Did Burrow at 9 work during our 8 match unbeaten run? Did Kev need a rest during that run? Or are fekkwitts just knee jerking to a loss?

Indeed, G1.

Although I would like to see a winger from the reserves given a chance, and Watkins moved back to centre.

Getting knocked out of the cup will at least mean some rest this season, as opposed to the previous three, where we have played every possible game, bar 3 matches.

They are, and no matter how well we played in that time, they can't seem to grasp the fact that we were beaten by a very good Huddersfield side on the day. A lot of teams would have struggled to break them down and it was due to their "in your face D" that we made so many errors.

Still, we are a poor team now and the same players who have made us look brilliant in the last 2 months are now over the hill washouts...

Yep - He needs a rest - Against a depleted saints would make sense to me - But what do I know?

It doesn't even take a loss. It can't even be extinguished with multiple Grand Final wins. It's beyond reason

If Suticliffe is going to be in, then he needs to start the game, not mess about on bench where he will not get a look in with this coach.

I would love to get Sinfield back at loose forward with Ablett and JJB running either side of him. That would free up a half back spot, for a couple of games.

I am not sure why Bailey would be given the shot at prop, as he has show absolutely nothing this season to even be warrinting a squad spot, let alone starting berth.

In truth though I am in agreement with others, in that Saints might not be the game to be switching around. Londong and Cas were most definately the right time to do that, and the coach failed with his responsibilities there.

What do you call worked? Isn't it a 17 man game? maybe the others were covering for any failings at starting hooker. Certianly McShane has changed the game on at least 3 occassions coming on.

Kev has looked shattered since the second game of the season. Been getting some very heavy attention from oppossition defenders and not looked after properly. A half fit Sinfield is still better than most this competition can offer, but that doesn't hide that fact that he is fatigued, both mentally and physically.

The lack of creativity at 6 and 7 over the last few years was covered over by having Brent Webb playing as a half, and having a hand in most of our non-kicking-play tries when in the opposition 20. Hardaker is a superb fullback but he's never going to be that type of player, so McGuire and Burrow need to adjust and step up, if they can. McGuire did last year. We also used to have the Lauititi option near the line, and that's been closed off. Currently we look more dangerous 70 yards out than 7.

This is not a poor Saints side. It's not the vintage of the last 3-4 years maybe, primarily due to injuries. Leeds have a nine-day turnaround, plenty of time to freshen legs and rest up niggles by managing training schedules.

Saints at home, Wigan at the Etihad and Hull FC away is not a run of games to be experimenting. IIRC Leeds have Cas and Widnes on consecutive weekends early next month. That's your window for blooding the likes of Duckworth and Sutcliffe if you want to do it.

I have no problem accepting we were beaten by the better team.it was very close and on another day we would have taken the right options and have got the couple of tries during our spell of dominance in the second period and got the win.

No need for panic.some big games coming in the next few starting with saints so no time for changing it up and we all know by now that is not happening.i would say bring clarkson in as starting second row if delaney is out and bring singleton on the bench as our only change.

Those of you suggesting a week off for McGuire might get your wish.....

He's been charged with a punching offence and will appear at Red Hall this week!

Gareth Hock's got a grade D contact with officials charge...

There were times a few years ago when we could make massive changes to the team, bring in several youngsters all at once, or drop our performance level significantly and still win matches. However, I reckon this Leeds team sits on the edge of a performance cliff, teetering precariously while looking down into the abyss. I also think our coach knows this and this is why we play the absolute strongest team available (in his mind) no matter who the opposition are every week.
all hands on deck against Saints on Monday.

On the Burrow and hooker debate, I see Burrow as a tremendously dangerous player from dummy half, but I don't see him as a hooker. His weakness is that he seems obliged to run from dummy half when he's at 9 rather than picking his moment. Most of his runs at the moment are met with brutal defence and the play immediately stops - he can't offload or bounce out of tackles and he always gets dominated - they are momentum killers. He also doesn't add beef to the defence so someone else has to do the job.
He seems (and it was the same last year when Lunt was on the pitch) far more effective when he's a little wider and he can pick his moment. Being able to step back a little and see what the defence is up to is one of his great strengths, but with the added responsibility of dummy half it's not so easy. He has to concentrate on ball distribution (which is a little iffy at the moment) and he has to be looking to see where and when the runner is coming from. It's also been pointed out that big forwards get tired and there are certain times in a game when you want Rob free to punish slack defence.
I would have the guy on the pitch the full 80 every game, no question, but I don't think we are getting the best out of him at the moment. His feeble try return is also very worrying.

Jesus. What is this f*****g game coming to?