Im with you on wanting to see one of these young lads given a go while Hardaker is out.But only IF they are deemed ready and i think we need to trust Mac on his judgment on that.He has shown willing to give the kids a run, despite what some say.Ward,Hardaker,BJB,Clarkson and Watkins have become regulars over the last couple of years.

He obviously thought Hood was ready last year but quickly realised he wasnt and has got him out at Dewsbury and now Hunslet learning his trade.Of course, you can never fully know how a youngster is going to cope when stepping up to first team duties until they have had a few games, but the last thing a young kid needs if he is not quite ready is his confidence destroying at, say, Saints in our next game setting him back a fair bit in his development.

Yeah it would be a big ask of a youngster to play the next three games at FB against Saints away, an in-form Hudds and then against Wigan. If he was tempted to try one put them on the wing and leave Watkins at FB until Hardaker returns.

Agreed. Ablett is doing a fine job at centre and looks very good there, however in the Hull game for the first 20 minutes I liked the look of Ablett, moon and hall. Looked a dangerous combination

Ablest looks much more comfortable on the left, rather than right. He never looked like passing right, or that he was comfortable with it. On the left however he has no problems, and looks so dangerous.

Might that also have something to do with who is on the outside of him?

I wonder if Keinhorst will come back into contention for the RC berth with Abbo moving back into the BR and Watkins staying at FB???

On the money there Gotcha. His pass to the right is no-where near as skilled/confident as it is to his left.

There was a few occasions where he didn't even scan to see what options he could feed his winger, so he took it up himself. Not all bad - he has a great blend of footwork and power, makes busting through look very easy.

Watson has played 2 games for Hunslet and he was probably the Man of the Match in both if them. Yesterdays game against a good Featherstone, Watson did at least 6 try saving one-on-one tackles and scored a try of his own. His confidence is definately back. Don't forget Boxing Day was his first game since October and his first at FB at that level (others were on the wing).

He played out of his skin at Featherstone and is beginning to look too good for Hunslet (IMO); but my thoughts are if Rhinos are not going to play him now then they never will and its time he moved on to get game time.

If only Leeds had a versatile jack of all trades type player able to cover wing, centre, full-back, possibly even half-back and hooker.

Such a player (had he not been released to sign for Wakefield) would be worth his weight in bronze right now.

Hindsight is wonderful. The salary cap dictates that we can't have a great reserve for each position. We have 2 outside backs out due to injury. We will have to make do, and I think we looked well enough on Friday considering.

We brought Vickery in to replace Smith, and at least he will always be hungry for his shirt. Smith was only hungry for food by the looks of him over the last couple of seasons

he certainly was fond of Elamis in Gildersome

Is it just hindsight or is it a lack of foresight to release a player who offered so much versatility, experience and proven quality with potentially many productive years still left in front of him?

While you might suggest Leeds replaced Smith with Vickery I couldn't possibly comment as before he rocked up at Headingley I'd never heard of him - I doubt I'm alone. In much the same way as I'd never heard of Mark Wilkes and Rex Terp.

I can understand if Smith felt unloved at Leeds, Hetherington has always portrayed a take it or leave it mentality and it appears he has a coach formed from the same mould.