Give over generally 10,000 attend we always go as a family, it’s tradition, good to get out after Christmas, if you put it on the weekend after you wouldn’t get the same numbers. They have had Christmas Day with the family and the last 2 months off, let’s leave it be good day out the match is generally irrelevant

I used to like the Boxing day game when it was a serious midseason game .I dont attend now

Think it should be the first League game of the season and would then attract 20K +

I'd be surprised. 16-17k IMO.

What was our highest attendance at a game last year?
Southstand seemed to have plenty of space all season

Rhinos’ Boxing Day side is: Jack Walker, Harry Newman, Liam Sutcliffe, Konrad Hurrell, Ash Handley, Rob Lui, Luke Gale, Ava Seumanufagai, Kruise Leeming, Mikolaj Oledzki, Alex Mellor, Stevie Ward, Cameron Smith. Subs Brad Dwyer, Richie Myler, Adam Cuthbertson, James Donaldson, Alex Sutcliffe, Muizz Mustapha.

Very lightweight, but probably to be expected without Prior and Crosby

Really looking forward to this game, seems like an absolute age since the last game!

Thats the best Boxing Day line up for years, might actually go!

Strong line up would have liked to have seen Walters named in the squad.

Yeah very strong team.

Who is missing from the team?

Briscoe, Crosby, Prior, Martin, Holroyd

Newman on the wing and Liam 'Missed tackles' Sutcliffe as his centre. We can't be going into the season with that. Tom Briscoe's defense is awful, but just because Handley has made a serviceable winger, doesn't mean we should risk scuppering Harry's potential. I hope this is for 1 game only.

With a bit of luck 1 of the 2 spaces left open will be for a winger. I think I saw Tom Davies had gone to Catalan. We'd been linked with him, but banking on him returning to full strength after coming back from a serious injury was probably not worth the gamble. Especially after Kallum Watkins poor post injury performances.

Prior and Martin certainly make that pack look better but its definitely on the light side. I do get concerned should we get a few injuries if that's the squad for the first month or two

We cleared out so much dead wood in close season. It's a real kick in the balls to see Cameron Smith starting. He should be at Featherstone already, with Liam Sutcliffe. I'd rather see an academy winger and Newman in the centre.

Couldn’t disagree more regarding both you’ve said, but that’s why we aren’t the coaches.

Our flowing attack stopped when Smith got hold of the ball. He had no idea what to do with it. Sutcliffe wasn't much better, but he is capable in attack from centre. Just a turnstile in defense.

I can see the thinking behind this selection. Newman isn't a "winger's centre" and it won't do him any harm to swap to wing a little bit.
Sutcliffe's opportunities at back row look limited and so maybe covering centre/FB/half will be his thing.. again..
Dwyer and Myler benched and Agar will want to see how they respond.
Good to see big Mik and Cam Smith in the starting side - everyone's hoping both can step up a gear this year.
A Sutcliffe and Muizz look to be the next in line from the younger ones then.
Would imagine Myler will come on and replace Gale at some point, with it being Gale's first competitive game in an age.

Cam smith needs to step up several gears, mik needs to kick on but he is fighting for a bench prob spot with Martin back smith needs a big off season to get near the team

I can see Smith taking a bench spot next year. Plus we are going to get injuries in the back row at some point - he’ll get games.

Very interested to see how Muizz goes next year, he has the ability to make things happen...

Re Newman on the wing, I was chatting to a well respected Youth development officer the other day and he reckons wing and not centre is his future. If we are to get an experienced middle or outside back as is suggested then either Newman moves outside on the wing or we get a first choice winger imo a centre with pace and strength to compliment Hurrell would be best.
Another big prop and we might be half decent!

I don't get this at all. Newman's biggest strength is his ability to create a gap and go between two players. He's 100% a centre.
He has weaknesses in his game, of course - he needs to work on his defence and his interaction with his wing - but his balance and eye for a gap make him potential star quality at centre (remember he's still only 19).

I'd go with that assessment too.

Agreed!

I'm on the fence with this one. Actually I think Jack Broadbent could be a better centre than Newman.

Newman reminds me a little bit of Karl Pratt, in that he's very steppy and evasive, but maybe not outright quick enough.

We do lack pace on the flanks and I'm not sure Newman solves that- but he would score tries. He is a bit greedy and I'm not sure how good his pass is to release the winger - maybe being on the end of things could suit his game better.
Still very young and loads of development in him - I do think we're better with him on the field.

I've really enjoyed watching the Leeds academy over the past couple of seasons, can't wait to see them start to develop into first grade. This is a very young team Leeds are growing here and we need to be patient with them. The Goldens took a few years to settle and perform as well.

Very good post and agree with most of what you say. I’m not saying Newman is no good in the centre but he does need to learn how to pass and when to pass to his winger.
I think if we were to sign a good pacy and strong centre then Newman would learn from him.
Just my opinion and I am sure people will have their own which I will respect.