Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 2:14 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

Hooker is the only absolute must. The issue there is probably Burrow, because if we want a genuinely decent player Burrow will have to go back to the bench. If we were being brutal I'd let Burrow go.

Problem is, if he goes and the new hooker gets injured where does that leave you? So realistically as well as a new hooker you'd have to bring someone else into the squad who can provide cover at 9.

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 4:38 am  

Luke Gale and a hooker. Forget about losing any of the back line. They are all on long term contracts

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 5:48 am  

Printer - I agree. Its such a key position, and given that your hooker is supposed to defend up the middle, also one where you have to have a reasonable third choice available if needs be. Its one reason why I personally wouldn't mind someone like Luke Briscoe being kept on, as he provides a lot of utility value. You can also make a case for saying the club shouldn't have let Robbie Ward go until/unless the next junior was ready. I suspect the answer is that they thought Lilley could fill in, as they tried him there at the back end of last season.

In any event the balance of the squad needs looking at, particularly if we're light on in terms of quality juniors. When everyone's fit we seem to have a lot of average forwards again.

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 6:18 am  

Someone who can coach the middle lads to take someone's legs. A decent hooker who can defend the middle is also required

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 6:54 am  

We need a Hooker now not next year. Falloon although injured did nothing when he played !

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 9:41 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Problem is, if he goes and the new hooker gets injured where does that leave you? So realistically as well as a new hooker you'd have to bring someone else into the squad who can provide cover at 9.

We didn't have Burrow last week, or a proper hooker, but we looked better as an organsised defence than we have. So not so sure on that.

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 12:58 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

We didn't have Burrow last week, or a proper hooker, but we looked better as an organsised defence than we have. So not so sure on that.

Helped that we weren't trying to hide McGuire, Burrow and Lilley at the same time, so we could have entire starting pack defending in the middle with a centre, half and winger on either side. Enabled us to get numbers in the tackle and control the collision, which gives time for the rest of the defence to get set and organised.

Still not sure how anyone at the club thought Hallas was going to be big enough to make it as a prop though. Amazed it's taken until half way through his third year in the Academy before he's been tried elsewhere.

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 2:00 pm  

Blake Green from Melbourne Storm is what we need plus a hooker who can distribute and tackle.

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Fri May 27, 2016 5:30 pm  

I think we'll go for Clarke at hooker but we desperately need an organising half back, preferably one whose vocal and can be the leader on the pitch were missing. Sutcliife isnt a half back but i think would go well at loose with stevie ward in the second row. Ward tackling is badly missed, He hits hard and rarely gets broken. Just hope he comes back form injury the same player. I hope this season doesnt do too much damage to Lilley. Ordinarily a run in the first team so young pays dividends later on but playing in this beaten side may do more harm than good.

Re: If Leeds are in super league next season.. : Sat May 28, 2016 7:50 am  

How many of the golden generation remaining - McGuire, Burrow and JJB - now wish they had opted to retire with Sinfield and Peacock? A big black cloud on their careers if Leeds go down this season.

I'm not convinced that either McGuire or Burrow should be considered essential in the current circumstances. The problem of making too many wholesale changes in one go seems to be much less of a risk than keeping the status quo, which is pretty terrifying. Even if we stay up, we look set for at least one, probably two, transitional seasons before we're capable of challenging the top 4 again.

At what point does Kallum Watkins stop being an automatic selection? Some of his defence of late has been appalling for an elite player. At least he is young enough to be part of something again if/when things get better.