I'm sure there was a feeling of helplessness amongst the players and the fans to see our trojan horse Peacock getting rag-dolled by the Wire forwards last night. For so many years Peacock has been our talisman when the going gets tough but now it's someonelses time. Player recruitment should have dictated that Peacock was doing less gametime but quality gametime. He shouldn't have to be doing such stints week in week out.

Sadly, age and injuries have caught up with our old Warhorse, and if we are to milk the last drops out of his playing career, then it must be as an impact prop off the bench.

Sinny, on the other hand is far from done. We simply have to play him more intelligently. Having him defending out wide is doing no one any favours, lest of all the lad. The amount of tries being shipped in on that side is affecting his confidence, and having a detrimental effect to his passing and kicking game.

I actually saw some positive signs last night. Little Rob looked happier and a lot livelier, and it was noticable that he was the guy chelping at other players and organising the defensive line.
Delaney stepped up to the mark and earned his wages.....Hardaker looked solid under the high ball at fullback, and on a dry pitch offers the prospect of an exciting attacking option.

The general second half response showed good team spirit, and whilst there is a hell of a lot to work on, I think there's a faint light showing away back there in the darkness.

Felt sorry for jp last night he tried his best but kept getting smashed as did the rest of our pack i think we were too flat no one steaming on to ball . how many times did our forwards get driven back 10 yards ? also ptb too slow whats happened to lunt ? burrow helped speed the ptb up but then just ran at their forwards and bounced off . these are not player issues but coaching ones totally clueless get Anderson in and play a few of the kids better to get beat whilst buiding for the future than same old tripe every week .

Lunt has suffered the Leeds coaching effect. Simples.

Minus the time Brent Webb was on the field, then wasn't the score a mere 19-18 to Warrington?

Well Briers turns 34 in a few days time.

Well I must have been watching a different game last night, thought JJB stood out like a beacon for Leeds. Not too fond of the bloke, but I could'nt fault his workrate last night. Was also impressed by Ward, Hardache and Delaney. The impression I got from Leeds, was the body language, it stunk on some players. Did Bailey play the full 80? Only saw him in the last minute. The team certainly needs a clean-out, Bailey and Webb in particular- both liabilities, but to have a go at Sinfield and Peacock is wrong. Ok, they did'nt have the best of games, but Peacock was ever willing to put a shift in, whilst Sinfield had to do a lot of the donkey work on his own, without much help from the pack.

The game was over after 10 minutes, 18 points down before Leeds had even played a set of 6, takes some coming back from, so far play to Leeds for regrouping ( or some of them) and trying to have a go.

I was talking about top-class.

Peacock looked past it last night, maybe he should be thinking about retiring his international career to further his Leeds one?.
Sinfield was playing behind a well beaten pack so for me it was hard to judge him

I like the look of Stevie Ward though, very confident youngster.

I'd go for the following for the next few weeks:-

1. Hardaker
2. BJB
3. Keinhorst
4. Senior
5. Hall

6. Ward
7. Burrow

8. Leuluai
9. Lunt
10. Singleton
11. JJB
12. Ablett
13. Bailey

14. Delaney
15. Moore
16. Griffin
17. Hauraki

Rest Peacock and Sinny.

That is taking into account injuries to McGuire and Watkins.

things learnt from tonight.

Webb should not play FB again...Hardaker is a better attacker, defender, and gives away fewer penalties.
Ward should partner Burrow in the halves. Shockingly, when we have pace and creativity, we look like scoring
Peacock should start from the bench. He can't play a full 80, Griffin can do more minutes, and be effective
Ian Kirke can play as a prop, if we give him the time on the field.
Sinfield shouldn't be left defending in the centres.

Atm we have a couple of big questions. Most immediately, what to do with Zak and Stevie. Both played well, don't deserve to be dropped. So where does Danny play, given Burrow looked good playing the full 80 at scrumhalf yesterday.

All in all, I think we have the core of another championship-winning side. The question is getting some of the kids to kick on and make the right signings. But with this core group, i'm confident:

1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
4. ?
5. Hall
6. Ward
7. Burrow
8. ?
9. Hood
10. ?
11. Delaney
12. Ablett
13. Clarkson/?

Peacock is meant to be a member of a dominating pack, not reliant upon the pack.
On his knees in early June never mind August. Time to hang up his boots, he isn't going to get any better, its downhill all the way now JP

Apparently Westwood is booked in for a hernia op shortly, that's why he's been left out.

Atkins is also in the squad. Aston Wilson must be wondering what he has to do to get selected

Agreed but since when has Ablett been International standard?

In with a good shout for 'dumbest penalty of the season so far' and it's a tough category to win at Leeds.

Ablett in many ways has recently been Leeds's best centre owing to, not least, his ability to remain fit to play. His main assett is his awareness to bring his winger into play .....however this is a sad indictment rather than an endorsement of his international status. Have stated this before: great club man (usually) IMO, but no more.

Atkins conversely demonstrated the necessary skills to be that class above.

Earlier in the season Ablett warranted a call up imo but now considering how we are playing to see so many Leeds players called up to the full England squad is shocking and imo only Burrow warrants it.
I just wish sometimes the international team was selected on FORM especially against the Exiles again we will learn nothimg we don't know already about JP ,Sinfield ,etc etc and Chase should only be there as a jock strap waller!!!

That is no way to talk about our future new half back signing



In all seriousness I agree with you: it is embarrassing really. 'International' RL continues to be a farce.

indeed!

It should be picked on form, yes, but form over more than a period of a couple of weeks ideally. Ablett especially, fully deserves his call up and the collective performances of the Leeds team over the last couple of weeks should take nothing away from that.

MoiMoi?

I completely disagree. Atkins is essentially a second row taken out of the pack a battering ram out wide. Little better at using his winger than Hardaker. Ablett is a second row who has excellent ball skills and great reading of the game. Which means he's capable of playing centre to a decent standard.

Really? I think Atkins has become an excellent SL centre under TS. He is far better than any centre in our squad (well aprt from Watkins). Atkins has improved massivly when it comes to creating space for his winger.

For me Ablett hasn't been as good as some on here think he has. He's never a centre and should be moved back into the forwards ASAP. Mind you can anyone remember the last time Ablett had a good game playing in the back row?

Talk about blinkered rose tinted spectacles: try imagining Atkins in a Leeds jersey and Ablett in the Warrington jersey.