We have a great player to play right centre. Unfortunately, he's had to play fullback at the start of the season, and is currently out injured. He'll fit in fine there once back. Of course, that won't cause the team to suddenly pick up form.

Our squad is significantly better than the likes of Wigan, Huddersfield, Hull and Warrington. I know you're a pessimistic defeatist Dave, but that's ridiculous.

In this salary cap era, it just isn't possible to have the kind of depth that means you can leave out the likes of Burrow, Webb, Senior, JJB, Kirke, Diskin and bring in reserves of equal quality. That's the whole point of the cap - that richer teams don't stockpile the talent, and then keep it in reserve.

The fact that Saints worked around their squad limitations and beat us with their equivalent of JJB at scrum half imagine your criticism of our squad depth if we played JJB in the halves!) just proves that it isn't the squad depth that's the issue, it's how they play.

Well, why would he be any different to the rest of the Rhinos squad?

No Saints played the equivelent of Sinfield at scrum half - Wilkins is their stand off - you are the only person who thinks otherwise - not a second row forward - this is what you do when your arguement has been found out - do you think their would be much uproar if Sinfield and McGuire played in the halves - it was like when you compared the squads you moved all the players round to suit your arguement - pathetic.

Do the comparison with Huddersfield and see if you still agree and with Wigan - but don't move the players round and see if you arguement still stands up!!

Dave, if Wilkin is their stand off, who is Leon Pryce?

How many of Wigan's or Huddersfield's players would you take over their equivalent at Leeds?

pryce played scrum half in that game

Thought the two of them split the playmaking pretty much evenly betwen them, and though Wilkin took on most of the kicking.
Yet Saints were able to work around that, and still beat us.

Richie, you seem to be saying that "it's all down to the coach", without actually saying "it's all down to the coach".

or am I reading you wrong????

Well, it's that or the fans



Interesting how different coaches are treated by fans. I still reckon PR skills can be a coaches greatest asset

Exactly as Leeds would do if Burroe didn't play Sinfield would play 6 and McGuire at 7 - Saints played Wilkin at 6 their 13 same as Sinfield and Pryce at 7 - they didn't play Flannery - JJB equivelent at 6 - again all you are doing is trying to twist stuff just accept you are wrong and move on.

Of the Huddersfield squad

Hodgson, Whatuira,David Hodgson,Robinson,Crabtree, Griffin,Wild, Finnigan, Lawrence, Moore all of whom are better than their counterparts in the Rhinos squad and they have a winger currently playing at Batley who is potentially the next Offiah in the right hands. Their juniors are now beating ours pretty easily!!!

i wouldn't agree with that assessment david. robinson better than burrow?
no chance.

what i will say is if there was one season we needed a large squad it's this one,what with the quick turnaround after the world cup.players will need plenty of rest this season.
we have the smallest squad we have had in a while with NO spare players in the forwards.
all this while still well under the cap.
will the sleeve not let him spend it?
does the coach not want to spend it?
when did we last spend the full cap.

Smith got plenty of leeway in 2005 when he basically blew the lot - he even got pretty lightly with 2006 the worst season in the Rhinos SL history which include the CC semi against Huddersfield so not sure you are correct and there are many on here who see critisising Smith as akin to treason.

Perhaps Hetherington is realistic about income and as any business you need to show a profit - if he can win the GF without spending the full cap good for him.

On Robinson I think he has more facets to his game than Burrow who is a bit of one trick pony who has been found out - 2008 wasn't his greatest year - his game hasn't moved on in two years one of the problem on Friday was the number of times he kicked the ball straight to a huddersfield player on the full

and what if he can't David? Will we have been short changed as the supporters are still paying full price to watch less than full price performances....

That is the chance all businesses take - how far can they cut costs before their service is compromised - I suspect GH is right their now. If they upset their customers will they come back especially the corporates who basically have numerous alternatives in a very competitive market

I suspect we will see some announcements of signings for next year in the near future not sure he will able to do much for this year

leeds have won the Gf for the last two years and with the prize money,spondership,big average crowds and corporate hospitality which comes with it i find it criminal that we don't spend the full cap when we obviously need it.

Expect announcements around about the time season tickets are up for renewal.

Graham GH would have spent the money on both Soliola and Eastwood sadly neither materialised what is criminal is that he had no fall back position

I suspect it will not take that long - corporate stuff is usually tied up well before season tickets go on sale and they will some encouragement if things continue this season as they have

So would Soliola and Eastwood be enough for next season in your opinion?...

We need a prop as well IMO...

It would certainly improve the squad especially if we lose Smith.
What do you say Richie?

Minimum of one possibly two - Kylie has to go at the end of this year surely and questions still remain as to Bailey's consistency and Burgesses' suitability

If any of our current props leave, we will need two as we are currently one light. IIRC correctly, Bluey said before the season started that we would be changing the way we play this year, going for more speed (which presumably means less bulk). This has clearly had a negative effect on KL IMO.

We need to manage our recruitment carefully over the next few seasons or we will end up needing to change half a team in three or four years time.

I'd give Kylie another year,he may not make loads of yards but he more than makes up for it with hard defence.
Burgess is still a young lad for a prop who I feel can only improve, so I would offer him a new deal.
Bailey definitely he upsets the opposition and can play play for long spells.

Didn't TS try this in 2005-2006?