I feel Leeds have the best pack strength in SL, especially with their quality of interchange players. It is in this area that the game will be won or lost.

If our forward lose that battle upfront, there is a danger that the speed in their backs could cause us serious problems.

If we can close down their forwards we can win the half-back battle, especially with our superior kicking game.

Even if we can hold them attack they still have a formidable defence and it will take all the guile of Drew , slipperyness of Obst and top notch support play to breach it.

This is probably the most appropriate time (if there is such a thing) to play Leeds and sheer strength of desire could be deciding factor in our favour.

Last week when Leeds played you looked at the team sheet, and yes it was a good team, but it was nothing overawing for-man-to-man. )...Kallum Watkins maybe "sensational" according to stevo but I bet if Atkins is back, ran at him and got in his face he wouldn't be...Sometimes in rugby the very name of a team defeats the opposition before the game is even played. However, whtever team they put out they seem to a style of play which maximises a great offload game; I think there is a misnomer about leeds having outstanding backs, they don't, they have very good backs, but what they have is an outstaning pack off the immensinty of Jamie Peacock (arguably the best front rower in the world). So while I think we have nothing to fear (particulary with their injuries)... If they decide that they want to play like they did last year before the WCC challenge and have a completion rate above Wigan's abysmal 40% we could be on the thick end of a hiding.

Atually I have just read that back, trying to talk about Leed's weaknesses(whether their backs are world-class or merely outstanding...): and really its BS, Leeds are immense. We maybe competitive tonight but beating Leeds at Headingly any team is going to be at the very top of their game. So who knows.

Similar position to this time last year...we had just beaten the Bulls in our first game and were confident about beating Leeds (at last) at BV. They put 50 past us.

Same thing later in the season, we had just beaten Cas and Barrow and we were confident of a good show at Headingley. They put 50 past us.

Much as I would like us to do well, I fear a repeat performance and another hammering!

That been said, I would have settled for two points from our first two games!

Yes it very similar to last year's start, they were quite simply immense in last year's corresponding fixtture, don't think we touched the ball in the first half. Leeds is a strange one, on the one hand its a total right-off game wise as you expect to be spanked: and we have been, but then again sometimes its a really competitive and you have a cracking game, the 13-12 dunnerman drop goal still sticks in my mind and then there is always the hope that you might just do it: 2000 anyone?Was it Adam Hughes diving on the ball to score in the last minute after Cummings dropped it in-goal (not too sure if they are the right players I think I was just too delerious with joy at the time)

It was kind of summed up for me by Jamie Field aftera close game which we lost in possibly the 2004 season, saw him suitably inebriated on Wakefield (had a marvellous recovery) and just kind of bellowed that it was a victory for them because it was 7 tries to 8 to Leeds (think we lost by 10 or 12 on goal kicks), when i pointed out that was in fact quite the opposite of victory and indeed a loss, that he stated that they weren't expected to win so getting close was "victory",

FWIW I don't really think 50 is on the cards. Our attack didn't really click last week and with Webb, Burrow and Senior out that is unlikely to improve dramatically. I think tonight will be mostly about the forwards, and the backs will have to take their chances when they come. I am just about confident of a Leeds win, but Wakey showed some form and a lot of heart last week and there are still a lot of unknowns at this stage of the season. Anything could happen.

to be honest although a leeds win is easy to predict statistically, what is more difficult is trying to work out what sort of a game it will be, tight or a stuffing. impossible to know and a lot depends on the opening twenty and how long we can keep you out for initially. i'm wary of a stuffing to be honest

I don't expect a win tonight but I will be more than happy with a good solid performance that makes Leeds fight all the way for a full 80 minutes.

If that happens and we come away with no injuries I will be happy. A win would be a bonus, but like most of the other posters I believe it will be the Leeds forwards that will win the game tonight.

I'm always warying on Leeds running through our centre's. If we are to get anything from this game Tony Martin and Sean Gleeson need to be on top form defensively.

One thing is for sure, we won't be able to control and slow Leeds down as we did to Wigan last week. I won't to tip us so much but Leeds are a very good team even without Burrow, Senior and Webb

Not expecting any sort of victory for Trinity and Skybet are offering 10/11 for a Wakefield +18 win. Would be happy if that is the difference between the two side. Having said that, I wouldn’t put it past Trinity to beat Leeds then end up losing the following week at home to Salford.

the voice of years of experience

Will it be Gleeson and Martin? Even though neither deserve to be dropped after the Wigan match there is a very good chance that it will be an Atkins - Martin centre combination.

We will have neither first choice centre in tonight though. 2 from Gibson, Watkins and Ablett will be the likely starters.

Surely this is good for leeds not Trinity?

not sure what you mean by this? im thinking you think senior is gash?

senior is still quality, those of us who see him week in week out know that. he's still probably the best defencive centre in the league and will again prove to be an awesome attacker this season.

if atkins has half the career mr ebay has then it will still be very good one

Gleeson and Martin should start in the centre's, i thought both of them played pretty well last week. Atkins will have to prove his worth and wait for an opportunity.

Pace is something which Leeds are not short off. Hopefully we won't allow them the opportunity to use it!

Quote from the Wakey express:

John kear has revealed that he has learned a valuable lesson from last year's campaign, He said "We also had a lot of players out injured at the start of last season but I am going to handle it differently this time around"
"I think we let players back into the first team too easily last year. If the lads available are playing well then they should be rewarded for that"
he added "If players are coming back to fitness then perhaps we will give them a few runouts for the reserves before bringing them back into the first team"

Well said JK, that's just what the lads who are going out to face Leeds need to hear, they need no more incentive than that to produce the goods tonight

Strange game at headingley last week, almost like a training game. Suspect our plan is to build up to the WCC and I think we may play in a similar way tonight - so I think it might be pretty close. We'll certainly put a lot of points on some sides this year but I don't think it'll happen to you tonight.

After last weeks performance you are entitled to be up beat and optomistic.

Might be better though if your assessment of the potential dangers were more accurate.

Try checking Ali's try scoring record against you first.....

Off loads are the key to Leeds success, stop them reduces there attacking options by 70% there kicking game isnt that good..Also Diskins runs from dummy half usually finds us out, sure up the middle, stop the offloads and Drew,obst and Demetriou take charge and you never know we might just get a result. Backing up on a friday night after playing sunday has never been our strength though...

after last nights lucky guess of 42 think you have this spot on about the off loads, I mentioned too last night that its impressive, but all they have to do is watch for the off load and get the in your face attitude going again

I'd start Atkins on the bench with Gleeson and Martin in centres. I'm one of the few Trin supporters who thinks Atkins still have to prove himself afer all the hype of his first great season with us. Plus, Martin and Gleeson have form whereas Atkins is fresh from injury.

We do have the ability to move the team around; I'd like to see Atkins in te pack at some point, he's big enough and I'd like to see if he can cope. Grix and Obst are interchangable in half-back/pack positions.

My reckoning is that Trin will aim to come out strong in the first twenty; nothing too expansive, keep to those great attacking plays - down the middle till the line is within sight and let Obst do his thing out wide.

The defence needs to be tight; two-three men on the tackle, wrapping the ball up every time to prevent the off-loads and line breaks Leeds are relient on. Wakey need to be wary of the Leeds pack as well.

Leeds are without their first choice centres and full back, so Trin's great kicking game will be even more crucial to unsettle Leeds, force error and maintain field position.

If the lads can keep it close in the first twenty it'll lift their confidence and bolster their already brimming passion and defiance, which will see them through the rest of the match. The longer Trin can stem the Leeds go-forward and unsettle their back line in kicks, the more likely the South Standers are going to get agitated and get on Leeds' backs.

I looked at the team that beat Leeds at Headingley last. Overall I think we have a far stronger team now than then

Having said that I can see a win, or at least a very tight match, against Leeds tonight, but can just as easily see us losing to Salford by six tries to three next week.

You didn't bother to read his post then?

Well I think I did.................





He was talking about Ali's offloading of the ball. I was just trying to remind you all of his other assets....



Like the record scoring feat 5 tries...and off the bench at that....

so what you are saying is that someone scoring a lot of tries against us is a potential danger? well no shiit sherlock