A combination of missing 30/40 tackles a game from him for several weeks though adds up for the guys who have to make them in his absence. They were tired attempts in defence.

It's a fair point, but Aiton appeared to be the leader of the defensive line, and the main reason for the poor defense in the middle is we're moving up slowly, and not as a unit.

Agreed.But there needs to be some soul searching from some big names.It was schoolboy stuff out there tonight and can't be excused because we are missing our regular hooker.

Yep, Delaney and Garbut were particularly guilty tonight.

Leeds just confirmed that Robbie ward has not been given a new contract.

Thought Lilley was one of very few positives tonight Yes we lose a defender in the middle but he did well at dummy half for such an inexperienced player. Passing was quite crisp and he generally chose to run at the right times.

No not happy at all. Do you think for some reason had Aiton played in the last three games he somehow would have avoided the post Wembley hangover that has beset the whole Team? The same thing happened last year and it included Aiton then.

Also why would Aiton's presence have prevented the missed tackles of Ablett, Garbutt and Hardaker etc tonight.

You can scoff but we are certainly missing Burrow on attack and also the mobility of JJB and Keinhorst in defense.

You cannot blame tonight's defeat on a lack of tackling by Lilley. It was the missed tackles by several players and the lack of go forward. Cas played very well and were faster in every position than Leeds who were lethargic with the exception of Ward, Cuthbertson and Moon. The rest made too many mistakes.

Of course all our injuries have been crucial as has our extra cup game and we have totally lost momentum on attack and defense and it will take a miracle to turn this around.

So based on this season's form, Aiton wouldn't have made a difference, but JJB, and Keinhorst would?

Never said that. It is the total number of injuries that has done for us not just the loss of Aiton.

Lilley joined Sinfield and McGuire defending on the fringes. Forwards plus Watkins to pick up the slack midfield with a big bench to share the load except the Leeds coach seemingly skipped class the day they taught game management.

If the Leeds forwards (Peacock, Delaney, Ablett and Ward) are looking flogged right now it's because they are.

You can Leeds are really struggling because tvoc comes out of hiding.