The ref will be Ben Thaler.
Wasn't he in charge in the last game against the Giants?
The one where Ablett was sin-binned for being punched by Brough for which he has been found "not guilty" of any wrongdoing whereas Brough is up on a charge of punching.

Fair point - Leeds should go into the game with confidence after the last few weeks so it should be a good game

Liam Farrell has a chance of making it this week apparently.

Other news from them is that McIlorum could finally be back next week or the week after. Sam Tomkins might be facing an extra 6-8 weeks though.

I'm not overly fearful of any side in SL. I dont think any are that good. Gas can blow teams away and look great but the one time they have actually been pushed they came up short. Wigan have a system that players can slot in and out of and great strength in depth but aren't a great side. Hull are decent but not great. Outside that is a selection of pretty poor sides.

My worry is that we look brittle. 5 from 7 is obviously a great return but as soon as cas stepped up we went to pieces, something that happened a lot last year too.

Meh, we took spankings in our title winnings seasons too. I recall a month before the 2012 GF, Hudds put 48 points past us even though they played with 12 men for nearly 70 minutes.

That worra long trudge to the car!

IIRC, not a lot was riding on the Huddersfield game in question. It being a dead rubber doesn't excuse Leeds being abject for the opening seventy - romped the last ten trying to make the score respectable.

Could have been Giants been better/ more hungry than us on the day. Alternatively BM & GH wanting us to come through the game unscathed with an eye on the forthcoming matches.
Turned out well anyroads.

Agree with pretty much every comment on this thread, but how can you say no SL team is any good? Aside from what would appear an off day in Salford, Cas have ripped teams apart with some of the best attacking rugby in the SL for years. And Wigan have yet to field anywhere near a full time so far and still up the top end and won WCC.

Wigan fan.

For the reasons i gave. I mean, we are 3rd. Its hardly a high quality league.

Wigan fan here in peace. Looking forward to the game on Friday, should be a close game as Wigan Leeds games normally are, I'm always confident in Wigan and always will be but we could struggle if our defence plays anything like it did in first half vs hull, Cutherbertson and Parcell could have a field day although imo they won't, Hoping imo what is our best player is back and that's Faz, if he is back we could have the advantage imo but if he isn't I'll tip you lot by 6.

Not sure what the weather forecast is but hopefully it's dry and some good rugby is played. Hope you lot have a good game (but not too good a game haha)

I get what he means. Whilst Cas have done some really good stuff and even took us to the cleaners I wouldn't rule us out in a big contest like a final/semi vs them.

Wigan haven't fielded near their strongest side I agree but then again their style allows 'inferior' squad players to come in and nothing much changes so absence of players isn't as bad as it is as say Leeds who rely on key individuals.

Ateotd I don't think there's a big gap between teams compared to say several years ago when Saints and Leeds were well ahead of the rest in 07-09.

I would say Wigan are ahead of everyone with a near full team on the pitch but with them struggling a bit with injuries it has brought them into the pack.

Like you say, Cas great to watch but still need to prove themselves when it matters.

There isn't a right lot to fear from the rest of the league at the minute so it is looking fairly open for at least a couple of play off spots.

I say Wigam's biggest strength is also perhaps their greatest weakness. Yes when injury strikes they can carry on with little disruption whereas Leeds go for a style reliant on being close to their strongest 17.......but look at the final 20 mins of the 2015 GF, was their any individual magic from Wigan or just the structure trying hopelessly???

If structure gave Flower the instinct to put that kick up, then I'd like to see that session with Wane.