Leeds squad:

26. Ash Golding
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Joel Moon
5. Ryan Hall
13. Kevin Sinfield
6. Danny McGuire
10. Jamie Peacock
9. Paul Aiton
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Carl Ablett
14. Stevie Ward
17. Adam Cuthbertson

7. Rob Burrow
22. Andy Yates
19. Brad Singleton
8. Kylie Leuluai
16. Mitch Achurch
21. Josh Walters
23. Elliot Minchella
27. Ash Handley

Bulls squad:

Adam Brook, Paul Clough, Nathan Conroy, Karl Davies, Lee Gaskell, Vila Halafihi, Liam Kirk, Charlie Martin, Alex Mellor, Jake Mullaney, Ross Oakes, Adam O’Brien, Tom Olbison, Jay Pitts, Adrian Purtell, Ethan Ryan, Ryan Shaw, Adam Sidlow, Harry Siejka, Samir Tahraoui, Chris Ulugia, Chev Walker, Lucas Walshaw, Danny Williams.

Can understand treating ferguson with kid gloves after last years injury problems but seems odd not to give Henry a run out before season to get some match fitness. Would have thought uisavele would have had a run too as it seems to be between him and shaw for one of wing spots.
Wonder if their nursing knocks?

I guess we must assume so - it would be perverse to not give everyone a hit out otherwise.

Looks a strong Leeds squad, we'll do well to keep them in check.

Our squad is lacking quite a few 1st teamers. I expect a bit of a stuffing.

If I'm totally honest - other than a few 'obvious' ones - I've not really worked out just who make up our 1st team.

We seem to have quite a few still with something to prove, though I assume Lowesy, who has seen them all in training [apart from Lauaki, will have some idea who is going on the coach to Leigh.

Think out of ones we've seen so far this season 'obvious' ones are

Mullaney
Gaskell
Sjelka
Sidlow
Clough
Tahroui
Davies
Obrien
Williams
Purtell
Pitts


Think other positions are up for grabs and a couple in above list could be displaced by players we haven't seen yet this season. Guess good thing is that we have genuine competition in most positions for first time in what seems like ages.

I'm slightly concerned that Ferguson is still not fit to play.

Don't think its case that he's not fit to play, just that they aren't risking him. Given his injury record last year seems sensible to extend his rehab as long as possible.

Agreed. It's going to be a long long season this year. We have a big squad so there is absolutely no need to play someone if they are not 100% fit.

Oh you doomfull glass half fullers.

I prefer to think that Ferguson is so FIT that he has smashed up Peterson Henry Blyth Addy uisale Lauaki etc etc etc in training.

Ferguson was a very expensive luxury last year. If we don't get him on the pitch he could prove more expensive this year in more ways than one.

He was on about how he was fully fit only a few weeks back.

Ferguson should be ready for the Leigh game. He's not being risked due to the year he had last season and Jimmy doesn't want to play him until he's 100%. Personally, i can't complain with that, it's a long season and we'll need his class at the back end of the season.

With the year he had last year and no game time this year he will be seriously undercooked.

I'd agree he's undercooked for Leigh. But if obrien plays full 80, then we have an extra bench spot available effectively so we can ease him in playing short stints against some of weaker teams in the league. Theres a few players we're going to have to down that route with due to them returning from injury or being late joining up.

If Ferguson is fit for the Leigh game do we need to give him a run out as we all know what he brings to a team from his days at Hudds. It is the new lads that Jimmy will want to see in a match situation. I am sure he has the bulk of the first 17 set in his mind already. It is a good point about O'Brien doing 80 mins as it allows 4 forwards on the bench. I imagine Ferguson and Lauaki could take two of them to give us two impact players for 15 minute spells. I would give Ferguson another month of training and work Lauaki hard for two weeks when he arrives.
Some people are getting irritated because they are not being told everything about the state of the team for the Leigh game. Don't forget that Jimmy is also not giving Leigh any clues either so we have to trust that the back room staff have the squad ready and raring to go in 3 weeks time. We have a squad of 30 not just 17 so who are the first choice players other than the two halves that we have?

@OfficialBullsRL: STARTING LINE-UP: Mullaney, Shaw, Purtell, Walker, Williams, Gaskell, Siejka, Tahraoui, O'Brien, Clough, Olbison, Mellor, Pitts.
INTERCHANGES: Halafihi, Sidlow, Henry, Brook, Ryan, Oakes, Ulugia, Martin, Walshaw, Kirk, Davies.

6-0 Leeds. Watkins with a breakaway try.

Very one sided this. McGuire try.

Leeds 10 Bulls 0

Try converted.

Leeds 12 Bulls 0

Purtell scores but it's ruled out by the official.

Bulls concede a soft try before HT.

Leeds 18 Bulls 0

Shaw having a nightmare under the high ball.

Leeds in again. All over before HT this.

Watkins try. Very very soft from the Bulls so far.

Leeds 22 Bulls 0