Absolutely. I am still fairly confident about the future.

I just think the club needs to make the right calls and not the easy calls on some players this year. Players like Gale and Prior are towards the back end of their careers now. I do think 2022 is a window of opportunity to really get up there again but we still need a couple more players.

We still need another proper prop; we have replaced Ava with a different type of player in Tetevano. Maybe two if Prior goes this year.

Question marks remain over full back and stand off. We're over-stocked with centres and under-stocked with wingers. There are a couple more lads in the Academy system but maybe +1 high quality outside back wouldn't hurt - you have to think about Johnstone, he's hurt us every time we've played Wakey and has exactly what we lack. We never looked like making a long-range break in the back line against Saints, and I'm not sure our first line players provide that either (although they can break a tackle).

Anyway still very proud of the way the lads showed up yesterday - over the course of this season the spotlight will fall on some other areas of the side which need fixing up now we're almost there with the pack.

Didn't actually know the result. Just couldn't get into it at all. I'll wait into I can go on a Friday night and have a beer now. A lad I know frim the village is up for some live games soon too......
Not for me at minute

I really enjoyed the match particularly the 1st half. Walmsley looked rattled. Loved Oledzki, Leeming, Prior and Tetevano flying in and smashing them and don't think they enjoyed it leading to all their errors. It reminded me of the 2015 season with Aiton and Leuleui flying in. Tetevano plays it tough but there is a fine line sometimes but I would not change that in him.

I thought Leeming was great both defensively and in attack and got our big boys moving. I think until the Tetevano red, he was the man to stay on, however, the game changed when he was sent off and it was right for Dwyer to come on who also did very well. It is very useful to have two hookers who can offer something different. I did say that for the final 10 minutes they should have had both on as Leeming brings that intensity and physicality in defence similar to Prior and Tetevano.

I would be finding a spot in the team for Broadbent when all players return. Didn't do much yesterday but was sound defensively. There was an instance towards the end of the match where Grace broke through similar to Johnstone the other week. Broadbent and Dwyer successfully defended the matter whereas Myler and Briscoe failed it. Broadbent for me is better defensively, a better runner and his hands are ok. I think he deserves a continued run in the team.

Alex Sutcliffe again was impressive and sets a good intensity defensively and Gannon from the little I saw of him looks like he could have a big future.

My concern is when Oledzki, Prior and Tetevano have to take a breather admittedly not all at the same time. We do not currently have anyone to come on to match their intensity. We could have done with a Paasi to sub on for them and bring the impact. I would like to have seen how Paasi would have gone had he started the match and been up against the intensity of Oledzki, Leeming, Prior and Tetevano. Hopefully Holyroyd and King can provide that fire power.

Sam Walters needs to play as often as possible. I think he got some poor balls yesterday. I could see him starring when surrounded by better half backs, centres and wingers. Give Gale several options to pass to with Walters running strong lines and he will slice through a lot.

We now have a very good pack and I would like them to play to that intensity with a near full strength back line. I think we will then look a very good side.

All in all it was a very enjoyable watch and very impressive.

Yes we had extra forwards on the field but we had a mongrel there that's long been missing.

You have to hand it to Agar, the team which lost to Bradford was much stronger on paper than this one so it shows what impact attitude, self-belief, clarity of roles and game plan can have on a team.

Agree with just about all of that. If you are to have Leeming and Dwyer on at the same time then there is no need for Donaldson to be in the team as Leeming will do that tempo and hitting hard stuff. I agree Walters needs better ball and as you Gale will put him through those gaps and will be a real handfull. If Hurrell does sign a new contract he could be the man to bring on to add that impact to the pack. Broadbent was again very good at full back especially defensively. He's a real talent and him and Newman I'm sure will form a very good centre partnership. Both different styles Newman adds zip and athleticism and Broadbent is more your classic centre nice step and great hands.

I thought the lads had a real dig & imo if we'd had a HB & Tetevano for the full 80 we win that game.
Our Pack battered theirs ,im 50/50 with the Red card seen them given & seen them just sin binning as well. Paasi made a huge impact but twice he lead with the forearm which was blatant & easy to see but Thaler ignored it.
Going forward once again the younger lads stepped up & deserve their chances when we have our 1st choice players available.
Anyone any idea what Esstmond is up to? Ive seen him in full trainibg live & in the background when we see interviews on Rhinos tv so WTF is Agar wsiting for?

Great effort and you really rattled Saints. Thought Oledski was immense and pack generally excellent. Surprised only comment re Donaldson was negative - if you watch again you will see his tackling was tremendous. He goes at the lower legs and stops players and when others come in on top it really hurts them - Walmsley was largely played out of the game as a result. With proper half backs and no T Briscoe gifts to Grace you would have won.

I really don't get this 'I'm not watching games on TV anymore while there's no crowds'
Doesn't make any sense.
The camera is zoomed in on the players and the pitch so you can't tell the difference.

I thought it was a great game to watch and great to finally see our pack matching the big guns again.
No half back and the red card clearly lost us the game.
If that is a red, then fair enough.
But the problem is that refs won't apply it consistently.
Guarantee that next weekend we will be on here questioning why so and so hasn't been sent off.
Gale got 3 or 4 last week against Cas.

And agree on the young lads.
Broadbent should be ahead of Myler at FB now.
Maybe Myler will have to cover in the halves instead.
Walters ahead of Mellor for me as well.
And actually, I think Luke Briscoe should be ahead of Tom now!
Also can't fault A Sutcliffe. He won't let us down.
Very excited about the prospect of Gannon.

Agar and Sinfield should be begging Prior to stay another year - he is superb. 9/10 every week.
A 6 and a winger are priorities for 2022.

A 6 for next season will depend on how Eastmond goes. Prior once again superb.

If we could somehow land a Taupau whist retaining Prior we'd the best pack in Superleague bar none. Might even be worth waiting another year for a winger. Eastmond is key in all this re salary cap I believe. If he can cut it at six we won't have to splash a chunk on a six, if he can't we will.

The thing is with Eastmond, lets not forget he was a super talented player, now Im not saying he will be a great signing or even get close to his best but if the gamble does pay off you never know we may have a great number 6 for a few years.

Its an interesting one that's for sure!

I think Myler when fit keeps the FB spot for now, with Broadbent a close second. Don't ever let Myler back in the halves please.

Not sure where Walker fits in next season? Can he play wing?

Fingers crossed, look at tomkins now at 32, still breaks the line and just needs players up in support, plus Eastmonds passing game was always better than his too.

Myler is a running rather than an organising half. We've never, ever used him properly in that role.
Paired with Gale he would be quite effective I think.

Once Myler is fit to return to FB I would look at putting Broadbent or Newman on the wing instead of Tom Briscoe.
Why on earth we gave him a 2 year contract god only knows.

For goodnes sake Newman is a centre of the highest order in the making , correct on Myler though he is Full Back or no back in my opinion . Briscoe is done and Leeds should have been looking elsewhere . Ryan Hall would have been a far better option

No way would you stick Newman on the wing, the kid is the best young centre in the country, and will be a star. Broadbent on the wing isn’t a bad shout though.

We would have to lose
a couple of players maybe 3 to secure Taupau. With the young players coming through then that is possible. If Hurrell doesn't sign then we may not need to release any to sign Taupau.

I think two. Lui being the most obvious candidate followed by a host of others who are off contract. They obviously wouldn't retain King if they were plan on bringing a top class prop in. But what do I know? I would not have resigned L Sutcliffe. In my view both Broadbent and A Sutcliffe are already offering more in the centre.

This years official handbook has Gannon at 6ft 2 and 13st 4lb.

If reports of the new, lean Hurrell are correct he sounds like a man after a contract

Very physical performance. Loved some of the hits going in. Maybe I've been watching too much Union (I have been watching far too much) where you get red carded for tickling someone under the chin with the end of your little finger these days. Boy I've missed watching guys get absolutely smashed then get up and get on with it without a half hour video review and a sending off (even though there was one

).

More of the same please Leeds!

Oldeski is a great talent but he misses a lot of tackles - he doesn't hit in defence - in attack he has good go forward. Alex Sutcliffe I would play before Donaldson when others are fit. I cannot see a place for Liam Sutcliffe - when the centres return.

Tom Briscoe is all over the shop in defence - I am struggling to see what he is bringing? Same goes for Mellor and Martin - although difficult to judge the latter on Saturday.

I would play Broadbent at full back and Myler in the halves

still think myler at fb attack wise but broadbent been gr8 under high ball

Difficult to judge Mellor too when he's playing as a centre!