Heck of a blow for him and the team.

So what it the half back combo now? Must be sutty and lilley for me, or
Are we gonna go for brierly?

Gonna be a tricky start to the season.

Lilley has to have a place in starting lineup and goalkicker. Starting with widnes

That is a blow.That said, great chance to give Lilley an extended run and that is what i would like to see.Obviously we could go with Burrow at 7 if Faloon is fit for the next game.Will be interesting to see who we go with.

I would be playing Lilley at 7 and Sutty at 6 and Burrow and Falloon to share time at 9. Burrow also could play 7 with Lilley at 6 and Sutty at 13. We also have the outstanding prospect of Golding as a reserve 7. However if we get further injuries at halfback we may need to recruit.

If the club see sutty as the long term 6 then he has to keep playing him there.

If he does keep playing him he needs an organiser with him which has to be lilley.

It's a big risk given their ages/experience but you have to give them a chance.

That's perhaps harsh on burrow who I still think is a very valuable squad member but he is better off the bench.

Obviously a huge blow re the WCC and the tough run of games weve got.
On the plus side its early in the season and we will hopefully get to see abit of the future if Lilly and Sutcliffe are played together, with burrow to come on nd kick out of dummy half if we look like we need direction.
Have they played in the academy together or did they just miss each other?
Also I would like to see Hardaker made temporary captain, looked to be lacking a little confidence especially re kicking and the captaincy could be the boost he needs

missed each other i think - Sutcliffe is 21 and came into the first team in 2013, and Lilley is only just 19.
its only 2 years in age difference but when Sutcliffe was playing age groups they had under 18s then u21s/u23s, so although they have played together i dont think it happened that often.

They've played together briefly when Sutty stepped back down to u19's.
For me it's a no brainer Sutty at 6 Lilley at 7 Burrow on the bench/rotating 9 with Falloon.

Bluddy hell.....could be a very difficult start to the season with so many tough fixtures. Injuries always have such a bearing on the success or non-success of a team: and so it will come to bear.

I would agree with all you have written here. Sutcliffe and Lilley for me with Burrow off the bench (we need an organising halfback). Lets hope Faloon IS fit for the Widnes match.

Maybe Golding is getting closer to a run a halfback too.

It's clear that Mac doesn't totally trust Lilley. He's in the same boat that Singo was in 2 years ago. If Falloon is fit, then Mac will play Burrow at 7. If Falloon is out then Mac will be forced to play Lilley.

This is the acid test now. Sutcliffe has got 2 months to show whether he is a halfback. Personally, I think it'll be a disaster.

Not quite sure it'll be a disaster.....Sutcliffe does have some real qualities about his play: remember his kick at Langtree Park for Handley's try.

You might be right about McDermott preferring to partner Sutcliffe with Burrow, but at least (hopefully) Lilley will be on the bench to be brought on to mix things up a bit.
To be honest Burrow lost his 1st replacement status IMO after bombing the try that would have won Leeds the game. Lillley to start; Burrow on the bench please.

Either way with either Lilley or Burrow on from the start I know what I would be doing with regards to making the decision as to who should be taking the place kicks (and it wouldn't be Hardaker...or Sutcliffe)

I really like the look of Lilley, got an Andy Gregory look about him, seems quite happy to boss the game, on current form he has to start, let's see what he can do over next couple of months, some players you just have to let the shackles off and let them go for it, Lilley is one of them for me.

maybe we can sign a guy from Yorkshire Carnegie , that would probably go a long way to winning us the world club challenge

I was thinking the same thing. Kev has only played about 9 times so far but will want to finish the RU season to give it a fair chance. But I would not be surprised if, after an end of season break, that he feels an urge to rejoin the Rhinos for the business end of the season, especially if there is another injury crisis.

That's all well and good but at some point everyone has to accept kev is not a rhino.

Maybe we could get him back after the union season. Maybe even he might realise the union thing isn't for him and come back on a 1 or 2 year deal. But at some point we have to accept we need to figure out how we move on without him.

Sutty and lilley are the future and the future is now.