Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:50 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

At the moment I can't see how JJB would get back in the squad, he could be another that decides to call it a day at the end of the season.

He'd comfortably get in the 17 above Yates and Achurch (and allow us to share the minutes our front rowers are doing currently better). He was having a decent year before injury.

If everyone was fit tomorrow then going from what we've seen so far my strongest 17 would be...

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sutcliffe
McGuire
Cuthbertson
Aiton
Peacock
Ablett
Ward
Sinfield

Singleton
JJB
Delaney
Achurch

Sinfield could switch to hooker for a spell to rest Aiton or could even be spelled himself with a few back row options on the bench (or even start on the bench with either Singleton or JJB at loose depending on the opponent). Would use JJB as either prop/loose and Achurch as a 2nd rower.

Harsh on Handley but Briscoe was in terrific form previously and whilst not the strongest start to the year it'd be a brave man not to pick Hall.

Hoping we see Walters, Robbie Ward and Mulhern at some point during the year (certain we will with Walters who just got injured at the wrong time around Easter weekend.) who could force themselves onto the bench ahead of the likes of an Achurch.

Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:18 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

At the moment I can't see how JJB would get back in the squad, he could be another that decides to call it a day at the end of the season.

What? JJB has been in splendid form this year and until his injury looked as fit as any of the squad doing the hard stuff in the middle. If he returns in the same form he will make the squad as a starter.

Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:20 pm  

JJB (on best form) is a better player than either Achurch or Yates. The issue is whether having him ahead of either on the bench leaves you extremely lightweight.

Might not be so much of a problem if we hit a hot summer and agility/mobility/stamina become key for the forwards rather than outright size and power.

Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:31 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

JJB (on best form) is a better player than either Achurch or Yates. The issue is whether having him ahead of either on the bench leaves you extremely lightweight.

Might not be so much of a problem if we hit a hot summer and agility/mobility/stamina become key for the forwards rather than outright size and power.

But the playoffs are in Sept/October when it's cooler and possibly wetter and the big guys may come back into their own.
You need a balance plus luck with injuries.

Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:37 pm  

JJB might not be the biggest but he was showing he could hold his own in the middle, more so than when the bigger Achurch plays there.

Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:46 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

JJB might not be the biggest but he was showing he could hold his own in the middle, more so than when the bigger Achurch plays there.

i agree and imo if achurch plays then he is best suited to a wide running second row position,although he is well down the pecking order presently

jjb would have also been in this category also but he moved up to the middle channel and was doing a very good job prior to injury

i expect that jjb will easily be able to step back into this role when he returns rather than try to do the wide stuff that ward and ablett do so well

Re: The feared transition period : Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:09 pm  

IF JJB is fit he should come straight back into the 17 and either start or come off the bench at 13. He was playing some of his best rugby for a couple of years prior to his injury, having him in the side would also enable Achurch to move back out to the 2nd row, because to be honest I'm not sure he's got the ticker to play in the middle.

Re: The feared transition period : Mon Apr 20, 2015 10:31 am  

It's obviously too early to talk about successful transitions yet. But Sutcliffe, in particular has been a revelation to me. He started out in the team (quite rightly0 not being given too much responsibility, and performed well, but not always spectacularly. This year, when he has been given the reigns, he's been sensational. Especially considering he's just getting started. It bodes very well for the future. Stevie Ward has also been fantastic thus far. I hope his bad luck with injuries is running out.

I think the key to replacing our holy trinity is not to think about like for like replacements. It is, as people have said, all about building the next team. To carry the "next Kevin Sinfield" tag around Headingley seems an unnecessary burden for Liam Sutcliffe.

We've started brilliantly, including that nice habit of picking up points without playing as well as we can. There will be rougher patches in the rest of the season. But I think the close-season talk of us struggling to make the 8, let alone the 4, seems incredibly far fetched now. Some of our rivals have wobbled, we've cashed in to the maximum. We will probably have a wobble at some point, it remains to be seen who is in a position to cash in on that. Wigan, Wire and Saints, in particular have shown patches that suggest there will be much more to come from them.

So it isn't time to be carried away. It is time to be very pleased with how things are going right now though. We're making hay while the sun shines. Nothing wrong with that. And nothing wrong with the way some of the youngsters are coming on, which may just be repaying some of the patience our coaching staff have been criticised for.

Re: The feared transition period : Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:07 am  

Regardless of who plays and who doesn't, I'm enjoying watching this young and old Leeds side. Most enjoyable and interesting season for quite some time as far as I'm concerned.

Re: The feared transition period : Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:36 am  

Jonesy's a Legend wrote:

that's a tad harsh imo as i believe that he was playing some of his best rugby prior to his injury so don't write him off just yet

I agree with that JJB has been excellent since he came back from injury in 2014