Sinfield is the only DH option (excluding Aiton) who engages the markers, and brings players onto the ball. I agree we miss him massively in the midfield, but with the current options we have at 9, we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't.
Looking at the bigger picture, the fact is we haven't produced a hooker capable of playing in a top side in well over a decade is really frustrating. Robbie Ward looks like the latest player to be added to the list of dummy half cast offs.

We looked leaden tonight. Slow and lacking in both options and ideas. Saints deserved the win and may well have turned their super 8s around off the back of that win. We showed how a few key injuries can completely disrupt a good side.

No great concerns, Saints were always going to up for it. Leeds did ok in the circumstances and were on the duff end of several poor calls. If it means Saints finish 3rd then that'll do me fine (assuming we're top of course!)

Thought Golding did pretty well and Garbutt by far the best forward. As many have said having just one half back can only work for so long and it's time for a rethink. Sinfield is the best dummy half available. but it is leaving too big a gaping hole in midfield...especially on the (last tackle) kicking game.
McGuire had a very quiet game and it does highlight how much we'll miss the good captain we have become perhaps complacent about. Sinfield (and Peacock) will be really missed in this department.

Either give R.Ward at hooker...or if he's not considered good enough then I guess we'll have to run with Burrow - with all the problems that brings ??!!?

I did state (as did others) losing Aiton will be more of a loss than many realise: winning the treble looks more and more a less likely outcome. Lose Sinfield to injury and it will be the end of that dream.

I'm not complaining: if Leeds win the league leaders I will be more than satisfied with the efforts this season and the willingness to play attractive footy.. I have enjoyed watching the team very much, but we should now start to lower our expectations I think.

Saint Helens looked a different side too let's not forget: it looks like Walsh is back to his best and Walmsley is one perhaps Leeds should have made a better effort to sign up: he is a fabulous forward. Wilkin makes a huge difference to them too.

The 'play Cuthbertson at hooker' gag only works when you've got players like Watkins and Hardaker in the backline to give you options. We didn't have that tonight, were playing a one-up game and without a proper hooker at no chance.

Garbutt as mentioned, was excellent.

Cuthbertson & JP looked shot and in need of a rest, Cutho in particular.

Achurch went well and should have got more minutes.

Golding was (as always) utter gash. Can't defend, can't position himself, can't link into the line, can't beat a man. Get rid asap, he's clearly never going to make it in SL which is why even the 19s prefer Handley at FB to him. The worst player to wear a Rhinos shirt since George Elliott, and that is saying something.

Hopefully all three absentees will be back for next weekend. If not, Robbie Ward needs to play, he is at least an out-and-out hooker and for the complaints about his performance at Hull he's gone well in the past.

Meantime someone needs to remind Magsy that when you've got two of the best aerial wingers in the comp you should occasionally try putting the ball in the air. Every effing time we got near their line we ran it down the short side, despite Briscoe (and more usually Hally) screaming for it on the far side.

Looking at the catalans trip next weekend I'd be going:

1. Hardaker / 27. Handley
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins / 20. Keinhorst
4. Moon
5. Hall
13. Sinfield
6. McGuire
8. Leuluai
24. R Ward
10. Peacock
12. Ablett
14. S Ward
15. Delaney

7. Burrow / 17. Cuthbertson
16. Achurch
19. Singleton
30. Garbutt

Golding did ok for his experience, he picked up some ty balls and worked it back.......Delaney for me was biggest let down today, maybe the injury had an effect but either a big off game or not fit all round.

Ward and Garbutt were strong, back line was dis-jointed but not enough clean ball, easy to read for Saints.

What?



He's no Hardaker, obviously, but he did about as well as could be expected tonight.

Very harsh on Golding - perhaps if the senior players hadn't have made the errors they did his job would have been easier?

Ablett for me the biggest dissapointment, like watching a young kid in a kids match. World class players outside him, but constantly holds onto the ball, believing he can beat them on his own. Very frustrating player this year, and that match what he has been like most of the year.

Maybe if Golding could catch the ing ball or tackle a man, we wouldn't have done six repeat sets.

The first try typifies his efforts all year - simply way off the pace - he made no effort despite being the nearest man to effect a tackle.

He caught pretty much every kick, and made a good one on one tackle on Swift. He lacked upper body strength to stop the Jones, and Walsh trys, but it's hardly surprising, the kids 18!

Perhaps if a senior player had done his job Golding would not have been called into action for the Walsh try - the Jones try was debatable I think he did all he could - I don't the Hardaker would have done any better given the build up.

What he doesn't offer is the strike power Hardaker does in attack.

Except those three kicks that went for Saints repeat sets, except for every tackle failure that lead to a Saints try.

Being able to catch a ball and make a tackle mean you can cut in the unde-13s. More is required to be a SL player. If he's not trusted to play FB for the 19s then god knows why we're picking him over Handley.

Don't know what has happened to him this year. Seems to get a lot of leeway from supporters due to past exploits. Having being so consistent over last three years, has been a big dissapointment this. He plays like he believes in his hype. Thought he played well last week, especially defensively where I have questioned him this year, but tonight was back to square one.

Who knows - could be carrying an injury, his drop in form is alarming all the same

Did you watch the game?

If we had jjb I'd rest Ablett next week .

With Delaney clearly struggling we don't have that luxury.might be worth starting ward and achurch in the SR with cuthbertson back at lf and burrow at hooker with R Ward on the bench with ablett

Ablett has been very disappointing, overall. He's had a half a dozen decent games, but this has been his worst season in terms of not meeting expectations. It's frustrating because, he had a full pre season, and I thought not getting picked for England would really fire him up to prove a point this season.
I actually don't think it's a case of him believing his own hype, I think he actually looks a little short of confidence, especially with his handling. He was probably guilty of trying to force the pass a little too much early in the season which resulted in errors, and he seems to have gone into his shell a little bit and kept hold of the ball more than he perhaps has done previously.

Thought Ablett was ok and Golding improved as the game went on. Biggest concern for me is missing Aiton. Sinfield is probably the best option for DH but we look very one dimensional in attack with only Mcguire to play off. Second best tonight, Saints won the ruck and their kicking game was exceptional.
Not too concerned yet but we need an improvement next week.

Funny innit....how opinions can differ sometimes? I really don't get the criticism of Ablett. He always looks like he is going to do something in attack and IMO he knows when to not panic and hold onto the ball or take the tackle - epitomised by Briscoe's first try at Wembley. Delaney (and Ward) is far more guilty of holding onto the ball or running into the man rather than the space - not a criticism of them either as both make up for it in other areas.

Best team won, our ruck speed for the the first time this year was slow. On the other hand the saints ruck was quick. We all know that suits Roby perfectly. Thought Ward and garbutt along with peacock tried To have a go.
Coupled with the fact Walsh had his best game of the season just about finished us.
Any more injuries to the squad might make going to old trafford a bridge too far.
At the moment I still think us and Wigan are the best two teams in the competion. For me Huddersfield could upset the apple cart. I would sooner play saints or Wigan at home than Huddersfield.

I can't say I've noticed Golding much before tonight, but on tonight's showing he's not a bad player. Pretty agile and came up with a few tough catches. If the attacking team is on your line and get the kick right, as a fullback there will be times where even if you do all you can, you're still going to concede a drop out. Fullback is probably the toughest position to play if you aren't used to the standard, because you are constantly isolated, which means every mistake is glaringly obvious. The fact that none come to mind (bar the kick off, where the blame was shared between 3 of them) is proof enough that for his age he's not too bad a player.

Another thing is, we had Walsh, Burns, Roby and Wilkin all kicking tonight. For territorial kicks, a fullback will (ideally) set up on the kicker's outside foot, because kickers are always going to try and avoid kicking across their body. The option of 4 kickers means your back 3 can't really do this which puts a lot more pressure on them. Especially with Wilkin on the blind side on the left, there were times where Briscoe would have to stay in the defensive line as a result and it was Golding and Hall covering the width of the pitch. That is a difficult task for any fullback, nevermind a 19 year old who's got very little first grade experience

Ward will develop his decision making as he gets older, he's a very skillful player. Delaney has terrible hands. He's proof that the NRL isn't the pinnacle of skill it's made out to be if he could ever play almost 100 NRL games in the centres. He's defiantly not fit at the moment.

Further injuries, errors and Wembley hangovers to several players plus a rejuvenated Saints conspired to our defeat yet we were still in the game with 10 minutes to go.

Because of the many errors and penalties we had to do more tackling than we should have and Mags, Cuthbo, Singleton all looked a bit under par. JP despite a Saints elbow in the gullet was able to resume and was strong in the closing stages. Ward once again put in a big effort.

But IMO big hearted young Golding deserves big applause for a classy all round display at full back which included some crucial tackles, fine backing up, a bit of Watkins like footwork and a lot of mopping up around our try line and he almost scored a try too. A star of the future.

I would prefer to see a half back introduced after the first 30 to give the side more balance but I can understand holding Lilley back for this one. Maybe next week he will get more minutes as it sounds like the latest injuries may take a week longer to clear up.