I think there was some mention of keinhorst not being 100% on Monday due to being ill so would be harsh to oust him as I think he can offer alot if only strong squad support in times like this...we can't have 25 "first" choice players in the squad, the salary cap for one doesn't allow it. I hope he can give himself a showing, like wise maybe with Minns that we have cover in the backs and don't need to chase bigger names and wages when the forward pack needs a new lease of players this next 1-2yrs

Little concerned about how BMac is going to use Sutcliffe in defence, it was a very poor display of bringing the defensive lineup together or not as we saw.....if he can tidy that up, his attack I think can be seen and with more experience he will be confident of playing to his full potential.

The pack will get a brusing encounter on Sunday and will need to stop the likes of Crabby-tree from stretching his legs to much and will be interesting how we match up with Cudjoe, he was a thorn last time we played them and that was lining up v Moon.

As always looking forward to it and with the injuries sticking with the younger players in my mind is best even if we see some errors like last week....we need to keep these players as upbeat as possible.

Cudjoe looks a real class act this year - has always had the tools but looks to be adding more quality as time goes on.

With any good strike player the key is to stifle their supply of ball in dangerous areas. If he can come onto the ball with space to run and the defence stretched then he'll cause problems. Winning the ruck and the biff up the middle will be crucial to beating Huddersfield.

I hate to say this but i think that we're gonna bet a number done on us this Sunday, i think the Giants will fully take advantage of our depleted squad and if we don't sort our ruck area out then Lunt will rip us to bits

Got to agree. We weren't brilliant against one of the poorer sides. And we struggle with Hudds when we have a full compliment.

I envisage a bit of an embarrassment in the next game. Sorry to say, but anything better than that is a bonus.

Well I think we can win, and if not then I expect us to be at least be competitive with the team we are putting out.

*shrug*

I agree LeedsDave but for me its all about the younger lads getting game-time and experience now results are secondry to that at the moment it will pay off long term imo just as it did in 02/03.

Absolutely - just thought i'd counter some of the negative expectations with some optimism

If we get most of our top performers back for the business end of the season, then maybe this period of bad luck will benefit the young players that don't get a chance with Mac. Others have suffered and bounced back this season (Hull FC) and so can we.
I have to agree with most about Hudds though. If Brough can slaughter a fully fit Rhinos I hate to see what he will do to our youngsters. Keeping the scores close would be a tremendous achievement by our lads.

not much confidence on here, Giants to cover -8 on the handicap must be a stonking bet eh

The Rhinos are without Joel Moon through suspension and will also be without nine other first team players through injury. Kevin Sinfield (thumb), Ryan Bailey (thumb), Kallum Watkins (ankle), Kylie Leuluai (knee), Liam Hood (ankle), Joe Vickery (knee), Brett Delaney (knee), Stevie Ward (shoulder) and Danny McGuire (leg) are all currently out. Brad Singleton will face a late fitness test on a dead leg injury suffered in the Widnes victory last Monday.

The 19 man squad is entirely made up of players eligible to play for England and includes 15 players from the club's academy structure with only Mitch Achurch, Jamie Peacock, Ian Kirke and Zak Hardaker not developed by the Rhinos. The average age of the 19 man squad to face the Giants is just 24 and, if selected, Minchella would become the first Leeds player to appear for the club who was born in the Super League era.

The squad in full is:
1. Zak Hardaker
2. Ben Jones-Bishop
5. Ryan Hall
7. Rob Burrow
9. Paul McShane
10. Jamie Peacock (c)
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Carl Ablett
17. Ian Kirke
18. Chris Clarkson
19. Mitch Achurch
21. Richard Moore
22. Jimmy Keinhorst
23.Brad Singleton
26. Liam Sutcliffe
27. Thomas Minns
28. Jordan Baldwinson
30. Alex Foster
31. Elliot Minchella

Blooming 'eck, some posters on here are going to have a field day with that squad... just look at all the academy lads being given a go!

(Or does it not count because it's a necessity?)

It doesn't count for that very reason. It is the wrong timing.

Should have been brought in individually as form warranted. But we are where we are, and they get a chance to at least have a go. Of course it is far easier for them to display their talents when they are surrounded by players who can cover for them, but I don't think they can have too much pressure on them this week anyway.

It's great to see so may u19's in the squad but unfortunate it takes so many injuries for some to even get a sniff.
I personally would go with.
How i think Mc wil go is in brackets.
Hardaker
Hall
Minns(Ablett)
Keinhorst
Bjb
Sutcliffe
Burrow
JP
Mcshane
Moore(Kirke)
Jjb
Ablett(Clarkson)
Singleton

Baldwinson
Kirke(Moore)
Foster(Achurch)
Minchella(Minns)

fingers crossed we get the win. As another poster said, that squad looks very weak, so maybe Hudds players have been laughing and joking all week in training. As put by another poster, they can batter a fully fit leeds so with this rag tag bunch they are certain of the win.....
and there in lies our chance of victory!

It's going to be stupid McDermott for not playing them sooner if we win or stupid McDermott for not playing them sooner if we lose.