www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... inary.html

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... inary.html

It's a big advantage to us with him out, but he's in my bloody fantasy team.

An exception to the rule that Leeds players don't get banned? The fact that he picked up a caution for a similar offence in the same game didn't help. Once your permanent record begins to look busy then bans become more regular.

Dont think its that massive an advantage as they've a perfect replacement in lee smith. What it may do is make them a little weaker out wide with watkins and donald (assuming he doesnt come back a week early) also out. And scoring out wide isnt one of our strong points at moment tbh.

Webb's cut out ball has killed us in the past. Lee Smith is good, but he's no Webb on song IMO.

the loss of JP is a bigger blow for the Rhinos I reckon

Webb out improves our defence,

Ablett centre, delaney wing. Maybe Scott donald will be back. with sini at 6 and a strong pack we will be hard to brake down.

should make for a real battle.

that could be key area imo. If ablett moves into ,peacock out, sinfield in the halves and doubts over both lauititi and luke burgess then your pack looks weaker than ours imo.

All speculation till we see the squad announcements though.

(and more pertinently in leeds case which players actually take to the field, irrespective of actual 19 men announced

)

luke burgess was rested or dropped. So Leeds still have a big strong pack and bench.

Smith
delaney
ablett
senior
hall

sinfield
mcguire

Kylie
buderus
bailey
jjb
kirke
Eastwood

Diskin
burgess
2 from Ali/ambler or pitts

is more than a match for the bulls so no excuses. I think Leeds by 2 or 3 scores If we can get our disipline right.

It'll depend on the fitness of Clarkson. He has been getting the nod over the rest of the second rowers for a few weeks now but with him going off at half time who knows.

Can't see them going with Delaney on the wing either- despite his weaknesses I think Bush will be a better option with Delaney staying at centre.

Injuries permitting I'd go:

Smith
Bush
Delaney
Senior
Hall

Sinfield
McGuire

Leuluai
Buderus
Bailey
JJB
Clarkson
Ablett.

Diskin.
Burgess.
Kirke.
Eastwood.

Obviously Ali will come onto the bench if fit but I doubt that this week with what was said when he was first injured. If Ali is back in then Clarkson will probably drop out, Kirke will start with Ali on the bench.

If neither Clarkson or Ali are fit then Kirke will probably start with Ambler in on the bench.

Makes for a real interesting game. If only Sky had moved the friggin' KO time!

He got a ban?


They do know he is a Leeds player don't they?

Done his ankle ligaments. Out for for a few weeks at least. It's on the web site. As much as bush has showed promise I think delaney or donald(if his ready for the impact but obviously lacking match fitness) are a miles better option than bush in a must win game.

delaney ablett sinfield jjb buderus defending in from the touch line looks miles better than having bush their imo.

And silverwood as ref! The rfl are dishing out the favours this week ey?

just the extra motivation Leeds need?

Tbh I can't see anything in that pack which will cause much concern in ours. eastwood might cause some damage in his spells on the pitch but he's only 2 games back from a serious injury and wont be fully match fit yet and wasnt an 80 minute player before his injury. We contained buderus pretty well last time we played. Those two apart I'd say our pack is the stronger one and would expect them to dominate.
Its whether our backs can take advantage which will be the interesting part.

Bulls by 12-18 I predict. Although that said a lot could depend on what mood silverwoods in and if decide to ping either team out of contest or keeps penalties balanced.

Yeah but with sini and ablett in the backs we have 8 forwards on at a time? kylie and bailey total dominated the wire pack for an hour. Buderus is a different animal now the pitches have firmed up. if the bulls win this by 2 or 3 scores the rhinos are gonna have to be bloody poor(which is possible let's be honest) but I can't see it.

guess we'll find out sunday. will be closest derby for a few years on paper. Should be a good game either way. just weather stays decent and a decent crowd turns up.

Isn't it still possible for Leeds to appeal?

Yep as always we will, maybe get it reduced to one game?

Knowing Leeds it will be wiped off




Anyway, on paper, it should be a fairly even contest and hopefully a cracking game. Can't wait for it now

I'm not convinced your as confident as you make out

I'm the most confident I've been about this fixture for a few years. But I'm not daft enough to do any 'gledhill' style posts and give you sig fodder.



Don't worry though I've got a few gems bookmarked from some of your more excitable fellow rhinos fans in case we do win

Ah it's the biggest game we have had against each other in a while so much so it actually got a thread with more than a page on our board this time.

like I've said Leeds win and we could be 4th lose and we could be 8th. It's our kind of game. Defo our biggest of the season so far. I recon it's kitchen sink time for 80 mins from our end. but both teams have been so hot and cold it could be a draw to a 50/60 niler? Ding dong

Really can't see it mate. Like you say, Donald is the better option but still a couple of weeks away IIRC. Ablett playing at 13 is the best option with Sinfield in the halves. Think we need the impact of Eastwood from the bench to try and lift the tempo if the game isn't going our way so I'd keep him out of the starting line up. I'd be worried about starting him if we are missing Ali too.

Personally, think it'll be too much messing with the defensive structure when it just seems to be improving on that side.

We shall see what the line up is come Sunday.

Putting Ablett in the centres would be a waste.

Especially when there is no real need to do it.