Of course we should win. I don't suppose for one minute that McDermott's picking a strong side because he thinks we might lose. A much more likely scenario is that we've fired very intermittently in attack and our defence has been patchy. This is our final chance for an opposed run out where the first team can work on a few things while not under extreme pressure from the likes of Cas, Sts, Salford, Hull and Wigan (our remaining regular fixtures) before we have the pleasure of meeting all these again, plus a couple more, in the super 8s. And when - if - we get through this to the business part of the season I don't really think it'll have made a shred of difference whether a few players have been rested for this one game. Just my view; as Printer says there are two ways McDermott could have played this and at the end of the day it is his call.

That's so far from the truth it's laughable. Firstly, we're the only Championship team through to the quarter finals of the Cup and that's been achieved without any DR players. secondly, some of our better performances this season have come when we have had no DR players, or maybe only one.

The DR players we have used have all done well without necessarily being much of an upgrade (if at all) on our own guys.

As for games against Bradford...the first game was in a mudbath and Fev played poorly partly because we didn't have a recognised hooker and were pulled for six forward passes from dummy half. The second game, which you conveniently ignore, we had only one DR player (Ormondroyd off the bench) and the game was all over before he even came on, with three tries in the first 15 minutes and seven in the first half. We did indeed play moderately at Odsal last week but that was always on the cards five days before a big Cup game and we still won 36-12 away.

It will be no surprise for sure if we get hammered tonight, but it will have nothing to do with DR players or the lack of them. Don't get me wrong, the likes of Baldwinson and Ormondroyd are very handy to have because we have a small squad, and they haven't let us down at all, but they aren't major difference makers.

I would say that is absolutely spot on.
Baldwinson and Ormanroyd probably added sometihng to your team in order to rest or compensate for injuries or to add competition for places.
I doubt for one minute they have made such a difference to you winning games.
Fev are a solid championship side that will give their all tonight.
It depends which Leeds side turns up as to how many we win by.With the quality of our team I would be shocked if we lost.
IMO we could have rested at least 4 ( Golding, Cuthbertson, Parcell and Galloway) and still had enough to win.

Not sure we learned a huge amount from the first half, apart from the fact that Ash Handley isn't a centre...

He is playing on the wing??

Sutclffe at various times looked quite good.

I have to say that I thought the first half performance was poor . After being gifted a 12 point lead , there was then nothing between the 2 teams for the next 20 minutes.
Why we played Cuthbo , I do not know.
Why does he only give Mullaly 10 minute stints - he wastes more energy on the touchline warming up than he does on the field.
Walker could have been put on at half time & Baldwinson should have been on the bench.
But hey ho - will Mac move on from his tried & trusted ways - not a chance.
Next week is the test - but if we sit back & watch Gale play , as we have done twice this season , we all know the outcome.

Walker looked good for the limited minutes he got. Hope we sign him on a long deal.

I thought Ward was the best player on the pitch, Hall was also very good in the centre, I wonder if we'll see more of him there?

I agree with this. Also thought Sutcliffe read the game really well and took a more dominant role. Thought Aston looked very promising also playing for them.

Can see Singleton banned again. Think he must have a screw loose that lad.

Job done, into the last 4 of the cup, Saints lost to Hudds last night in the league so strengthens our top 4 chances, now sit back and watch Hull and Cas hopefully knock lumps out of each other on Sunday.

Sutcliffe offers a good running threat but sometimes when he opens it up he needs to pass it rather than take the tackle on the half break.

Walker needs to get more game time too. Golding is the 3rd best full back at the club.

No way should Singleton be banned. It was outrageous that he was penalised. The penalty was only given due to the Fev players injury.

What exactly happened there? From my view in the Carnegie end it looked like the Fev player tried to tackle Singleton with his head.

Any news on Parcell?