Really looking forward to the start of this season. Will be different with the new structure and all games having a meaning.

Hull KR won't be an easy side to start with, as they have brought in a lot of new faces. It is going to be a brilliant atmosphere with the game almost sold out.

It sounds like Delaney is still struggling with an injury and if so, I think we will line up:

Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Sinfield McGuire
Leuluai Burrow Peacock
JJB Ablett
Cuthbertson

Aiton Achurch Singleton Sutcliffe / Ward / Yates

Not saying it's wrong or right, but for me personally, preseason is the time to put your hand up and stake a claim for a shirt. We have played a few games, and some quality youngsters/fringe players have really put their hands up and staked a claim, and probably deserve a crack. I am sure with the practice so far they are probably in better shape than the established names.

Certainly Sutcliffe really has stood out, along with Ward and Goulding.

Think the only position I'm not sure how he'll go is who plays second prop. Will he go with Leuluai or go with what he did last week with JJB there. With Cuthbertson looking to be starting at loose and quite a few fighting it out for 2nd row spots (Ablett, Delaney, S.Ward, Achurch, Walters) then I think we'll see JJB being used at prop.

Burrow looked rusty last week so I can see Aiton starting next week with Burrow off the bench.

Hardaker
Briscoe - Watkins - Moon - Hall
Sinfield - McGuire
JJB - Aiton - Peacock
Ablett - S.Ward
Cuthbertson

Burrow - Singleton - Leuluai - Sutcliffe/Achurch/Delaney

I'll be surprised and disappointed if Achurch makes the 17. Not sure how he's gone today, but feedback from those at the game is that Walters in particular outplayed him. Wouldn't have him in there, even if Delaney is missing IMO.

Not sure how Rovers new players in key positions have meshed together, but it's been a ground where Leeds have put in some pretty mediocre performances over the last few years. They'll have to play pretty well to come out of this one with a win I reckon.

kylie should be nowhere near the 17 given his pre season displays. if, and its a big if, the coach does as he says and picks on form Sutcliffe has to start.

but he won't

I can't see whatever side you put out being troubled by Hull KR

I think we will line up like so:

Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Sinfield McGuire
Singleton Aiton Peacock
Ablett JJB
Cuthbertson

Burrow Leuluai Walters Sutcliffe/Ward

Talking to a friend who went to the game who thought Sutcliffe and Mulhern went well today against Doncaster.
Depends if the coach goes for form in the pre season games or stick with the tried and tested.
For me Sutcliffe should get a bench spot over Burrow with Singleton, Ward and possibly Mulhern ahead of Kylie and JJB.
My team for Sunday
Golding/Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Singleton
Aiton
Peacock
Ablett
Ward
Cuthbertson.

Sutcliffe
Mulhern
Walters
Achurch/JJB/Kylie ???

Meant to say that there's a cat in hells chance of Golding getting in ahead of Zak and both JJB and Kylie will get the nod so will Burrow.
But hey ho.

On the going with form you've got to weigh it up by remembering the standard of opposition in these games and how many games/minutes players have had. It's ok looking good vs Doncaster and some American team in a game played with 4 quarters but it's a different level starting next weekend. Also often in pre-season you'll find the expected starters are just looking to ease their way back into match fitness whilst the fringe and young lads will push harder trying to impress and will usually have been back in training a lot earlier.

I'm certain the other SL clubs will have plenty of starters next week who had little involvement in pre-season games picked ahead of young lads who played in quite a few games.

Achurch should not be in the 17. Can't see him getting much game time this season, time to offload and give someone else a chance

I personally think that IF Achurch can stay injury free for a change (and that's a big if) and is used as a wide running 2nd row and not up the middle, he will surprise a few

My issue with him is his defence which is very poor as is his stamina, it could his being constantly injured means he cannot do the level of training required.

Not sure I know what is going on here Printer.
But I have found myself agreeing with you more than once this year


Yes you have a point about the opposition not being that clever.
I do hope though that if one or two "shoe ins" fail to perform others are given a chance even if it is to see how good they really are.

Not sure where you are getting poor defence from. His defence was actually excellent last season.

I don't think he deserves a spot, as others have said, but having seen his defensive effort last season, a repeat of that certainly would not be a reason to omit him.

I would have said his ball retention, and ability to do extra minutes, are a bigger concern.

Hardaker was awful defensively yesterday. Failed to field kicks 4 times and gave away an interception try. When he could hold the ball he looked OK

Yes and that`s with all due respect to Doncaster against poor opposition in comparison to what lies ahead.

As usual we must agree to differ, I think he slow and ponderous in defence and his lateral movement is poor.

At least we agree about his stamina, which I also think impacts on his defence.

I think it's extremely dangerous to start picking players on the basis of pre-season form. Even discounting the opposition, you would expect Sutcliffe to look like one of the sharpest players on the pitch yesterday as he's played virtually five full games (Wakefield, USA Pioneers, Hunslet, Bradford and yesterday) already this season.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him miss out against Hull KR, as there were times last season when Leeds were playing with four pivots on the pitch and a definite case of too many cooks. Certainly when Delaney returns, Leeds will have a surfeit of back-row options and it's hard to see where Sutcliffe fits in unless it's at the expense of one of Sinfield or McGuire.

I personally would rather see Sutcliffe as the back sub instead of Burrow.
I would move Sinfield to hooker if Aiton cannot play a full 80 and bring Sutcliffe on at 6 alongside McGuire.

What the team should be (IMO)
Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Sinfield Sutcliffe

Peacock Aiton Singleton
Ablett Ward
Cuthbertson

Walters Leuluai Burrow Mulherns

What the team will most likely look like:
Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Sinfield McGuire

Peacock Aiton Leuluai
Ablett JJB
Cuthbertson

Burrow Singleton Sutcliffe/Ward Walters

Well we know the chances of Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow not getting picked are slim to zero so Aiton is the one under threat long term (I do however think he needs to start vs HKR due to Burrow's lay off and rustiness the other week). As time passes is it a case of Burrow and Sinfield sharing hooking duties and having Sutcliffe in the 17.

What I don't want to see though is Sutcliffe AND either Burrow/Aiton on the bench. I prefer to have a bench that consists of 1 hooker/HB, 2 props and 1 backrow.....and whilst Sutcliffe can play in the backrow and it was useful before to get him gametime and experience in the side, he now has to be only used as a halfback as they've finally decided where his and Ward's futures lay it seems.

As for Achurch I thought his defence did improve last year. However he can't keep needing several games to get up to speed (especially given his injury record). I think 16 of the 17 picks itself vs HKR just by going by who DIDN'T get asked to play vs Doncaster (with the exception of Hardaker who needed some gametime) and its a fight between Sutcliffe, Achurch and Walters if Delaney can't make it for the remaining spot.

The issue with Achurch is that when he's had a couple of games to string together (and started in the second row) he's looked pretty good, but then he gets injured / gets dropped / gets moved to prop and so never gets the chance to string some games together.

I wouldn't be letting him go, especially given that he's only 25 or so and we're going to be losing Kylie, JP & JJB in the next two seasons - we'll need continuity in the pack. For HKR I'd like to see:

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
18. Sutcliffe
13. Sinfield
17. Cuthbertson
9. Aiton
10. Peacock
11. JJB
12. Ablett
14. Ward S

7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
21. Walters
22. Yates

Re-Aiton i wouldn't be surprised or overly bothered if we cut our losses with him moving Sinfield there with Burrow/Ward as bench/back up wouldn't be the worst move we could make opening an HB slot for Sutcliffe with Mags moving to 7.
Imo we can't keep delaying the prep for when the "Golden Generation" do call it a day & by that i mean getting more gametime into the younger lads and rotating ALL of them( not at once) at various points/trying different combinations.
I'd go as far as saying JP,Sinfield ,Mags & Jjb are one heavy injury away from it as it is i.e Cruciate or a big Shoulder injury so i hope that the Club are taking the rellevant steps this year because imo the off season recruitment and last years "Squad Management" was poor.

Ref: B Thaler. Touch J: J Child, P Brooke. In Goal: C Dean, M Hawkes.