Given he topped the tackle count at Wembley and we're down to the bare bones in the forwards I'd stick him in the second row, put Smithy back to centre and bring Donald in on the wing.
Team to beat Hull:- Webb, Donald, Smith, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Bailey, Buderus, Leuluai, Delaney, Kirke, Abblett. (I know Kirke starting, it's desperate, BUT, lets have a bench with players that CAN make an impact. Eastwood, Lauitiiti, Diskin and Burrow)

rlHTHrl

I really don't see the point of putting Delaney in the second row. He was signed as a centre so why move him around? He offers more at centre than Smith and we've got adequate replacements that can play in the back row in Lauitiiti and Pitts.

Im sorry but what the heck. Whether you like Delany or not, and I know plenty dont, he is one of our first choice centres, why would you play him in the second row?? Perhaps we should give Sinny a shot at fullback while we are at it!

Thanks god Bluey is in charge and not you.

What an OTT response to Delaney in Second Row.

It's an obvious call.

Delaney is a big, solid, lump.

His biggest strengths in a Leeds shirt have been his industrious drives with ball in hand. And his work rate in defence.

Both key elements that second rowers have. Gareth Ellis springs to mind.

His weaknesses have been his defensive position (he hasn't slotted that well into our srambling patterns* so can get caught out - this has improved. He doesn't feed a winger in classic centre stylee. This has been the same throughout. I can recall dozens of times where it has been 'on' and he hasn't even scanned the situation. Also he has been found out with the bomb also.

So playing to HIS strengths, he would be able to do what he does best in a position where his weaknesses may not be as readily showable.

Playing to his strengths would probably help our cause. He would do more work and boost the yards we make and tackle anything that's in front of him.

So it's a fair call.

However this late into the season I don't know if it's viable in Bluey's eyes. But a combo of Smith and Donald with a work horse like second row near by is worth a consideration at least.



*that's if we still have any scrambling patterns

It was tongue in cheek

Though I stand by the end result that Dealany is a centre not a second row - regardless of his solidness.

How can you tell he's a centre rather than a second row. In the modern game there isn't much to choose between the positions if you've got the physicality to play both. Such as Walker (Chev), McKenna and Ablett have filled in both positions at Leeds and two of those were regarded as centres first.

That said I wouldn't shift him to accomodate Donald, providing Leeds have enough forwards available.

well said bloodbath....although i still have reservations about smith being a centre long term your intelligent and considered opinion commands respect. I would agree with you in giving that option a go until the end of this season.

mckenna signed as a centre but was far better when he moved to second row. Delaney to second row and smith to centre sounds reasonable to me

McKenna was signed as a centre but was proven second row down under. Even in State of Origin IIRC.

I can see why it's been suggested but at this late stage should we be messing about with different combinations and positional changes??
The club obviously see Delaney and Smith as 1st choice RW/RC imo so that has to be how they line up imo.

Of course it was.

FWIW my opinion is that Delaney would most likely make a great second row but it aint gonna happen so we'll never know