I would give Crosby a contract, I think hes a decent player who is looking to put the last few horrible years hes had behind him.

I also think Thompson bar his opening defences ve effort at Salford has gone OK, he actually seems to punch above his weight, but id only give him s contract if its a low paid one.

What does Thompson offer that Cameron Smith wouldn’t?

IF we are signing starting players, or even for the 17, they need to be better quality than Thompson.

Cameron Smith will not be threatened by Thompson IMO as I think that Thompson will be a squad player and not a starting player
Who would you rather have in your squad Thompson or Ormandroyd ?
I would rather have Thompson within our salary cap without a doubt

If it’s that choice, between Thompson or someone like Ormondroyd, then probably Thompson, but he would have to be on the same wages, which I’d estimate would be 30-35k.

We should be capable of producing the Thompson quality of player each year from within, it’s the better ones that should be more of a challenge.

We have got numerous juniors in the U16's and U19's that will be far better first team players than projects like Ormandroyd
IMO Thompson is a 2 year plan until these kids are established and fully ready for regular appearances each week

I agree, quite like Crosby. Id much rather have Crosby and Thompson instead of Ormndroyd, Walters and Mullally, if we could get them 2 signed up for the same wages as the other 3 combined id consider that an improved squad. Would open up a first team squad number for someone like Trout aswel.

We desperately need a few starting quality players but we cant ignore the absolute rubbish we'v got further down the squad either, Crosby and Thompson would be much better options than the 3 mentioned for squad places 20 and below.

That's where I'd see both Crosby and Thompson over the next year or so - displacing some of the utter garbage in the squad but themselves getting displaced when better kids come along. Crosby could be a solid first 17 player beyond that perhaps.

In any event I think we've seen that whilst we haven't got enough quality in our first 17, some of the squad players really are dire. Whilst getting the first 17 is a priority, injuries will happen and we need better squad players as well. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens once Furner gets in.

So, it has been mentioned the defence looked to have improved. I have to say at the match, certainly the defence on our line looked much better. I mentioned this last week when people were complaining, statistically our defence last week was one of best of the year, the missed tackles were lower than we had done. Well this week we were back to plus 30 at 33 missed tackles, which to be frank is very poor.

On the subject of Thompson, I for one was quite glad to give him an opportunity, due to his hard work and efforts. But is that 3 matches now? And in two of them his defence has been woeful. Another 9 missed tackles from him yesterday, and although he put the effort in carrying the ball (and maybe an excuse for missing some from fatigue) he didn’t exactly make high metres per carry. Just to balance up here, I don’t believe in the limited chances Ormobdroyd had, he missed that many tackles, or even close.

On another note, this myth around Keinhorst been a good defender, please stop it. He misses tackles most games, and yet again a game for him with quite a few missed tackles. Look at his stats all season, keeps happening.

Widnes were desperate today and so were we, pretty much the end for them, that's unemployment,net or part time rugby for them now. they were always going to be a hard team to beat today like cornered rat.

Completely agree about Keinhorst - you cannot know his effort but he should not be anywhere near an elite RL side not even as a squad filler, the less said about Walters the better. Sutcliffe is an enigma - nearly cost us the game yet his run at the end sealed the game.

Demonstration enough that we need to stay well clear of that dreaded Million Pound Game if any were needed

I had a peek at the Widnes Forum and it makes illuminating reading. Several comments to the effect that we are nearly as bad as they are and that this is the worst Leeds team they can remember. I have been around a long time and can't (quite) agree with the last point, but there is a lot of truth in the first one.

I have been around since 1978, and I totally agree with the last one. This is by far the worst team, when in comparison to the level of the competition.

do not agree, it is the second worst season we have had in the super league era, but there is enough quality players in the squad, we should not be in this position. injuries are not an excuse but they have been a huge factor. the 1996 side did not have anywhere near the quality as this side. and the 1986-17 side that only stay upped by points difference is the worst that was a shocking squad with very little quality if any at all. there has been some very good performances this season, both games against saints and Warrington we played well and a few others. the 96 side would not have beat either those sides or got close. think he have had a fully fit garbut and watkins think we would have been 5-6 instead. still need to show 5-6 players the door and replace them with quality though.

I agree, Keinhorsts bang average at best and a poor defender imo. He's another whos cap space could be added to say Delaneys cap space and sign one better quality player instead of the 2 of them with there cap space combined. New signing takes Delaneys spot, Newman moves up the ladder and takes Keinhorsts spot, Broadbent moves up the ladder and takes Newmans spot.

Its win win imo, we get a better quality first 17 and our very good juniors get a pathway, and keep progressing up the squad, instead of blocking there progress and wasting cap money on Ormndroyds, Walters, Keinhorsts and the likes. Just my opinion ofcourse.

We'r in a pretty good position in that most of the dead wood are off contract after this season and we'v got the best crop of juniors we'v had for 15 year waiting to progress, hope the club dont mess it up.