Webb in the halves.
Smithy at FB
Sinfield at Loose.

in the centre. donald, for me, is a better winger than smith simply due to blistering pace from a standing start. he gives us options. webb is a better full back than smith for me too. i'm not sure about delaney.good defence and a decent player but no more than that. i just happen to think smith is better than delaney

Smith's form has been disappointing so far. He looks overweight, yards slower and drops the ball far too much. I hope his try yesterday will have given him the boost he so desperately needs. It was a try that required skill and determination to score, and he obliged, but I honestly feel, were it not for injuries/suspensions he would be lucky to get a run out as the water bottle carrier.

Webb and Delaney are streets ahead of the current Smith, and to even compare him to them is as laughable as trotting out the old line that Smithy is a big time player who can be relied on to rise to the occasion. As has been pointed out before, past performances are no indicater of present form.

So. for me it comes down to what I think is his best position and that is winger, and puts him in competition with Donald. At the mo, I don't think Smithy has not done enough this season to claim the spot.

Webb at FB for me. I wasn't convinced by Smith's performance there yesterday. Unless we have injuries, I'd agree with Tad that Delaney is the one player that Smith might profitably replace at present.

Webb at 1. Keep Sini and maggs at half backs as finally we are playing some decent rugby with this pairing. Smith to bench and when he comes on move Senior to the forwards and slot Smith in the left centre. IMO Webb is a better full back and Sinfield is playing better this year in the half backs and Ablett and JJB are fine at 13. I'd only move Sinfield back to 13 when Burrow is back.

It's obvious...Webb on present form is still the better FB; the present halves Sinfield and McGuire are looking good and Scotty and Hall should keep their wing positions (Hall to LF is a step too far I think at this stage). Delaney for me is the more impressive convincing centre.

Smithy would be good coming off the bench....in place of (here I go again) Diskin. What the hell do we persist for in wasting the impact of Buderus on the field for the replacement who offers nothing extra but sentimental thoughts of what "he's done for the club" in the past) ??

Without being sentimental, I didn't think there was a great deal to choose between Buderus and Diskin yesterday. And I thought Senior had a better game than Delaney. Having said that, I'd have preferred Buderus on while Farrell was in the bin (unless he was sneaked on & I didn't notice).

Nantwich, I think you're probably correct as to the respective merits of Buderus and Diskin. But yesterday's was a big game and Buderus played a relatively minor role. As it stands, his contract's running down and he still hasn't contributed a match winning performance in a big game. As for your other point re the centres, I misunderstood: I thought you were claiming that Delaney was more reliable than Senior; my bad.

I'd give Senior a rest maybe, and slot Smith in there. No slight on Senior, but I think he's probably due a rest, which would give him benefit later in the season

Quote: leicester_rhino "I'd give Senior a rest maybe, and slot Smith in there. No slight on Senior, but I think he's probably due a rest, which would give him benefit later in the season'"

Smithy on the bench would allow us to try that for part of the match if things are looking good .....but I would still start with Senior. His partnership and understanding (admittedely not as effective this year - so far) with Hall should not be interfered with lightly.

I agree with you nantwichexile, I felt the forwards weren't making as much ground when Diskin was on the field. I thought Buderus caused a few problems. I think it is hard because I'd guess Buderus will leave at the end of the season, so they need to keep Diskin sweet so that we don't lose him as well. Diskin is still a good player and has won 4 GF's with Leeds but obviously Buderus is a very good player.

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Quote: rugbyleague88 "I agree with you nantwichexile, I felt the forwards weren't making as much ground when Diskin was on the field. I thought Buderus caused a few problems. I think it is hard because I'd guess Buderus will leave at the end of the season, so they need to keep Diskin sweet so that we don't lose him as well. Diskin is still a good player and has won 4 GF's with Leeds but obviously Buderus is a very good player.'"

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But surely if we can't keep Buderus for another year (have we tried?) we can survive quite well without Diskin anyway ??

We have McShane and - as others have suggested - Burrow as cover for hooker ? In fact some might say that is Burrow's better long term position. McGuire either way seems to be fast claiming the scrum half slot as his own.

Cruel as it might seem to others perhaps it is time to let Diskin go.

You could be right, I feel if Burrow wants to stay at Leeds long term then he may have to move to hooker. Wasn't it a similar transition for Roby which has made him one of the top players of super league? If Bluey wants to retain Diskin then he will have to give him game time.

You reckon Burrow could put in 30+ tackles a game for an entire season? I don't. You might persuade me that Diskin's time is up but not if Burrow's going to replace him.