I agree that Eastwood was poor, offload for Clarkson try, and monster hit on Huby asside, but he's always been a slow starter when coming back to fitness. Let's see how he goes against the Dragons.

I'd be inclined to start Ali if fit (big if, I know) in effort to get well on top in the first 30 and without having Peacock to drain the defence. Also, for various reasons, the loss of JP means Eastwood has to play.

The selection problem will probably come down to Clarkson or Kirke for the last spot, though really it should be picking four from Clarkson, Kirke, Ablett, JJB and Eastwood. The latter three seem untouchable though.

I think without further injuries it'll be Clarkson who misses out, harshly. (Webb; Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Bailey, Buderus, Leuleui, JJB, Lauititi, Sinfield; Diskin, Ablett, Kirke, Eastwood)

It's a tough one.... realistically one of

Lauititi, Clarkson, Eastwood & Kirke will miss out on the final 17.

If Ali is fit, he'll play. With the loss of Peacock, I think Eastwood has to play to give us some power off the bench. I'm 50-50 on Clarkson - he looks very solid and I've been very impressed so far, but a cup final is a big game for a kid with only half a season or so under his belt. By the time the final comes around, Ablett will not have played for a month, however he'll be fully fit and very fresh, so I'm assuming his selection is a given. If Ambler gets a game against Catalans and has a stormer it'll make things very interesting, however he seems to be on the fringe of things at the moment. That leaves Kirke..... villified by certain posters on here, but with some big, solid games in Grand Finals, in pressure situations, behind him. His chase back to tackle Dixon on Friday was immense, and Ive a feeling he may really go for it against Catalans to well and truly throw his cap into the ring.

I have a hunch we'll go with

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuleui
Buderus
Bailey
Ablett
JJB
Sinfield

Diskin
Eastwood
Lauititi
Kirke

I feel sorry for Scott Donald, but Smith is too much of a big game player to be left out. It's also harsh on Clarkson, who's done nothing wrong, but I think we'll go with experience and power. Plus, Sinfield & McGuire missed out on cup finals in the past, and it didn't do them any harm long term.....

I've gone with the same 17 as you, but I'd rather have Lauititi on the bench to make more use of him in the second half. Given his fitness in recent times, having him on from the start would run the risk of him being a spent force come the 2nd half.

Re Clarkson, it would be very harsh for hjim to miss out, but the very fact that we're saying this shows how very far he's come in such a short time.

With Peacock and Burgess out I'd go for:

1. Webb
2. Smith
3. Delaney
4. Senior
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. Buderus
10. Bailey
11. JJB
12. Clarkson
13. Sinfield

14. Diskin
15. Ablett
16. Lauitiiti
17. Kirke/Eastwood

As has been said I'd also favour Smith over Donald (just slightly), most of the team picks itself its really the last bench spot. For me it depends on how fit Eastwood is. If he's back to his form at the early part of the season then I'd go with him. But if he's not fully fit I'd put Kirke in. He's never let us down in the major games before and won't this time.

With the latest devastating injuries to Burgess and Peacock it just demonstrates the questionable worth in this speculative picking of Wembley teams at this stage....(I'm just as guilty).

Let's wait and see what happens against Catalans....I'm not religious but I'm willing to pray to God, Allah, Jehovah or any bluddy necessary sacred cow that might make a difference......no more injuries please.

Quote ="Matt23"I agree that Eastwood was poor, offload for Clarkson try, and monster hit on Huby asside, but he's always been a slow starter when coming back to fitness. Let's see how he goes against the Dragons.'"

I agree...it is a [iteam[/i game remember.

You need the grafters, but a team of grafters would less likely set the likes of McGuire, Burrow, Webb etc free. You need the line breakers too....and Eastwood is the epitome of that (along with Ali of course). Providing they are fit they are both in the ideal 17 (off the bench) for me.

So many decisions/options....despite losing 2 forwards! Has to be said we are better covered than most for dealing with injury. As discussed on another thread, I'd like to see Donald & Smith included, releasing Delaney for 2nd row cover (in turn releasing Eastwood for prop interchange.

I also don't like seeing an interchange place used by a hooker to be honest. Whenever our starting 17 has had Diskin [ior[/i Buderus in it we've looked good, yet somehow when they're both included we seem to struggle for 10 mins after the interchange whilst the team adapts to the different style of play. So, given that Buderus is a) a better no. 9 and b) is capable of 80 mins I'd leave Diskin out. I'd also have Burrow on the bench to cover hooker if needed, but also to keep him out of the firing line in the opening 20 (as he'll certainly be targetted) and have him fresh when opposition forwards are tiring.

So, my line-up would be quite different -

Webb
Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall
Sinfield, McGuire

Leuleui, Buderus, Bailey
JJB, Delaney
Clarkson

Burrow, Lauitiiti, Eastwood, Ablett/Kirke

Even with Peacock & Burgess out, who would certainly have been in the 17, Leeds still have the squad to cope. That showed on Friday, although in fairness Cas were t

Just my opinion, but I reckon it'll be our forwards who are tiring with that bench.

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leului
Buderus
Bailey
JJB
Clarkson
Sinfield

Kirke
Ablett
Eastwood
Ali

Diskin to miss out for me. I know hes won 4 gfs but imo we go flat whens hes come on lately and our play the ball slows down. We need beef on the bench to combat warringtons big pack.

Is a back row containing JJB, Clarkson and Sinny have enough go forward in it to combat Warringtons very tough back row?
Also don't frget they'll be bringing Solomona on, who rarely has a day where he doesn't offload at least 5 times, the 2 backrowers really need to keep him under wraps.

Having thought about it a bit, I reckon we have to go for broke and pick both Ali and Eastwood, regardless of the risk involved, as they are both strike players. I'd pick both against Cats though for fitness. The only question mark is whether it would be better to start with one of them rather than have both on the bench. Again I'm leaning towards that.

An additional concern is whether Leuluai can add more time and quality than his recent efforts that I've seen. There's a reason Bailey has stood out at prop - Peacock's a grafter and tends to be less noticeable for periods, but given Leuluai's short game time we ought to be discussing how influential he is when on the field.

Yes.

Kylie was statistically our best prop against Cas, so there is some reason to hope there is further improvement in him.

With JP & Biffa out we have to play the big boys who will take us forward. IMO that means Diskin missing out and playing all forwards on the bench. Sinfield can cover for Buderus at 9 and both Sinfield and Clarkson will have to provide cover for the backs.

Wembley is not the time to experiment with centres in the pack unless we have further injuries.

you need to make sure you have 4 big forwards/impact players on your bench to match with the size of our pack. especially with peacock now out. cant help but think something is going to happen in the next 2 weeks, or first few minutes of wembley.

Would rather see Burrow covering at 9 with Sinfield at HB.

I think we need Burrow at 7 for the whole match and Sinfield's tackling at 13 to help cover for JP's missing tackle count and big men on the bench

There is no way Diskin won't play imo, and rightly so. He has by far earned a Wembley appearance. I also think he will play to another level in the Final like he has in the past.

If we play it right tactically the best way of taking on those big Warrington forwards is through Sinfield's boot and our fast, mobile back row going around them.

But you were suggesting using Sinfield at 9, not keeping him at 13.

I don't think its a problem - it's a 17 man game and the second row would be amply backed up by Ali and Ablett (I'm assuming Kirke or Eastwood covering prop) - as a set of 4 second rows I'd be happy that they match anything the wire can throw at us.

However, personally I'd consider starting with Ablett & one of JJB/Clarkson on the bench to balance out the go forward a bit more

Can't see us not sticking with 3 forwards and a hooker to be honest...and I can't blame us we need to play our own game and let Wire worry about us.

One thing we can count on from this team is that they'll give it their all and play for each other.

IMO will be:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
3 Brett Delaney
4 Keith Senior
5 Ryan Hall
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
9 Danny Buderus
16 Ryan Bailey
11 Jamie Jones Buchanan
27 Chris Clarkson
13 Kevin Sinfield

14 Matt Diskin
12 Ali Lauitiiti
18 Carl Ablett
17. Ian Kirke/24. Luke Ambler/15. Greg Eastwood