Juan Cornetto wrote:Sinfield excellent MOM performance. Garbutt, Ward and Ablett put in some big shifts. JP a bit below par and Watkins and Briscoe a bit sloppy. Moon really strong in the middle and Mags sharp.
We should rest key players next week as growing injury list is becoming a big worry. Saints could even drop out of the top 4. The GF could be played by 2 sets of reserves at this rate.
Would agree with all of this...Garbutt is proving to be another masterstroke signing. Moon is quietly going about his business as a quality centre in the shadow of all the accolades that his counterpart (justifiably) gets. He and Hall are less error prone than their right wing partnership.
Joined: Feb 27 2002 Posts: 18060 Location: On the road
nantwichexile wrote:Perhaps now those that questioned the loss that Aiton will be will now understand !!!
A great defensive effort and a return to the good old fashined ground out win ....but .....those lovely runs from dummy half with equally lovely go forward and off loads reached a peak against Warrington.
Credit to McDermott for his blind-sider, but it was close.
As others have already pointed out McGuire was trying to cover two half back roles....and he did do a good job, but going forward I think we have to really give Robbie Ward an opportunity against Hull (which I think will be done with the healthy lead and those extra 2 valuable points).
I too believe Sinfield is now our best dummy half option, but it does look now to be leaving too big a 'hole' in the halfbacks. I'm not sure Burrow is the answer: IMO he is still best coming off the bench.
Maybe Lilley might be tried at halfback against Hull too? Some tough decisions ahead....but one game before wembley how many more injury risks can Leeds afford to take?
Poor old Achurch....hope he makes a recovery to play against Hull
I don't think anyone questioned Aiton's value to the team the debate was whether we could find an equivalent replacement. If Ballin is coming he is every bit as good as Aiton if not better so the answer to the question is yes.
Your job is to say to yourself on a job interview does the hiring manager likes me or not. If you aren't a particular manager's cup of tea, you haven't failed -- you've dodged a bullet.
Joined: Aug 09 2008 Posts: 4934 Location: Living the Dream
On a second look I was wrong to say JP was a bit under par. In fact he put in his usual massive effort with Cuthbertson not far behind. As it turned out Cuthbo did step up to acting half back on a few occasions and even made a dummy run. I wonder if Kylie took a knock
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you! - Winston Churchill
Joined: Aug 09 2008 Posts: 4934 Location: Living the Dream
I think the game plan for the conditions was correct and Mac seemed unhappy that we moved from it in the second half which turned over cheap possession. After 3 big games on the trot do we rest up our key men next week as we can afford 2 losses and still take first spot. Or do we try and secure top spot against Hull to keep momentum for Wembley?
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you! - Winston Churchill
Juan Cornetto wrote:I think the game plan for the conditions was correct and Mac seemed unhappy that we moved from it in the second half which turned over cheap possession. After 3 big games on the trot do we rest up our key men next week as we can afford 2 losses and still take first spot. Or do we try and secure top spot against Hull to keep momentum for Wembley?
We should try to secure top spot.
But I would rest Cuthbertson, as that is too big a risk to lose him.
Joined: Apr 03 2003 Posts: 28186 Location: A world of my own ...
Hardly surprising that Leeds looked fatigued in the latter stages. Made themselves do an awful lot of goal-line defence with some sloppy handling and being a bench rotation down didn't help. I can only imagine Achurch has run over a black cat at some point. It's not a lack of durability or fragility that is causing him to pick up injuries, he just seems to have some freakish bad luck typified by slipping last night and ending up getting his head in the wrong place as a result.
There are key individuals that Leeds cannot do without at Wembley and who shouldn't be risked against Hull FC - Sinfield, Cuthbertson, Hardaker in particular. Time to see what the likes of Robbie Ward and Rob Mulhern have to offer, give Handley a game at full-back. A defeat to Hull FC while not ideal would hardly be fatal to ambitions of finishing top, given other results this weekend.
"As you travel through life don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things" - George Carlin
We were outstanding again tonight we did drop off in last 10 mins but can be forgiven in such a high intensity game fatigue is always going to happen. Well done mighty Rhinos the best time in the land!!!
Joined: Feb 26 2002 Posts: 948 Location: Strummerville
Biff Tannen wrote:Garbutt is a good signing.No frills just does his job of carting it up and solid in defence.Needs to get a pair of shorts that fit though
Perhaps he could buy a pair from Nathan Hindmarsh ??
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