RD 1 | St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:00 pm  

Your first game of the season is up against:

Lomax
Makinson
Morgan (unknown talent)
Percival
Swift
Fages
Smiffy
Walmsley
Roby
Douglas (looks good playing for Scotland)
LMS
Greenwood
Wilkin

Amor
Walker (also looking decent playing for the Scots)
Thompson
Peyroux or Knowles or Tommy Lee (Another new signing TBC)

Re: Leeds Rhinos 2017 Squad : Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:29 pm  

Rommel wrote:

Your first game of the season is up against:

Lomax
Makinson
Morgan (unknown talent)
Percival
Swift
Fages
Smiffy
Walmsley
Roby
Douglas (looks good playing for Scotland)
LMS
Greenwood
Wilkin

Amor
Walker (also looking decent playing for the Scots)
Thompson
Peyroux or (Another new signing TBC)

If Lomax's tackling is anything like the 'tackle' on Rapana a week or so back - we'll be reet.

Re: Leeds Rhinos 2017 Squad : Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:32 pm  

I am sure the squad will perform better than it did last season - difficult to actually regress from such a low point.

The questions for me are:

1. Will the rate of improvement of the young players out strip the regression through the age factor of others e.g Keinhorst/Sutcliffe v McGuire/JJB?
2. Will the lack of signings compared to other top sides see the Rhinos as bit players in the top 8 with a season that is basically over by June?
3. Will the young players such as Cameron Smith/Jordan Baldwinson be given a chance or will the coach stay loyal to the tried and tested even if performances are as dismal as last year.
4. Will the conditioning be better - the lack of which was a major contributing factor to the poor run of results.
5. Which of the older brigade will be the first to get a contract extension - JJB for me
6. How long before Delanney is on his haunches in most games - 5 mins for me

Finally and most importantly are the club and its supporters prepared to accept 6/7/8th as a suitable finish for 2017 - are the club not concerned that a club such as Castleford have a stronger squad - on paper at least?

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:47 pm  

We should be aiming for top 4 with the squad we have with a good pre-season and less injuries.

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 2:19 pm  

LeedsDave wrote:

We should be aiming for top 4 with the squad we have with a good pre-season and less injuries.

Without a top quality HB & an ageing injury prone pack?
Not much of a chance imo of a top 4 spot.

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 2:24 pm  

As it stands if everyone comes back fit (Galloway aside) id expect our 17 to be.
Sutty
Hall
Moon
Watkins
Briscoe
Mags
Lilley
Garbutt
Segeyaro
Cuthbertson
Ferres
Ablett
Ward

Burrow
Singleton
Delaney/Jjb
Baldwinson

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 4:26 pm  

our outside backs are better than anyone , our forwards are as good as anyone , we may struggle at full back but where we are desperate is half back and coach .

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:28 pm  

RHINO-MARK wrote:

Without a top quality HB & an ageing injury prone pack?
Not much of a chance imo of a top 4 spot.

Think he injury prone pack line is an exaggeration. Singelton, Cuthbertson and Garbutt haven't been injury prone. Galloway was fine before picking up his bad one but nothing to suggest he'll be breaking down constantly when he comes back. That foursome didn't miss too many between them in a whole season considering the position they play.

Ferres did fine last year. Ablett was an every present the previous season, I just think he was one of those that rushed back before he was ready last year so made things worst. Ward obviously has had his serious ones, but hopefully like some other young players in the past he's overcome them.

JJB has had his issues the previous two seasons but he didn't miss a game after he returned last year often playing big minutes. That leaves Delaney who is injury prone but at this point I'm not sure he's even in the starting 17 so he (along with JJB) can start being used more sparingly,

Looking at other teams they've had as many or even more forwards miss out than us.

[Frosties.]

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:24 pm  

Sutcliffe
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
McGuire Lilley
Garbutt Segeyaro Singleton
Ablett Ferres
Ward

Burrow Cuthbertson Keinhorst JJB/Delaney/Mullally

Re: St Helens v Leeds Rhinos : Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:51 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Think he injury prone pack line is an exaggeration. Singelton, Cuthbertson and Garbutt haven't been injury prone. Galloway was fine before picking up his bad one but nothing to suggest he'll be breaking down constantly when he comes back. That foursome didn't miss too many between them in a whole season considering the position they play.

Cuthbertson & Garbutt still picked up injuries ,given Galloways age & type of injury there's nothing to suggest he'll come back 100% either & IF he does albeit a workhorse he's hardly a world beater at Prop.
Ferres was still injured & selected Delaney is in pieces yet gets selected Jjb is injured on a regular basis & i'll bet he & BD are 1 heavy knock from retirement.
Ablett is picking up regular injuries & they are becoming more long term Wards issues are well known so id say our injury prone pack is exactly that & still lacks a quality line breaker.