Can't help thinking that you did no more than you had to do to win the game against CC and I'm pretty sure that they'll up the intensity on Friday, still if our defence is as good as it was against Wigan I think we'll keep it close and then the result kight come down to a bounce of the ball or a ref's decision. Whatever the result I'll be happy if we're competitive, having got two of our toughest away games of the season out of the way in the first two weeks and come away with at least two points we couldn't ask for any more than that.

Bang on assessment IMHO



I think someone might.....JK and JD for a start...

Oh, I agree but if a team comes to play then it is much easier if you have had a tougher game the week before. Also Leeds have lost a player and are playing 2 players who havent played for 4 and 6 months respectively.

Anyway... my men to watch in Fridays encounter are [url=http://superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2009&hp1=1097&hs2=2009&hp2=1129&stat=tries&season=2009Brad Drew and Ali Lauiti'iti.[/url. Both game breakers and both coming off good games last week.

Drew is a thinker, a schemer. He will play and play behind the line and then BANG... He has made a 50 metre break and passed to the support player and you are counting the points. He controls the shape of the Wakefield play and when he is on form, so are they.

Lauiti'iti seems to be getting involve a lot more these days and that is a sign of good things to come for Leeds. He attacks the line and very rarely gets knocked back. He also doesnt get put down very often either giving himself time to promote the ball. 110m and 5 offloads last Friday tells its own story and this with a quiet 2nd half too. When he is on the pitch Leeds look a hell of a lot more dangerous down the right side.

Hope so, it would show that the club's mindset is moving on from one that hopes to compete to one that expects to compete, although I think that those two have always been in that frame of mind we are now slowly getting one or two players that can deliver on that front.
It will be interesting to see how well Grix performs at s/o against a better class of player than he had to play against on Sunday.

Indeed, I'll never forget the nightmare of him scoring five against us at B/V

Only time a 'fiver' has been scored by a forward and it was from the bench (also unique, I believe). Just as well he wasn't on from the start.

The 19 man squad in full is:

2. Scott Donald
3. Lee Smith
5. Ryan Hall
6. Danny McGuire
8. Kylie Leuluai
9. Danny Buderus
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones Buchanan
12. Ali Lauitiiti
13. Kevin Sinfield
14. Matt Diskin
16. Ryan Bailey
17. Ian Kirke
18. Carl Ablett
19. Luke Burgess
20. Ashley Gibson
22. Danny Allan
23. Kallum Watkins
27. Dane Manning

My team would be
Smith
Donald
Watkins
Gibson
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Leuluai
Diskin
Peacock
JJB
Lauititi
Ablett

Subs
Buderus
Bailey
Allen
Kirke
No place for Burgess and Manning.

If Bluey decides that pairing Gibson & Watkins is too much of a risk, he may play Ablett in the centre, Kirke in the second row, move JJB to 13 and bring Burgess into the subs.
No place then for Gibson and Manning.

Probably start with Gibson and Watkins and if its not working switch it.

Is he Noble in disguise

No... all the above mentioned players are British

wakefield are a pretty physical side, wouldnt want to go with only 2 forwards on the bench, dont think there is room for a hooker and a 6/13 swap burgess for allen, and let ablett cover the back 5

If Gibson doesn't get a run out this week with the injuries then I dont know when he would. This is his chance to show us all and most importantly BM what he has to offer. BM has stated he has faith in the full 1-25 squad so he should have faith starting with Gibson and Watkins together in the Centres. I'm sure Melbourne had similar misgivings about Inglis and Falou a couple of years back and look what happened there.

Gibson & Watkins
Inglis & Falou

i would guess he is talking about playing them together at a young age rather than comparing abilities.try thinking first hey

I know what he meant i was Joking!

really

Smith
Donald
Gibson
Watkins
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Leulaui
Diskin
Peacock
JJB
Ali
Ablett

Buderus
Burgess
Kirke
Bailey

Swap Kirke and Ali and I'd go with that. I think Ali's a better player off the bench, and also adds a little bit of guile to the subs in order to inject something different into the game.

I'd roll with that. Spot on. But he was a big part of blasting Celtic away early doors, worth noting I suppose. I feel however that his game is suited to being an impact player. If (or when) Eastwood gets here you can mix those two up quite well and have a good level of impact throughout the game.

Nobody thinks Diskin is going to start Loose Forward? Wouldn't be surprised myself...

I can't believe that he will start with both Diskin & Buderus. I still think he'll start with Diskin & bring Buderus on later while still possibly keeping Diskin on as well.
Is there anybody in the Wakefield side that you'd want in our side or squad?
If not shouldn't that mean we should win easily?

no, think you will be in for a suprise on friday night, gonna be a hard close game, for reasons that are obvous after the week our club has had

its amazing what a win at an underperforming wigan can do to a small clubs' confidence!