As I recall it Powell decided to play safe and drop Danny Mags for the Cup Final against Bradford despite his match winning heroics in the semi against Saints. Agar, on the other hand, definitely went for youth when picking Alex Sutcliffe for last years final. He also continues to give Gannon, O'Connor, Broadbent and any others who prove they are up to it a fair crack.

It was a tough call between having Burrow or McGuire on the bench to be fair to Powell and if Rob hadn't been knocked out pretty soon after coming on it may have been the correct tactical call. Given Danny had got us there though leaving him out was unfair from that perspective but there was no room for sentiment in that trophyless era.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened to us had the experiences of 2003 not happened, they were life lessons for those players be it the ability to win under pressure like in the semi, learning harsh tactical things like Sinfield not going for the 2 at Cardiff, losing all five games vs Bradford and then tumbling out of the play offs. It was a crucial year I think. That semi vs Saints also gave the players the lived knowledge of not being afraid of a team whose reputation as masters of knock out football went before them.

Absolutely. Not really arguing the rights and wrongs of it (although I would have picked him) but merely pointing out that DP, like any other coach, was pretty risk averse when it came to the crunch. 2003 ranks right up there with my favourite seasons in 42 years of watching Leeds.

It was a great season with some epic moments, the semi above all. But I won't ever forget the feeling of empty, inconsolable devastation after the cup final and after the play off loss to Wigan. Fortunately the years of winning stuff since means individual losses even in big games don't cause quite the same heartache now.

He picks them mostly when there are injuries preferring to have the likes of L.Briscoe as a sub to use for 5 monutes as a 9 when O'Connor is clearly better.
Re-Alex Sutcliffe he relues on him that much Alex turned down a deal here to leave for Cas to get game time.

Alex Sutcliffe is no dummy and he knows that he has outstanding young players like Newman, Broadbent, Edwards blocking his way in the centre and also Gannon/Walters ahead of him in the 2nd row. Cas have also probably offered him more. You can't keep them all. Worth remembering that when Danny McGuire really made his breakthrough in 2003 he was no longer a teenager. Compare that with young Gannon. Truth is, if you are good enough (enivitably injuries play a part) you'll get your chance. We all want the young kids to be great, however some take longer to develop and throwing them in before they are ready does them no good. Agar has good record in blooding youngsters for my money.