Rather than trying to guess what Smith will do, what would you do? I'd go for:

Mathers
Hicks
Atkins
King
Riley
Briers
Monas
Mozza
Clarke
Carvell
Louis
Benny
Harrison

Wood
Myler
Bridge
Solomona

No offloads for at least twenty mins, six tackles, keep it tight. Play the game as a forward battle and win it in the middle of the park. Use briers's kicking game, but nothing too fancy, no kicks on first or second tackle. For me the backs are quite evenly matched (this wasn't the case last year where we had the advantage). This year I think we have it in the forwards, and think we should play it, dare I say, a bit boring.

What would you do?

Well, I wouldn't play Monas in the halves, with Buderus at nine for them , that's for sure, and neither would Che.

Myler starts, Clarkes warms the bench ala Wigan away. Bridge won't be in the 19 sadly.

I would start Wood over Carvell and not play Bridge. That would be my only change to how we would normally line up

Bridge definitely not playing, his first game back will be against Harlequins

mathers
hicks
atkins
king
riley

myler
briers

morley
monas
carvell
l anderson
westwood
harrison


solomona
wood
clarke
v anderson

not to much tinkering about for me..i do agree with keeping it tight..cos we do have the advantage in the forwards..

Mathers
Hicks
King
Atkins
Riley
Briers
Myler
Morley
Monaghan
Carvell
Westwood
Louis
Harrison

Clarke
Wood
Vinnie
Solomona (Cooper in if Solo unfit).

For me both Clarke and Vinnie should be in the 17.
Apart from that the team picks itself.

Mathers
Hicks
King
Atkins
Riley

Briers
Myler

Morley
Monaghan
Woody (He has earned the right to be our starting prop)
Westwood
Louis
Harrison

Clarke (Interchange hooker)
Carvell (only have one interchange prop, Leeds are a tad light with props which will mean we could get away with just the one interchange.)
Vinnie ( First choice to give Benny and Louis a rest)
Solomona (Second choice to give Benny and Louis a rest, particularly when the game has been going a while and we can use him for his handling and offloads for Richie Myler to utilise)

Mathers
Hicks
Atkins
King
Riley
Briers
Monaghan
Morley
Clarke
Carvell
Anderson L
Westwood
Harrison

Subs:
Wood
Solomona
Cooper
Higham

Omitted:
Myler
Bridge
Anderson V

Atkins lance Todd trophy

Swap Myler with Cooper and you wont be far off there, (Cooper could replace Solomona though if his back problem doesnt clear up).

This is going to sound daft...but the post asked what would I do??? Well here goes...
Hicks FB
King W
Clarke C
Atkins C
Riley W
Briers SO
Myler SH
Morley P
Monaghan H
Carvell P
Westwood SR
Louis SR
Harrison LF

Higham
Wood
Vinnie
Solomona (Cooper in if Solomona is unfit).

Yes that is leaving Mathers out and putting Clarke at centre.

Heres the method in my madness..... Mathers for all his enthusiasm Foooks up royally, and in a final against a better opposition than last year, can we take that risk?

Also, Clarke is strong in defense, which is needed against a good strong centre like Senior. So, there you have it.

My opinion only, i know its not going to happen, but thats what i'd do and probably why il never be a rugby coach



COME ON YOU WIRE!