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No Peacock, apparently a knee injury. IIRC he carried on playing so it can't be disastrous but even without a knee problem it's a chance to rest him. Good to have Watkins back, hopefully McGuire will be fitter this week.
I'd go with:
1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
4. Ablett
5. Hall
6. Ward
7. McGuire
8. Griffin
9. Lunt
10. Moore
11. JJB
12. Delaney
13. Sinfield

14. Burrow
15. Leuluai
16. Bailey
17. Kirke

Him wrote:

No Peacock, apparently a knee injury. IIRC he carried on playing so it can't be disastrous but even without a knee problem it's a chance to rest him. Good to have Watkins back, hopefully McGuire will be fitter this week.
I'd go with:
1. Hardaker
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Watkins
4. Ablett
5. Hall
6. Ward
7. McGuire
8. Griffin
9. Lunt
10. Moore
11. JJB
12. Delaney
13. Sinfield

14. Burrow
15. Leuluai
16. Bailey
17. Kirke

I like the look of that backline! The forwards are again the same plodding aged incumbents though, even just giving 2 youngsters a shot in the forwards I think would help rejuvenate the team a bit. Some youthful enthusiasm to help lift the older players could make a world of difference.

Sibbs Rhinos wrote:

I like the look of that backline! The forwards are again the same plodding aged incumbents though, even just giving 2 youngsters a shot in the forwards I think would help rejuvenate the team a bit. Some youthful enthusiasm to help lift the older players could make a world of difference.

I'd agree, I'd have liked to have seen Singleton in the squad and rest either Leuluai, Griffin or Delaney.

rhinos21 wrote:

2. Ben Jones-Bishop
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Zak Hardaker
5. Ryan Hall
6. Danny McGuire
7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Carl Ablett
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)
15. Brett Delaney
16. Ryan Bailey
17. Ian Kirke
18. Chris Clarkson
19. Weller Hauraki
20. Darrell Griffin
21. Richard Moore
25. Stevie Ward
31. Shaun Lunt

Nice to see a well rotated squad this week

tvoc wrote:

I understood the general implication to be : if Leeds upped their performances then batley would play his part in conributing towards their wages. If they didn't then he'd find another use for that part of his discretionary spending. Seems fairly reasonable to me and places the onus on Leeds to do what they should be doing anyway. If fifteen thousand turn up regardless of performance then (more fool me - once upon a time - and them) it's reasonably unlikely to stir any players, coaches and/or management that may have settled into their comfort zones.

If people are happy with the entertainment value on offer or see watching their club as a badge of honour or perhaps the game isn't the only reason they attend then they should carry on filling their boots. If however some feel they're getting short-changed then I can understand why they might step away until things improve.

There's your problem. You're labouring under a misapprehension.

Batley Rhino has splashed out for half a season ticket once in over ten years. For various reasons (and I imply no criticism, merely an observation) he hasn't attended regardless of performance for many, many moons.

That is why I found his outrage amusing. Especially as he's loafed the occasional freebie of me, just because he buys me lunch on his expense account every now and again.

His points may or may not be valid in principle but he's hardly the vanguard for change at the club. His pub landlord is more likely to be economically effected by Batley suddenly deciding not to watch the Rhinos any more.

Besides, he's pulled the wool over over ones eyes. He's a miserable old fekker who actually enjoys it more when we're doing badly and has nowt to say when we're doing well.

Regardless, to suggest that supporters staying away from the club is the best thing for the club in the long term is, frankly, baffling. It's axiomatic that doing that will hamstring the clubs efforts to implement any kind of positive change.

Stevie Ward will start at 13 on sunday

I look forward to seeing him in action and in his natural position IMO.

Outrage. Really?

In terms of facts, it's 3 season tickets over the last 10 years not 1. I've attended plenty over the last year and a bit, so can comment on that period with some confidence. Oh and the freebies I've had from you are hardly freebies as you were happy not to pay a taxi fare when I drove, and were very happy to drink the beer I bought you on those couple of occasions over the last 10 years.

I've not pulled the wool over anyone's eyes, simply stated the case that applies to me. As we discussed at lunchtime, during the lunch I bought for you, the floating supporters as you seem to have cast me, are the ones that the club should be aiming to attract as they are the ones who really provide the profit rather than the running costs.

You yourself have stated on many an occasion recently that the main reason you are still going is because you enjoy the social occasion with members of your family. I wonder what you will do when they are no longer going on a Friday evening, will you buy a ticket to go watch on your own, or will you too be a floating supporter as I clearly am these days?

Supporters staying away from the club (I'm not staying away btw, I've just got better things to do at the moment given the quality of the product) isn't good news in the long term, but it can act as a wake up call as long as those in positions to do something about the quality of the product, actually do something about the product. As I say, I'm not "staying away" for any particular reason, but I wouldn't preach to those who choose to as I can see their point.

G1 wrote:

There's your problem. You're labouring under a misapprehension.

Just to clarify, I didn't interpret batley's post too literally and saw it more as a metaphor for a type of fan. The type of fan Leeds need to be concerned about. batley has addressed that point in his latest reply so I won't repeat his sentiments but simply agree with them.

G1 wrote:

Regardless, to suggest that supporters staying away from the club is the best thing for the club in the long term is, frankly, baffling. It's axiomatic that doing that will hamstring the clubs efforts to implement any kind of positive change.

The point wasn't that some 'supporters' would leave vowing never to return (that could indeed be bad news for the club) but they would only return perhaps when they believed the club was playing to or close to their potential. As I said earlier that situation should really be a given at a professional club anyway.

I think there is a perception (rightly or wrongly) that the players are holding something (perhaps even a lot) back and comments such as those expressed by McGuire via twitter the other week do little to allay that impression.

tvoc wrote:

Just to clarify, I didn't interpret batley's post too literally and saw it more as a metaphor for a type of fan. The type of fan Leeds need to be concerned about. batley has addressed that point in his latest reply so I won't repeat his sentiments but simply agree with them.

The point wasn't that some 'supporters' would leave vowing never to return (that could indeed be bad news for the club) but they would only return perhaps when they believed the club was playing to or close to their potential. As I said earlier that situation should really be a given at a professional club anyway.

I think there is a perception (rightly or wrongly) that the players are holding something (perhaps even a lot) back and comments such as those expressed by McGuire via twitter the other week do little to allay that impression.

What did McGuire say

batleyrhino wrote:

:lol: Outrage. Really?

In terms of facts, it's 3 season tickets over the last 10 years not 1.

Actually, in terms of fact, it was 3 half seasion tickets.

I've attended plenty over the last year and a bit, so can comment on that period with some confidence. Oh and the freebies I've had from you are hardly freebies as you were happy not to pay a taxi fare when I drove, and were very happy to drink the beer I bought you on those couple of occasions over the last 10 years.

The depth to which I will go for a free lift and a couple of pints are not relevant and not something I am proud of.

I've not pulled the wool over anyone's eyes, simply stated the case that applies to me. As we discussed at lunchtime, during the lunch I bought for you, the floating supporters as you seem to have cast me, are the ones that the club should be aiming to attract as they are the ones who really provide the profit rather than the running costs.

I thought I was a potential client you were buying lunch for?

You yourself have stated on many an occasion recently that the main reason you are still going is because you enjoy the social occasion with members of your family. I wonder what you will do when they are no longer going on a Friday evening, will you buy a ticket to go watch on your own, or will you too be a floating supporter as I clearly am these days?

I'm sure I can find someone to give me a lift and buy me a beer.

Supporters staying away from the club (I'm not staying away btw, I've just got better things to do at the moment given the quality of the product) isn't good news in the long term, but it can act as a wake up call as long as those in positions to do something about the quality of the product, actually do something about the product. As I say, I'm not "staying away" for any particular reason, but I wouldn't preach to those who choose to as I can see their point.

Do you have any evidence that supporters are "staying away" due to the quality of the product?