I don't either now. But he is a much better backrower than Sutcliffe or Ferres. I watched him last Friday night against York for Fev also, and he was superb that game. Would certainly cover injuries currently.

Ferres been out of the team, despite the injuries, is like signing a new player. Such a lucky break for us there.

Largely true, but you can't go throwing them all in together. They all tried their hearts out on Monday, but when they come off the bench at the same time Wire bring on J Clark, Philbin, Akauola and Livett, there is only going to be one outcome.

One of the lads wasn't even in the first team squad until we played Hudds at the end of March and we needed to name a 17 man squad (still ended up naming an injured player on the bench so effectively went with 16), and this is from a 30 man squad

Plan was to run with 7 main props, of those the following are injured

Scruton
Jewitt
Masoe
Garbutt
Lannon
Greenwood

Maria is the right signing at the right time - needs must on this occasion

I don't see Alex as better than Ferres I'm afraid. I'm fed up of everything being blamed on Ferres tbh. I get hes been a poor signing but everytime we lose its cos of Ferres. Other players miss more tackles, give as many penalties away and get no blame.

Think there is an obsession with him.

Like I say i get hes been garbage, there was reasons for that in first few years with constant injuries but all coaches seem to rate him.

I think your been far too generous Marty, he's absolute poop, and is a lot more to blame than mere stats even. His mistakes always cost us, unlike general mistakes from others. He is a bad egg.

Good post

Get my two pets in at half back and things will turn round.
Nothing wrong with a half back pairing of Golding and Lilley at least compared to what we play with every week.
Lolohea, Sutcliffe and Myler simply do not cut it for me and despite us sticking with two of them for the past two or more years they will never be what we want or need.

Just to add Cuthbertson, Walker and Smith return in place of Albert, Ferres and Peteru.
I`m sure we signed a guy called Crosby and talked Ablett in to staying.
Has anyone seen them?

Gotcha is right that a lot of the penalties given away through Ferres' indiscipline do often seem to be more costly than those made by others. I'm sympathetic to Marty's idea that Ferres often makes a solid contribution compared to others in the team, but a lot of this is undone by his poor discipline. Someone like JJB has consistently given penalties away throughout his career, but that's mainly because of things like fatigue and playing the game to the limit. With Ferres you get the sense that he's often more interested in niggle than getting the job done. Ryan Bailey was a master of winding up opposition players and winning penalties (also Ablett, to a lesser degree), but too often Ferres plays dumb. It's a huge shame because he's clearly sorted his weight out in the off-season, and if he just plays to the best of his abilities and ditches the naughty stuff we might see more of what the coaching staff see in him at training etc.

With you on the Ferres always wanting to niggle.
My biggest downer however with him is that we spent and continue to spend an awful lot of money on someone who was supposed to be an international quality player. Since arriving at leeds he has been at best an average player and I believe his work ethic and attitude is poor.

That's exactly it with Ferres. It's a value for money arguement. We signed an international player, and have not once in 4(?) seasons seen one single performance from him that looks anything close to international class.

Yes, the squad to me looks very week in the pack. Players like Singelton for me are no where near good enough, but Ferres probably earns double what most of the average players earn, so he gets twice the stick.

With Ferres I don't think it is niggle. There is a selfishness & arrogance that he just cannot keep in check. Not only does that manifest itself in penalties (& in his private life) but during his Cas career a number of tries if he had given out the simple ball rather than go for the glory.

Can everyone be wrong? Ferres gives stupid penalties away that are invariably costly, he's not worth the salary cap he takes up (not on his own there Crosby and Abblett and Tui) Let's just get rid!

Can everyone be wrong? Ferres gives stupid penalties away that are invariably costly, he's not worth the salary cap he takes up (not on his own there Crosby and Abblett and Tui) Let's just get rid!

With the squad we have available I’d go with:

Walker
Briscoe
Watkins
Newman
Handley
Sutcliffe
Myler
Cuthbertson
Dwyer
Singleton
Trout
Smith
Merrin

Oledzki
JJB
Parcell
Donaldson

McLelland and Lolohea to miss out

From the 19 I think Mclelland will miss out and I think Smith will as well as I don't think he is near enough 100% fit and I think it would be stupid to risk him and make his injury worse when we already have some many bodies missing in the pack so I think it'll be

Walker
Briscoe
Watkins
Newman
Handley
Lolohea
Myler
Oldezki
Dwyer
Cuthbertson
Trout
Sutcliffe
Merrin

Subs

Parcell
Singleton
JJB
Donaldson

That`s probably not a bad call JR.
Why oh why does JJB get a slot?

Just like Briscoe, it's in his contract, if fit he plays. Only a guess

This or Sutty 6 with Tui on bench with Sutty going second row later.

The problem with the likes of JJB in the squad is that Furner - like most coaches to be fair - will almost always opt for experience. Its the coach's safety blanket. Just like with a toddler the only thing to do to stop them using it is take it away.

The hardest part for players, as the autumn of their careers approach, is knowing when it’s time to stop, with JJB and Ablett they have been part of the fabric of a great trophy laden side, rightly or wrongly, it seems these trojans decide themselves when the boots must hang. It’s not football, players like these have earned this right, as fans we watch the fading embers disappear, and deep down we crave new blood, new talent, but the process takes time in rugby league.

It's a bit of a dilemma: fans don't want to see the mid-career journeymen dropped into the roles either. They'd much prefer the youngest talent dropped straight in. Not a recipe for short term success though and fans soon lose patience, usually with the coach.

I agree with this in general and think that JJB has been a bit self indulgent wanting to achieve 20 years but if the club were daft enough to go along with it then in some ways you can't blame him. I recall in an interview he referred to Steve Menzies' 20 year career and I think that is his motivation (to match it or even beat it).
In Ablett's case I am hopeful that he can still make a meaningful contribution and think that some of his jaded performances last year were down to being flogged and often playing busted. I know players regularly play with knocks but in his case I think an accumulation of injuries meant that he was nowhere near his best. If he can get back fit then he could still be an asset if used carefully.

Cameron Smith has confirmed on his Instagram he returns tomorrow.

Relegation rival Wigan have won tonight, this puts even more pressure on both teams to get a win tomorrow.

Walker
Briscoe
Sutcliffe
Newman
Handley

McLelland
Myler

Cuthbertson
Parcell
Oledzki
Smith
Trout
Merrin

Dwyer
Tui
Singleton
Donaldson

How $hit a 17 is that? Personally wouldn’t have Watkins anywhere near at the minute, so Sutty in purely for his defence (not that he’s great). I think we’ll get beat again, and no doubt Magsy will show us up.