Just look in the match day programme to see all the different combos we have tried already this season on the right. I agree with most on here about Gibson, I didn't see the need to change it. Continuity is needed, it was the same story last season. Even in the GF!! I know they are waiting on Smithy, but until then they need to stick with a pairing. Donalds lack of form hasn't been helped by playing with a different centre every other week. And the centres that have played haven't supplied. The reason that there has been so much chopping and changing IMO is because none of them have done a good enough job. My nagging feeling last season was that we needed to replace Toopi when he got released, and I still feel the same now. I appreciate the kids having a go, but Watkins isnt there yet, Gibson while a been technically a good rugby player isn't a centre, Ablett has struggled there. Add on the top of that the limited squad (losing Toopi, Ellis, Scrutton, Tansey, Eastwood) and only gaining Buderus, is really having an impact at the minute. Players cant practically be dropped, and why Kylie came back in and Burgees in the reserves is beyond me. We got some tempo back last week, so I'd have run out with the same 17. Weird performance and form will lead to all kinds of speculation and the rumour mill will be busy. But I have started to wonder if anything is going on??? We are failing as a team not individually and that is worrying.

Smith/Hall/Smith/Hall last year was also baffling, as is the reasoning behind switching Donald to the right. He's a tidy player, but defensive rock is not how I would describe him.
Can't believe Gibson was dropped after last week - he defended superbly.

The right side isn't our strongest but I agree with all others that Mclennan is taking an area that hasn't been a strength and turning it into a disaster area.

I really don't care now who he thinks his right centre should be, Gibson, Watkins, Ablett or Smith but whoever it is must be given at least half a dozen games to strike up some form and continuity with poor Donald. His dithering over the right centre is shocking coaching.

Oh, and if we do sign a new player for right centre I hope that signing brings with his a game-plan that ensures he receives good quality ball in open space otherwise we will have wasted our time and money.

What the feck as the right hand side got to do with anything.

We could have anybody in that centre position last night, just like the rest fo the season, and we still would have looked crap.

The second rowers are appalling, and the tactics are a joke.

Same old fickle Leeds fans. We have been sh[iit[/ie all season so far, but because we were top of the league and won at Huddersfield last week, everything was fine. It's not fine, it's a joke. This team is appaling to watch, and I don't care who plays right centre or wing.

But you think our back line is good enough as stated in your continuous debates with tvoc, so why are you now saying that it isn't a strength (understatement of the year!!), that side is pathetic.

Don't you think to have a side capable of winning things you need both sides of the park to function as an attacking threat?

Because he always contradicts himself in time.

But this time he is right. There is a problem. And you are right too, it makes no difference who players there, because he can't win a match on his own. Our style of rugby is the big problem, and we have lost the plot completely.

Cant you have a chat with Phil Daly and get some answers, or perhaps you can volunteer and offer some coaching tips?

Do you not think that the fact that Leeds are that weak down the right side ensures that opposing sides are finding it even easier to shackle Leeds key players?

Compare that to Saints who have a threat across the park?

I do think its' goo enough. Its' not the strongest area of the team but its still good enough.

No. Watch the 2008 or indeed the 2007 Grand Final.

It would be nice if we could strengthen the RHS and utilise it more but a signing will make no difference whatsoever to the way we're playing right now. We have much, much bigger issues than who plays right centre.

As I said elsewhere, if we sign a right centre I hope he brings a game=plan with him that ensures he receives quality ball in space.

I don't think the right side has anything to do with it. I don't think it matters who is out there. The style of rugby we are playing would nullify and top class centre out there. And whilst our second rowers are so poor at the side of that centre, I don't see what any change in the centre would bring.

It's been said many times on here (arrogantly, but correct) that we managed most of last season without a proper centre. Difference is the rugby across the park was much better and more dangerous than what we are producing now.

Im not blaming the loss on him. He just isnt good enough.

So having a goto option on the right, in addition to our goto option on the left, wouldn't improve the attacking options of the team?

The right centre isn't the only issue with the side but it's still an issue.

Coach is doing the best he can with 19 first team players. It's no coincidence that some fans could see the recruitment this off season would lead to problems. Problems arrive and now the coach is to blame??

Whenever I've seen Senior this season he's been pretty poor. Do Leeds fans agree he's getting past it, do you reckon he'll still be playing next season?

best centre we've got. Not the player he was though. Sad thing is right now if we lost him to injury we would be up shat creek without the 33 year old.

Agreed.

If Smith was his preferred option what chance has he had to play him? with a combination of Webb's injury and his own Smith has had no opportunity to play at centre

He hasn't but he could of given Gibson,Ablett or Watkins an extended run in stead of changing nearly every game.

I'm not saying recruitment is not needed. But come on, the tactics are simply awful. We dont get the ball to the centres anyway, so I dont see what difference it would make having a quality star in there.

I think we have scored less points than anybody in the top 8 now, and less than Catalans, and Warrington, outside the 8. 10 teams better than us. That shows how poor we are with ball in hand. That can't simply come down to not having a decent right centre.

If we were any more predictable in our style of play, we might aswell give the opposition the two points before the game, to save embarrassement. Move the ball widish, then pass on the inside to the crappy second rower running at the angle inside. I could teach kids to defend against that.

we are predictable in that everything comes from our left hand side and has done for some time. Add to the fact keith seniors legs are now 33, not only are we predictable we're not as good down that side than in years gone down.

I could coach a team of kids to defend a team who only attacks one side of the field.

Interesting that there's no "Bluey out' thread on here. Smith would have benn burned in effigy by now with results and performances of this year.



Right centre and wing is one area that isn't doing so well. IMO the pack is playing soft regardless of personnel and the 'creative' players we have are virtually all in dire form. Between them 5 international 'playmakers' can't create a half chance.

Leeds don't have much of an attacking option on the right so they don't go there. Has Donald received more than half a dozen or so passes this season?

It's a bit of a chicken or the egg discussion.

Perhaps they would if they had a reason to. Neither Gibson or Watkins give them that reason. Gleeson settling in nicely at Wigan though.

Maybe it will improve if Smith can get himself back available for selection.

I would happily be proved wrong, but I suspect that Smith won't be a great centre either. He's a confident player with a step and some speed and a pretty good rugby brain from what I've seen. But he's small for a centre.

So's Jennings. I doubt though that he will make a good centre as you said but not because of his size. He is more suited to the FB position. Thats where he has shone since been in the academy.

I agree that Smith is a natural full back.

Also a proven winger at club and international level



Webbs natural replacement for sure