertson all showed good leg drive in the collision and some good footwork at the line. Mulhern also put a couple of lovely hits on in his spell on the field.

Sutcliffe & McGuire went well as a combination. The responsibility of the captaincy and being senior pro seemed to bring the best out of McGuire, who looked genuinely sharp and fresh.

Negatives? Aiton. Terrible out of dummy half, ponderous and gave some shocking hospital passes to runners. Not sure whether the whole ASADA thing is on his mind, but based on that performance I'd have both Burrow and Ward ahead of him.

Duckworth had an absolute mare in the first half. Better in the second, but there are still too many errors in his game for him to make it at this level IMO.

All in all, a pretty entertaining bit of festive fun. Judging by the crowd (biggest since 2009 and on a day when Leeds Utd were at home), the much talked about decline in interest in the Boxing Day game might not be as bad as feared.