perhaps G, but i don't think using him as a second row battering ram has done him any favours either

Think we pretty much know what the starting 13 for the Cup semi will be (assume JJB will be starting by that time after a few games for fitness).

With Burrow or Aiton getting one of the bench spots that leaves 3 spots up for grabs and two more games for those to stake a claim between the following of Sutcliffe, Bailey, Singleton, Walters, Ward, Minchella. Also Achurch might get a chance next week.

Really hopeful Singleton plays this week in a style of having a point to prove.

Not sure why you responded to my post when I was quite clear with what was in it, as to why I said what I said.

To be clear, you are only as good as your last match. Walters was absolutely woeful against Hull KR. Hence last match. By contrast, Ward, whilst as you put it average, has still being one of the better performers over last few matches.

However, I also said, if both were to continue like this season, going forward, Walters would overtake Ward in the order. Perhaps if Ward was allowed to develop to his skill set, we might see a difference to that though.

Ward was rubbish against Cas, and Walters and Minchella were superb for the U19s. Personally, I would drop Ward for the rest of the season and give him chance to develop physically over the next 6 months in time for next season because he clearly isn't ready physically to perform the role currently being expected of him.

CS- Ward never was and never has been the type of player to "perform the role expected of him".
He isn't a battering ram BR and certainly isn't a "crash ball" forward either that imo falls firmly at the Coaches door.
Put him in the u19's and he would rip it apart just as he did at 17 he is & should be utilised as a ball playing 13.

Coz it's a message board. That's what we do. Durgh.

A cliche and not correct in any shape or form. Is Sinfield only as good as his last match?

You keep saying that. I don't think he was.

In your opinion. I think he's been very consistent all season long. Consistently average. He's been nowhere near one of our better performers, IMO.

I'd like to see that happen because he's being asked to play a role that simply doesn't showcase his talents.

He certainly isn't a battering ram 2nd row at the moment but whether he plays in the 2nd row or at LF he will still have to make 30-40 tackles a game which at the moment he's not physically good enough to do. At the moment he's missing 5-10 tackles a game and that's not good enough. It's clear the club see him as 2nd rower long term and I think Sutcliffe will be the loose forward for Leeds long term, but he will have to improve his defence also.
Ward has to frame to develop and put on a stone or 2, and I'm sure he'll be a quality 2nd row in the Greg Bird mould.

........Or maybe it's more McDermott trying to accommodate him, whilst he prefers to adopt the policy of selecting a 3rd prop at LF?

The lad is clearly struggling with the role asked of him and that is unfair. I hope he is given a chance to fulfill his potential as an apparent ball handling LF at another club if not this. With Sutcliffe also seemingly better suited to a similar LF role it will be interesting to see which prevails.
Personally I would try a run with Sutcliffe at SO; Burrow at SH; Sinfield at hooker and Ward at LF. Aiton on the bench.

For me Stevie Ward is playing his way out of the team.

Sutcliffe was selected at LF a couple of games ago but had to move into the halves because Sinfield got injured. I wouldn't say it's necessarily a preference of McDermott to play a 3rd prop at loose forward but the old style ball handling LF is pretty much non exsistant these days. Ward has the ability to be a quality player but whether he plays in the 2nd row or LF at Leeds or somewhere else he will still need to add some timber, and become more comfortable and consistant dealing with the extra intensity.

Its hard to pack that timber on when your sat out the end of the past few seasons with serious injury though. Injury free, he would still be on track, he's just fallen behind schedule with these hampering injuries.

Yesterday Ward said his legs were still aching nearly a week after the Cas game. Maybe he needs a rest, or maybe we all underestimate the effect a game has on the players these days. Probably a bit of both.