Trent Merrin

The manner in which the club has announced the situation with Kallum really is appalling.

I get that they've made the "Kal's last game" thing a big part of their sales strategy for this game, which is itself a dumb move without being certain that he can actually play, but to hide the fact that he's already boarded the plane half-way down the press release is the final insult.

I don't blame the club for the decision they've made on Kal, but the way they have handled this is something that even amateur clubs should be ashamed of.

It’s not a good look is it, do we think there’s more to it? I mean he could have still been there just not played?

I wonder whether, in the desperate circumstances we’re in, it was felt better to start with Merrin as new captain ASAP.

It’s all been a bit weird in the end though it seems.

IMO Leeds PR efforts are petty good when things are going our way, but when they aren't, when things get tricky or go against us, they are hopeless. Grace under pressure? No

Ps Good luck to Merrin

K hope Msrrin doesnt open his mouth at the wrong time and give away penalties

Yep agree. He has all the leadership qualities but if he's captaining the team he's going to have to nip that in the bud. I'm all for passion but it needs to be channelled correctly and he's crossed the line too many times this year. As captain he's going to have to reign that in and show a better example to the other players. If he can then I think he'll do a really good job. Aside from Ward (who'd be 100% my choice if he was ever on the field) who else could possible have taken the captaincy on?

We're up against enough in this run in without Merrin and Ferres' mouths giving away metres left right and centre

Agreed. If we lack outright quality this year, we just cannot afford slack discipline.

I'd say it's a picture-perfect snapshot of the state of the club at the moment.

"Oh! You meant midnight over there, not here..."

Classic.

I fully support Merrin for captain, he's the most obvious choice by far. Like others have said if Ward was fit, he's also be a good shout.

What's disappointing is that there's so many players who've been at the club for several years, and yet our only option is to give the captaincy to a player who's been here half a season.

That's a really good point I think. I know we've all been talking about the lack of leadership on the field this year but the captaincy suddenly coming up unexpectedly has really highlighted how much we're actually lacking in that area. There really is noone other than Merrin and Ward in the squad you could see captaining the team. It's hardly surprising that we've looked so directionless on the field this year.

It says a lot about Myler's failings that he's not in the frame for the captaincy.

I've said elsewhere but I think Myler's done. His kicking game has been criticised openly most weeks by the coaches (and Agar was a halfback himself). Seeing his stats for missed tackles hasn't improved my view of him either.
Merrin needs to get vocal with the team now and lead from the front, let's not die wondering.

Id stick Mclelland in to be honest, Myler has looked dire for the last month, his kicking game against Wigan was not even championship standard

Rock and a hard place. The real solution is another first grade half back and McLelland as understudy.
However for this year we have experience v exuberance. McLelland isn't ready yet IMO, but he will get stuck in if called upon and he does have a kicking game.
Very, very difficult call to make with so much riding on these decisions now.
I am hoping Merrin at least fires the team up and gets stuck in - if we are to go down at least let's make a fight of it.