Gonna be very hard to get a thing from this game. Loosing won’t define our season, but we need a gusty effort as rolling over may have big repercussions on confidence……

I’m still optimistic but RS does need to pick the right side given our limitations.

We could make Smith play more direct and then spell him with O’Connor rather than sub Ackers, who can play 80. I would think if McDonnell is fit he probably replaces Donaldson and TNW will replace Mik.

With the amount of money put to Rs for recruitment there can be no excuses with regards the playing roster it's up to the coach to put out a team capable of getting the job done.

And he might.

Also winning tomorrow or losing for that matter doesn’t mean he has or hasn’t got the job done.

No, but picking Donaldson - who is not and never has been a SL level prop - to start when we're down just one starting prop last week is not a great sign. As Simmo said, its a really negative pick. Do we lose against Salford with Ruan/TNW in for Donaldson? I very much doubt it.

I hope the plan is for as many of Ruan, TNW and Hudson to end up in the squad on a regular basis by the end of the season. In the short term I suspect its Donaldson for another few games...

It's a tough game whoever plays.
One unknown is how many minutes the likes of Ruan and TNW can manage. With an interchange of Lisone and Sangare things could get a bit wobbly against a big hungry pack.

Where will our go forwards come from in this game, apart from Lisone? That’s my concern…..

there's a cunning plan.
donaldson at prop....

Given the props missing I don't think any amount of jiggery pokery wins us this game in the pack. If we are to win it's the new spine that will have to make the difference. We've been the most stupid team in SL for several seasons now and tonight might give us a decent indication as to whether that has changed. If we stay in the game we can edge it, if we drop a series of clangers early on and get behind on the scoreboard it could be a long night.

How is that Leeds have so many injured players so early in the season?

We have 3 missing from 1-18

Have you not looked at any other teams? They pretty much all have players injured, take a look at Hull.

Lisone needs to start in the 13. With only 2 of your first 4 props available they can't both be on the bench. Whether they are starting props in an ideal world is a different question. Consistently under RS we have been passive or started slowly even with full strength packs and when winning its usually off the back of a strong second half performance. I have not checked the stats but I bet our overall win loss ratio for first halves is not great reading. This has carried over into this year pre-season and Salford as well. Lisone and Sangare should spell one another and then whatever combo he goes with in the other prop rotation. I agree with asking Smith to play more as an additional middle and spread the workload with 2 out of TNW Goudrmand Ruan or probably his choice Donno.
Hopefully its dry at kick off and even with a heavy pitch if we can compete first 20 minutes I think we have a decent chance.

Ive looked Christopher and aside from FC as you mention, im not seeing it?

If its Donaldson with Goudemand starting at prop then we can wave goodbye to the first 20 miinutes.

100% agree

Theres no other clubs with 3 players injured?

You’re talking as if we’ve half a team out, where we are unlucky is having our two starting props out but as I say that’s just bad luck.

It’s a long season, teams will get injuries.

Context Christopher, the 2 problem areas that were a problem before we started are already very threadbare. I cant see another squad (that we need to aspire to competing with) who have the equivalent of their 2 starting props out and overseas winger out and only reserve (not that id choose olpherts over anyone), so weve got an inexperienced average centre covering there.

The context was ‘why do we have so many players out’

The question of adequate cover is a different one.

Tonights game is still winnable with the squad we have and theres a long season ahead, most teams will go through patches of players missing.

Look at a team like Wigan, theyve overloaded on forwards, if they get injuries in the backs they too could struggle in some games, same for Warrington.

Bad luck is one thing but we seem to be in this position every year. Fusitua being kept on and Holroyd in the 10 shirt are questionable calls that have weakened us (yes i know other recruitment has been really good)

i didnt explain my exact thoughts fully in the initial post then as my context was absolutely around the already vulnerable positions, choices made there, and the lack of quality/experience stepping in. Im really not comparing it with a squad who may have one back rower out and a reserve prop for example.

Holroyd could be back next week then play the rest of the year, we've not even had round 2 yet.

The problem we have had is the squad needed so much work on it that there is only so much you can do in one off season.

We are a front line prop short, I'm really not disputing that, as I said my answer was to the question 'why have we got so many injured' when the reality is that we have't got that many injured, its just the fact that our two starting props are injured at the same time, swell as the cover for fun being injured.

Could being the operative word and he's also not had much of a preseason like a number of other key players. You'll have to excuse my scepticism until we have a run of good performances and players who are often missing are able to stay on the field constantly. It's been so long.

luckley,hadley, parcell, and parcells replacement butterworth all out for kr tonight every team has injuries,weather is overcast here with a few spots of rain at present,should be dry by 5pm and no wind according to forecast

As I said earlier, second row, replacement prop and replacement hooker isn't really the same in the context of the problem areas missing for Leeds that are a real issue.

You know what I mean other coaches would have loved the money afforded to Rs it's his team 100% and I'm sure he has a point to prove his credentials now he has the man power he asked for.