Grix stays for me.
TJ and BJB
Tupou in. Don't mind between the other two.
I need to watch the game back to decide about Hampshire v Finn.
Bachelor in.
Anakin only if we are down on numbers for me.

By the magic of TrinityTV, I've actually been able to watch the games this year.



We play high quality, entertaining, competitive RL. I'm enjoying it.

OK, losing is disappointing but, from an entertainment viewpoint, these last 2 years have been fantastic. Enjoy the skills on show and the jeopardy of sport.

If you compare the current performances to 2014/15 it's like light and dark. Then, I was just hoping to be less than 4 scores behind at halftime.

A few years back, we put together a 7-game winning run (2012?), but the rugby we were playing was dull as ditchwater. The only highlight was when Lauitiiti came off the bench and executed some of his trademark offloads. The last of home game of this run was Widnes at home. We may have won, but I was actually bored at the game, it was such low quality.
So, enjoy the ride. I'm sure we'll be in the top 8 come the split.

Winning isn't everything; wanting to win is.

I would also say that anyone who blames refereeing decisions for a loss really knows very little about the sport. Occasionally they get things wrong and it can be a factor, but I've yet to witness a game where it has been the deciding factor*, like blaming one player's error.
(*the 1968 watersplash final may be the exception that proves the rule)

On the team front, Reece Lyne must be one of the most improved players in the squad. He seems to be physically stronger, which has given him more confidence to take on the line, and his work rate is impressive. I'm an Arundel fan, but at the moment, Lyne and Tupou keep their places if fit. I could be tempted to rest BJB and put Tupou on the wing against Leeds.

It must be difficult for BOris JOhnson IV to get around the house with all those half-empty glasses everywhere.

From a Leeds POV for us it's about avoiding a slow start. It's what has cost us recently with being 24-0 down in as many minutes vs Cas and 12-0 down after 20 mins vs Hudds. We managed to fight our way back well in both games to get a draw in one and almost snatch the win in the other but you're leaving yourself too much to do with starts like those.

Should be an area Wakey are targeting to get off to a fast start as definitive potential of Leeds being slow out of the blocks.

Well Printer, that bodes well for a great but stressful game as we are starting well and then losing focus in secnd half.
Looking forward to it.

Anakin is a lot more effective than Baldwinson, we would have neaten Cas and Hull if he had been playing.

The OP is on the wind up - no one will put 42 past Leeds this season, let alone WT.

But - they do have some vulnerability with injuries and such, so that could be a leveller; although missing Big Dave is a blow - he's been brilliant this season and really causes problems for defenders.

On a slight tangent - I had a conversation with a lad who made his 1st team debut for Shudds last weekend; he was defending against Watkins and described it as "a total f****ing nightmare" - he said he's got it all - quick, great feet, and strong as an ox; nothing we didn't already know, but interesting to hear it from the horses mouth.

Anyhow - if we can pull it off, this will be a really valuable win; we need to be taking some of these scalps to keep us in the mix.

Should I presume you're on the wind up as well?

My opinion is my opinion, did anyone see us putting 62-0 on Wigan??

Watkins has started to show again somewhere near what he is capable of and had a decent world cup. Lets see if he can shed his tendency to disappear when the going gets tough. Look forward to Bill T's battle with him on Sunday.

If you like - and no, but then I don't think that the Leeds camp has contracted bubonic plague, so we won't have that in our favour as we apparently did against Wigan...

Both years?

I was being facetious - I don't attribute that win to Wigan's mystery illness; that was Shaun Wane's excuse, not mine!

What's the opinion on the halfback position? Anyone warmed to Hampshire after only game at half back for us or does Finny return?

I personally think the time has come where you have to weigh up the positives/negatives of having Finn in the 13. His in game kicking game has been nothing short of rubbish so far this year and his goal kicking just about okay. He's got it upstairs but it is starting to hurt us in attack with how slow he is physically in my opinion. I think it's time we started looking to the future and blooding Hampshire - the boy needs to be getting games and I think he deserves a shot all things considered.

I'd also be picking Batchelor/Crowther over Horo from what I've seen. Not that Horo doesn't lack effort. I can't fault his effort but he doesn't particularly stand out in attack and he's a liability in terms of discipline in defence.

Mr Hewitt's lad by any chance?

I think that's a fair assessment, although the here and now is the most important, one of the keys in the future for hopefully this side to progress, is how to replace Finn & Grix eventually, they can't go on forever obviously, and I think Hampshire & Jowitt deserve a crack to see if they can be the ones' to take their places long term. I would like to see both of them maybe play in at least half of the games.

Who I deliberately didn't name.

I thought Horo had his best game for us so far at Hull, likewise Pauli Pauli. I would expect both to be in against Leeds.

I would go for MCB but expect BJB to come back in.

Wouldnt be surprised to see Arona given a week off and Annakin/ Baldwinson to take his spot for this one.

Grix
MCB
Lyne
Toupo
Johnstone
Miller
Hampshire
Hirst
Randell
Huby
Ashurst
Batchelor
Horo

Wood
kirmond
Pauli
Baldwinson

Oh apologies. I didn't realise this was top secret, sensitive information. Especially, when it could be identified as easily as it was.

It's not - but my assumption was that anyone who knew, would know, so it didn't seem necessary to name the player; the point was about Watkins and the threat he presents for Leeds.

I agree with everything you have said there but I would not be throwing Crowther into the mix, championship standard for me although is still young enough to prove me wrong. Can only see the same happening with him that happened with Kyle Trout, on the books as a lad and loaned out every season with the occasional first team appearance.

Mullally returns for Leeds, JJB back in and Delaney rested.

Probable Leeds lineup

Golding
Briscoe
Watkins
Handley
Hall
Moon
Myler
Mullally
Parcell
Singleton
Ward
Ablett
JJB

With 4 of these 6 on the bench
Dwyer
Sutcliffe
Oledzki
Smith
Walters
Ferres

Down to the forwards to have a big game looking at Leeds line up.

Would like to see:

Grix
Johnstone
Tupou
Arundel
Bishop

Miller
Hampshire

England
Wood
Huby
Ashurst
Batchelor
Arona

Kirmond
Randell
Pauli
Hirst

Tough to leave Finn out but I thought Hampshire had a good first half last week. We were on the back foot last week 2nd half so the half’s got little chance to do anything productive. Forwards need to be ripping into Leeds from the off imo.

19 man squad:

Tinirau Arona
Joe Arundel
Matty Ashurst
Jordan Baldwinson
James Batchelor
Ryan Hampshire
Keegan Hirst
Justin Horo
Craig Huby
Tom Johnstone
Ben Jones-Bishop
Max Jowitt
Danny Kirmond
Reece Lyne
Jacob Miller
Pauli Pauli
Tyler Randell
Bill Tupou
Kyle Wood

No Finn or Grix.

To be fair, it was of the "Don't tell 'em, Pike" type of thing.

Not surprised to see Finn and Grix rested.

They are key and influential members of our squad.

It must be remembered that both played for Ireland in the World Cup.

We will get the best out of this pair by being selective in the games that
they play.

We have very able deputies who need to be at their best when these
opportunities arise.

Looking forward to the next 2 games v Leeds and Saints.