Sutcliffe is injured now and McGuire and Burrow are veterans. We could be left with Moon and Hardaker in the halves by round 6 as it stands.

Don't think we need to write Sutcliffe off just yet.

Veteran, past his prime, whatever you want to call him McGuire has been superb this season and Burrow would be an excellent backup half.
Unless Sutcliffe, McGuire & Burrow are all injured at the same time next year then that's the only way we'll end up with Moon and Hardaker in the halves.

Having 3 halves served the club well from 2006-2014 and whilst injuries can of course strike (see Saints at fullback) having 4 halfbacks at the club would seem an outlandish luxury that should only be a course of action if the halfback signed is to replace McGuire when he retires and is only available now.
We really, really are not light at halfback. Even without Sinfield we have the strongest set of halves in SL in terms of depth.

Throw in opportunities for Lilley in the halves as well

So, you don't rate our depth in that position. Fair enough. But given how wrong you've been proven with Keinhorst I'll beg to differ.

I know you felt the need to stick to your guns with your initial assessment on Keinhorst (as a project that would be found out) but think it's time to say fair enough he's proved you wrong.

What happens to the half back position if Aiton goes, that reduces your options to two - McGuire and Sutcliffe with Lilley as back up.

In that scenario Leeds probably need an experienced half back - the thought of either Moon or Hardaker at half back doesn't fill me with good vibes.

Err, I haven't stuck to my guns at all. I think you will find I have consistently praised his attitude, work rate, and great hands over the very weeks he has played this year. I think he is much better than my initial assessment.

What he isn't however is anything close to some others current assessment, and after only a few games. Over the last few weeks in the backrow, he had gone from a couple of very good games (one where I stated he was MOM), to looking very lightweight there, and in his last game very indecisive.

Where you feel I have stuck to my guns, I feel others are creaming their pants far too early. He still hasn't made it, and it might be having him as a filler might not do that. I happen to think unlike others, that if he did bulk he would have a much better chance in the backrow, than has a back where he is distinctly below average. But his great hands and willingness to put his body on the line is really suiting of the backrow.

At the moment, until he really hits his straps, I would put him in the same sort of category of a Phil Hassan, and Adam Hughes, sort of player, who is striving to become a Chris Clarkson.

And for balance here, when a player like Danny Kirmond was linked with here, it was met with much underwhelming on here. This was a player pushing for international, and very consistent in that season. Where's the consistency on the views? My initial view on Keinhorst was that he wouldn't make a super league centre. Until he does we are in the same boat.

More games like his first couple in the backrow, and I will very gladly give the lad the praise he deserves (and for Leeds benefit I hope that happens). However, more games like his last couple, and if he is holding back the progression of players like Minchella and Cameron Smith, then I will also state it. For now though, he is a million times better than Walters, and whilst Ward is out I would rather see him in than a starting backrow of the other options at the side of Ablett. I would like nothing more than the lad to put in a man of the match performance over next few weeks. I really do like the lads attitude and commitment.

Only if you assume that if Aiton leaves, we don't replace him

I'd say in that scenario that Leeds would need an experienced hooker rather than a halfback.

We really aren't "light" at halfback for next season.

I would disagree - an injury to McGuire and your options are very limited - also it is unknown how Sutcliffe will recover from his operation

So we have 3 halves. If McGuire gets injured you play Burrow. How many should we have in the squad, just in case they get injured?

If this is how we're judging "lightness" in areas of the squad then we need at least 1 more full back, a winger, 2 centres and 2 hookers even if Aiton is still with us.

Most SL clubs are struggling to find 2 decent halfbacks in their squad never mind 3. We managed perfectly fine for 8/9 years with 3 halves. It's only been since the emergence of Sutcliffe we've had the luxury of 4.

If we sign a halfback its for the future, to take over from McGuire/Burrow not because we're lacking depth in that position.