I've been very impressed with the form of George Williams this year.
The departure of Matty Smith has put more responsibility on his shoulders & he's responded excellently.
If we can control him & limit his attacking threat then we we can win.
Paramount in that is discipline, give away needless & penalties & concede territory & we'll struggle.

Recent meetings show Leeds being further away from dealing with Castleford than at any point in their history. Record beatings handed out both home and away within the last twelve months.

Seen these runs before V Hull, Wigan, Bradford among others and it can be a long road back.

Golding
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Mcguire
Burrow
Parcell
Cuthbertson
Jones-Buchanan
Ablett
Sutcliffe
Delaney
Garbutt
Keinhorst
Ferres
Mullally
Walters
Handley

Honestly I'm not that confident in the squad, the pack looks like it's lacking in lateral movement and Wigan will exploit that. Our backs will have to have an excellent game defensively if we're going to win this.

I was expecting Ward to be in the 19 for this one.

Also, unless he's got a knock (and I've not read any confirmation) harsh on Baldy. Would have expected him in 19 with Walters dropping out for the returning Delaney

I too don't understand Baldwinson omission from the squad, considering he's started the past two games. Walters & Handley does nothing for me. Why is Handley even included if he doesn't play?

Golding
Briscoe Watkins Keinhorst Hall
Mcguire Moon
Garbutt Parcell Cuthbertson
Ablett Ferres
Sutcliffe

JJB Mullally Burrow Delaney

It's a shame, considering how he's been playing recently, and after two seasons in the stands.

That's a real slap in the face for Baldy, shocking treatment of him really. Let's hope McDermott doesn't follow suit with Oledzki.

Only reason I can think for Handley in 19 is possible cover for Golding.

Surely Sutcliffe is the back up fullback over Handley?
Weird decision to leave out Baldwinson in place of Delaney, he has clearly been playing better and if Sutcliffe plays 13 then we already have 4 backrowers in the squad, no need for another.

In fact, it actually puts a lot of pressure on our 3 props who will have to average about 55 mins against an aggressive Wigan pack.

If Keinhorst doesn't make it (he limped off at Huddersfield) then Moon will need to go back to Centre. That means Sutty may be needed in the halves so Handley would be cover for Golding, or Keinhorst if Mac wants to keep Moon at 6.

Baldwinson has done well, he's got a few starts and shown at least that his face fits. I don't expect him to spend long spells not playing this year, but I do expect Mac to continue to manage his game time. There was an interview, might have been in preseason, where he said effectively Mullally, Baldy and Ormandroyd are all after the same spot and injuries permitting are likely to be rotated.

Careful now. That post is far too sensible for these parts.

Go on then I'll bite.

Do you categorically know the reason he isn't in the team?

Perhaps he needs (or we want him to have) a rest, given he is still one of the younger lads and has just played 2 games against super league opposition. Perhaps we want him fresh for the Warrington game to give us some options?

Perhaps his performances in the last 2 games showed some areas to work on and we don't want to risk him against Wigan?

There are a multitude of factors as to why he isn't in the squad and luckily one of the factors isn't 'to appease fans on the forum'.

So change the record, and accept perhaps the coaching staff have their reasons.

I suspect the club considered the position that the lad was about to ask for a release from his contract, and gave him the game time to appease. Your last sentence if correct, is what is wrong about team selection, and how this lad has been treated. How can a comment like that be made preseason without seeing the form of all players to consider who is competeing for what? All that does is highlight preconceived thoughts on the lad, to be frank no matter what he does, and shows there is favoured selections regardless. Dropping him after the last two games and with the make up of the squad announced, really does look incompetent. If he is injured, fair enough there is our answer, but I think we all know he will probably turn out for Featherstone this weekend in truth.

Isn't this the last year of his current contract? I doubt the threat of asking for a release would be taken seriously when as it stands he is leaving at the end of the year anyway. What's more likely is that he's struggling to do major minutes at super league level (which he's admitted in an interview) and McDermott does like his props to be able to do long spells. FWIW I think dropping him for Wigan is a big mistake as he's a better player than Delaney (who I expect to play prop) and he's more likely to be here long term.

Baldwinson dropped for reasons not yet made public and here he is, right on cue....



As LeedsDave said so well...

and its easter coming up, so sensible to rotate players and keep them fresh, no doubt somebody else will be rested next week and baldwinson will play s couple of times in next 3-4 games.

or he may just have a minor knock and just not worth risking when we have other fit options.

Probably correct - Wigan are probably a side where experience will count - a young prop could easily be wound up especially by a set of forwards very adept at doing exactly that

Well lets ignore the fact it is Baldwinson for a second, imo it is bad tactics to go up against the most aggresive pack in the league with only 3 props in the 17, one of which (mullaly) has mainly been an impact player

If we get bullied down the middle then you would imagine baldwinson will be asking some big questions...

especially if Delaney plays prop. that would be a kick in the teeth

Giving the lad a miss for a Wigan game and hopefully letting him play for Fev is sensible. Can people not remember how slowly Burrow and JJB were introduced into the team. He's got a bright future if handled sensibly now.

Most of us understand that, i'm sure the player does too. Just a shame we have a few Veruca Salt's following the club these days.

Its not just impatience, do you honestly think it is a good idea to play against Wigan with only 3 recognised props, and only one who regularly plays long minutes?

I have no idea if he'll be a top player, a squad player or a championship player. haven't seen enough of him.
but to be left out after a couple of good games, and to only have 3 props in the squad is, a bit demeaning.
and if he plays for fev he's hardly being rested for easter is he???

Not a high pressure game against a top team. Stevie Ward was introduced early, too early in my opinion and he's had a whole catalogue of injuries. The coaching/ medical teams of sports clubs are far more knowledgeable than you are I on the introduction and indeed the optimum time to give long spells of playing time to young athletes. I'm happy to leave it the experts......I'm sure others will promote their conspiracy theories.