I would play a couple of reserve/academy players for this don’t get me wrong, but if those young lads get mullered and then booed by the fickle fans I can’t see that’s massively developmental for them. RS has some headaches for sure.

It will be as full a team as we can manage. RS won't want another loss,especially in this in game.

Wether that makes a difference is anyones guess.

If we get spanked by Cas he could lose his job - he will be taking this game seriously for a bunch of reasons.

Realistically this is a patched up side we are fielding with most of our pivots missing or out of form. I would be picking a side with good skill level at least because errors have been killing us at times this season. So no Awfulpherts for one.

The deadest of dead rubbers.

Interesting you say that Jim, do you think so ? I tend to agree when i think about it... it could be very very difficult for RS to survive another bad loss regardless of looking long term or not. You have to pay some serious attention to the here and now as well as looking long term.

Smith has to win this game - his job must be on the line.

Another 50 point hammering and he must surely depart?

His view is to play his most experienced players - doesn't matter which position - can't see that changing any time soon.

To be fair, unless the senior players stand up - which they generally fail to do - I'm not sure the 'experience' would be at all useful for any juniors picked. I'm sure Sinfield has got next to nothing out of the last two games. There's also the risk of them getting hurt if they're not physically ready, or having their confidence shattered.

Exactly this. RS does have a duty of care for the youngsters and their development too, and the crowd is not going to give the young lads much slack if we get another 50 posted on us.

We’ve had this before where we loaded too many academy lads in first grade at the same time and it fell apart: you ideally only want one or two surrounded by seasoned pros.

I would personally bring in a couple of specialists though because our seniors are crap at moving positions with the exception or Martin as a centre. And I’d have our next best Winger in over Olpherts. I’d also start with Johnson at 9 because he gets the team moving better than JOC, although Jarrod’s more physcial.

Smith just doesn't strike me as a coach who can rouse a team for a meaningless fixture like this with a Wane type speech. Games like Leigh, HKR & Salford that I attended, which mattered, were half-assed from Leeds, so I am not expecting you to come out with all guns blazing on Friday. Whereas I expect Cas to play with the shackles off after being under such pressure for weeks.

I think it’s likely Leeds will lose this again and we’ll have another meltdown on here.

The trick is not to get spanked and at least make some contest of it with our busted team. If we win then great.

Our pack should be competitive but we’re going to need more through the creative positions and the backs.

No matter what the result/scoreline , Smith is going no where soon , the sleve has already decided that .

But a less than 50% win ratio from the first dozen games next season , well then things may change

Second hand info that it could well be Cas that go down and not Wakefield.
Be harsh on Cas but I`m told it`s from a reliable source.
Hard to believe imo but been told by 2 people now so who knows?

What would be the reason for that as based upon league positions this season.
Find it hard to believe

I can’t see how that would happen, both teams are now recruiting/retaining players on the basis of their respective leagues.

points deduction for cap issues?