Not me though tad. Sutcliffe had never shown at any point of either a junior or in the academy at Leeds that he would be a Super League stand off. Don't even agree on 2015. I thought he showed glimpses of ability and he has that in his locker, it it was just a matter of circumstances that he was playing stand off at the time,

Still doesn't change the point though, that Leeds planned over a few years to get success from a changed policy, players like Sutcliffe would never have a got close with that generation of youngsters we had around the turn of the century,

Would agree with this.There really was no excuse imo though for not addressing the HB issue before this season though.It is a clear area of weakness for us, we badly lack a playmaker/ game manager.

This seems a good argument against your own view point. We do have good youngsters, we are developing them, we are introducing them. Just how we were in say 2000-2002 when we were introducing Calderwood, Bailey, McGuire, Diskin, Mathers Burrow Walker, JJB and Sinfield. It took a couple of years to introduce them and we were still a couple of years away from a trophy.

McGuire, Walker and Burrow were 22 in 2004, JJB, Calderwood and Diskin 23, Mathers 21. Sinfield 24

Sutcliffe is 22 and has played in a challenge cup final and for a treble winning side, Lilley is 20, Golding 20, Handley 21, Smith 18,

Who could we get? Walsh? Williams? Kelly? Im not sold.

Spot on.

Todd Carney the best HB in SL by a considerable margin

TC could be a short term fix,but not for me too much baggage ;he is not nicknamed sicknote for no reason.Lets see how long he lasts at Salford.

not for me either

Let's see these top guys are not your normal individuals - they need treating differently - his talent is head and shoulders above anything in SL

Many said that about Cantona



Ferguson knew exactly how to get the best out him - that is what being a top manager is all about - Wilkinson simply didn't have enough about him to cope

None of them. I don't know who, but its not my job to scout for a half back although it should have been somebodys around summer time last season when it was clear to everyone it was a role we needed to address. We had plenty of time to sort it but didn't or worse the club didn't and still don't think it is an issue, who knows for sure?

or he didn't fit into wilkinsons style of play. ferguson bought plenty of stars who didn't fit in there either.
carney is yesterdays man for me sorry pal

That is a very short sighted perspective IMO
Admittedly Carney is a very talented player,but the poor attitude that he has shown consistently on none game days would do no good what so ever to a clubs culture IMO
Would you take his undoubted talent over the damage he causes?

No NRL club went anywhere near him when he went back home and touted his undoubted talents to all of the NRL clubs that were crying out for a talented half back,No club even offered a 2nd tier contract like the one Benji Marshall accepted at the Broncos,Why was that?

Carney is a bad egg and it's no wonder that Catalan finally realised that he was poisoning their club and decided to get rid of him and his boozy buddies last season

He made Cantona fit and it changed Utd from a contenders to winners that is what great players do.

Carney has still got 3-5 years in him at SL level - different class even now just like Bird a world away from other SL players.

Of course Carney would be a risk were we to have gone for him but i would love have loved to see Watkins and Moon (back where he should be) running off of him.

Top managers can handle the likes of Carney - he just needs to get with the right manager - Murrey would have sorted him - management is a great skill there are reasons why the likes of Ferguson, Bennett, Guardiola etc have sustained success it is not just a matter of luck it is their skills as managers that gets egos to believe in the collective and why the being greater than the sum of their parts matters

Agreed we would score a shed load - but scoring doesn't matter its all about not conceding he printer!!

So would you sign Todd Carney for the Rhinos yes or no?

Me definitely

Why do you think that no NRL club was interested in him despite his talents?
Why did Catalan get shut despite his talents?

A Big call by you Sal condoning his obvious off field antics by wanting him at Leeds
I hope that you took this same opinion and that you didn't vilify Zak Hardaker for his indiscretions at the club despite showing that he was an undoubted talent?

Carney is a great player and would fit the Sinfield mold perfectly (in playing style). However he has been run out of every club he has played for, has been struggling with niggly injuries. He's 30 years old and has hardly treated his body like a temple. Carney is a risk, decent upside in we get 2 or 3 years out of a very good player, worst case scenario we get a couple of years of an expensive locker room poison, dont give a shot to Sutcliffe and Lilley and in two years time we are back behind the 8 ball.

Smokey, i agree with Gotcha in regard i don't think Sutcliffe will make a half.he is a good rugby player no doubt and will make it somewhere, likely back row but we need to move on from him at 6. Lilley may become a player but still needs a few years of developing.Mags is near done and there is nobody else.the thought of having Carney for even 2-3 years now would be a god send imo.

not for me, way to much baggage.

Just a query for Friday's game as am thinking of going and taking a friend along from Scotland who will be about... How long does it (roughly) take to get along to Hull and how bad might the traffic be? Thinking of taking advantage of the 'free coach travel' offer but don't really have any prior experience of making the trip (as am sure many of you do) to know what to do for the best. Thanks for any help you can provide.

@jamie - depends where you are talking of travelling from. On good friday from leeds to hull it should be not too bad traffic later in the day as it might be on a normal friday as it is a bank hols but you never know.if it is steady i would say just over an hour.if you are are traveling from north of the border i have no idea i am afraid! Enjoy the game