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.

I think Cas were still feeling the physical effects tonight (as well as not being as mentally fired up for the particular opposition).

Even with the five changes they made to the team?

I would be tempted to start Delaney at prop and with Kylie off the bench as impact prop and drop Bailey after he deserted his post and left a huge gap under the sticks against Cas. However we will be up against a fired up and inform Salford who will need a win to have a chance of a top 8 place, so we need to start well.

Therefore I would start with JP, Aiton and Kylie in the front row with JJB & Delaney in the 2nd row and Ablett at loose.

In Sinfield's absence I would play Burrow at 7 and Mags at 6 as we will need play makers on the field for the full 80 in the skipper's absence. If Aiton needs a rest or gets injured then Burrow to 9 and Sutcliffe on from the bench.

Walters deserves a bench spot as he has put in an enthusiastic stints with a high tackle and marker tackle count over the last 5 games he has played. That leaves two bench spots from Ward, Bailey, Singleton or Minichella. I would give the latter two the chance to make an impact and rest Ward and Bailey.

I don't understand the comment 'the old style ball handling LF is pretty much non existent these days'......is it against the rules? Are clubs not allowed to buck the trend?

Delaney at prop or '3rd prop' at LF for me. Never again in the second row....until he learns to pass of course.

The players of pre super league generations, who worked on the building site all week, trained on evenings, often played 2 games a week and regularly played 45+ games a season are, as we speak, forming a support group for Stevie Ward, his tired legs and the poor ickle full time Super League players.