I thought that too mate but I'm just not convinced with Webb at 7.

If Blueys doesn't choose to rest am outside back it's the place he'll play imo unless he rotates between the 2 with smithy.

Although they were not at there best today i would leave McGuire and Sinny together at Halfback. We have played our best Rugby in recent weeks with these two together.

Whatever happens and this is a fact of facts lee smith is a big game player who comes up with big game plays in big games

As someone stated earlier in this thread, I'd leave Sinfield & Mcguire at 6 & 7. Played the best rugby of the year so far with this combination. Webb back in at 1. Donald & Smith on the wings. And a bit of a gamble but I'd stick Hall in at 13, see what he can do up the middle - he's certainly got the build and would offer at least as much as Clarkson, who's had a couple of starts there recently. Give one of the backrowers a rest, maybe JJB who picked up a knock at the Bulls last week. Thoughts?

Webb in the halves.
Smithy at FB
Sinfield at Loose.

in the centre. donald, for me, is a better winger than smith simply due to blistering pace from a standing start. he gives us options. webb is a better full back than smith for me too. i'm not sure about delaney.good defence and a decent player but no more than that. i just happen to think smith is better than delaney

Smith's form has been disappointing so far. He looks overweight, yards slower and drops the ball far too much. I hope his try yesterday will have given him the boost he so desperately needs. It was a try that required skill and determination to score, and he obliged, but I honestly feel, were it not for injuries/suspensions he would be lucky to get a run out as the water bottle carrier.

Webb and Delaney are streets ahead of the current Smith, and to even compare him to them is as laughable as trotting out the old line that Smithy is a big time player who can be relied on to rise to the occasion. As has been pointed out before, past performances are no indicater of present form.

So. for me it comes down to what I think is his best position and that is winger, and puts him in competition with Donald. At the mo, I don't think Smithy has not done enough this season to claim the spot.

Webb at FB for me. I wasn't convinced by Smith's performance there yesterday. Unless we have injuries, I'd agree with Tad that Delaney is the one player that Smith might profitably replace at present.

Webb at 1. Keep Sini and maggs at half backs as finally we are playing some decent rugby with this pairing. Smith to bench and when he comes on move Senior to the forwards and slot Smith in the left centre. IMO Webb is a better full back and Sinfield is playing better this year in the half backs and Ablett and JJB are fine at 13. I'd only move Sinfield back to 13 when Burrow is back.

It's obvious...Webb on present form is still the better FB; the present halves Sinfield and McGuire are looking good and Scotty and Hall should keep their wing positions (Hall to LF is a step too far I think at this stage). Delaney for me is the more impressive convincing centre.

Smithy would be good coming off the bench....in place of (here I go again) Diskin. What the hell do we persist for in wasting the impact of Buderus on the field for the replacement who offers nothing extra but sentimental thoughts of what "he's done for the club" in the past) ??

Without being sentimental, I didn't think there was a great deal to choose between Buderus and Diskin yesterday. And I thought Senior had a better game than Delaney. Having said that, I'd have preferred Buderus on while Farrell was in the bin (unless he was sneaked on & I didn't notice).

Nantwich, I think you're probably correct as to the respective merits of Buderus and Diskin. But yesterday's was a big game and Buderus played a relatively minor role. As it stands, his contract's running down and he still hasn't contributed a match winning performance in a big game. As for your other point re the centres, I misunderstood: I thought you were claiming that Delaney was more reliable than Senior; my bad.

I'd give Senior a rest maybe, and slot Smith in there. No slight on Senior, but I think he's probably due a rest, which would give him benefit later in the season

Quote ="leicester_rhino"I'd give Senior a rest maybe, and slot Smith in there. No slight on Senior, but I think he's probably due a rest, which would give him benefit later in the season'"

Smithy on the bench would allow us to try that for part of the match if things are looking good .....but I would still start with Senior. His partnership and understanding (admittedely not as effective this year - so far) with Hall should not be interfered with lightly.

Quote ="Clearwing"Nantwich, I think you're probably correct as to the respective merits of Buderus and Diskin. But yesterday's was a big game and Buderus played a relatively minor role. As it stands, his contract's running down and he still hasn't contributed a match winning performance in a big game. As for your other point re the centres, I misunderstood: I thought you were claiming that Delaney was more reliable than Senior; my bad.'"

No problem.

...but again the contribution made by Buderus when on the field is consistently far superior to what Diskin offers. He is so much better at keeping us on the front foot and rolling forward with his sublime accurate effective passes from dummy half ...and his scoots only when the gap is there. Diskin just slows it all down and allows the opposition to start gaining the upper hand. Too may 'fans' on here are blinkered by sentiment and rancour at Diskin loosing his no.9 shirt. Maybe it wasn't "fair" but then business isn't always so. Running the club IS a business and quite rightly the business is always looking to improve itself. Buderus was an improvement....but has being allowed to be diminished in its impact due to apparent weak sentimental management. "Bluey" obviously likes to be 'one of the lads' and is, here at least, not being ruthless enough to drop the ineffective, inferior Diskin.

I agree with you nantwichexile, I felt the forwards weren't making as much ground when Diskin was on the field. I thought Buderus caused a few problems. I think it is hard because I'd guess Buderus will leave at the end of the season, so they need to keep Diskin sweet so that we don't lose him as well. Diskin is still a good player and has won 4 GF's with Leeds but obviously Buderus is a very good player.

You could be right, I feel if Burrow wants to stay at Leeds long term then he may have to move to hooker. Wasn't it a similar transition for Roby which has made him one of the top players of super league? If Bluey wants to retain Diskin then he will have to give him game time.

You reckon Burrow could put in 30+ tackles a game for an entire season? I don't. You might persuade me that Diskin's time is up but not if Burrow's going to replace him.

Centre instead of Senior if anybody. But in all honesty, personally I though Smith was 5h1te yesterday and had he not got that try would have been a certainty to be dropped next week. I also thought he was pretty poor at Bradford last week. And this coming form someone who's constantly praised Smith since he came into the team, and defended him against people under rating him.

I think your critisism of Diskin is a little OTT. He has plenty to offer Leeds, and that shouldn't be overlooked. He's certainly not only being selected as he's one of the boys, and offers a lots, some of which goes unseen by many.

I think Buderus is performing the better of the two, but Diskin deserves his place in the 17 too.

Smith to centre. Senior may be on report if not could be rested

I thought he was poor yesterday. He seemed hesitant, and dropped a lot of ball (although everyone did).

Great footwork, accelleration and strength for the try though

Quote ="Clearwing"

Quote ="nantwichexile"

You reckon Burrow could put in 30+ tackles a game for an entire season? I don't. You might persuade me that Diskin's time is up but not if Burrow's going to replace him.'"

'"

Probably not...but I think the suggestion of impact hooker off the bench is a good proposition. Isn't McShane an 80 mins man ??