Clarkson had no rugby brain to speak of though wheeas Keinhorst seems a pretty smart player from what I've seen. I certainly wouldn't be averse to giving him a shot at 9 against Wigan. If it doesn't work out Sinfield would be Plan B. The advantage if Keinhorst works is it requires no other players switching positions during the game. I can't think of a team deliberately planning on having their main playmaker move to dummy half and back again during a game. There's probably a reason for that....

It does look as though Ward/Lilley won't get a go until after the CC final in any event. If BM was planning on one of them to be in the final he'd be crazy not to give them as many minutes as possible in the games beforehand.

Keinhorst at 9 is a brilliant shout if Ward is back.

Although I don't think any of these should be an option, surely S.ward and ablett are our two ball playing forwards. leave Keinhorst in the SR, he's still establishing himself in the first team. Stevie obviously played 7 at Wembley a few years ago and ablett has already played 6 this year. Though, like I say, I don't believe this is the direction we should be going down just yet.

Personally I would have given R ward a shoot this week. I know it's a huge game and if we win could open up a gap at the top. But Wembley is a bigger game. And two good performances from R ward could have been our answer for CC. It would deff have been a gamble but now or never kind of thing regarding Cc.

I think we'll be sticking with this team now for the next few weeks. I have faith in BMc

Another thing, isn't Robbie ward out of contract at the end of this season? This final run of games could be important to him now he has a chance to pla .

Don't be surprised to see Burrow being asked to do 80 minutes at dummy half.

Equally don't be surprised to see Wigan running Joel Tomkins and Gelling over the top of him all night.

That is my worry. Stupid not to have R Ward on the bench.
I know it's a big game but I think we need to give him a chance and cause as little change to the team as possible.

Agree...Robbie Ward should have been a straight swap for Aiton as soon as the club knew Aiton would not play again for Leeds. The lad needs tons of blooding now and if we had lost against Wigan it would have been worth it for what it would give these coming demanding weeks.
Burrow - as plenty have said - does just not have the skill set as a starting dummy half. He will be targeted no doubt in defence too. Guess Leeds must be planning on Stevie Ward taking up the tackling gauntlet....but whichever way you look at it the real forwards will suffer and blunt their attacking options with extra energy sapped away.
Possession is going to be so much more critical...maybe demanding less of the risky off loading game to the detriment of all watching. Still...i would rather that now than coughing up possession in these new circumstances.

burrow won't defend in the middle. I'm guessing he will go wider as usual

Yes i know...one in from Hall...but he will still be targeted in defence as 'Gilder' says

With the news that Aiton is out for the rest of the season, for me a mistake not to have faith in Ward. We can beat Hull KR with Burrow at hooker, but we won't be finding it as easy against the top sides, and certainly not a GF semi and final. You need a proper hooker, and as Ward is the only left option he should be utilised there for the rest of the season.

Would there be any mileage in trying Walters at dummy half?
He's about the same size or slightly bigger than Aiton, looks to have a bit of pace but I'm not sure about his hands or his passing ability.
Just a thought.