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.

Wouldn't want Minchella playing first team at the moment, he's not physically ready IMO. Keep him as 18th man so he can get a feel for the preparation and what being part of the first team squad entails.

Their attack is structured around brough. Get to him, and front up in the forwards and theres every chance we can win.

bet no other teams tried that- quick get on the phone to mcdummy- he must of missed that gem the last two times this season.

I know, he's really really stupid. And just a terrible coach. If only he could match the coaching achievements of Paul And... Oh, no maybe not him, how about Nath... ah my bad, but maybe John Sh...

Oh.

I know you understand sarcasm as you've used it in your own post- so clearly i wasnt having a go at your coach ....... paul Anderson must be a candidate for coach of the year. First year in head coach job- he's not doing bad is he?

He is doing well at the current time, better than i first thought he would TBH, but you do have a top four capable squad as shown in recent seasons and when Brough is on song, as he has been so far you look a very good side.BUT, will he and the rest of your team show up from August to October? History suggests not, and until such time any real Judgments on PA, and Brough as a big game player for that matter, cannot be made IMO.If you fail miserably as per, will you just be happy to just look back at the season and say 'we got into good position again and played some good rugby at times but couldnt man up when it got to the business end' ?

Will be interesting to see if PA has managed to instill something in your team others have been unable to when it comes to fighting for the trophys.

History also says we had a coach who liked to disrupt our top 4 squad, who were showing up nicely, the last 2 or 3 years before he started to meddle and upset the apple cart - PA hasn't done that and got rid of 'things' he thought were causing a disruption.
The squad this year is more together and has a more settled look to it, i think Baloo is just a better man manager than his predecesor and its showing.

But like you have said we have to be in the mix come August/September before anyone takes us seriously.

Big game for Huddersfield, their season is coming to an end.

Means nothing to Leeds, good runout for the kids though.

I bet it means everything for those kids getting a run out. They are all big games for huddersfield -Winning games also means alot to our team- shame your players only play when they can be ars..... I mean "when it matters" which doesn't obviously include challenge cup this year for mr maguire.
In fact if it means nothing to the team and the fans just give us the two points- why risk more injuries for those crucial four games at the end of the season. ...., no??????? Thought not.

If it's that easy doing things the Rhinos way, why not give it a try? Y'know, win some silverware - just for the novelty value...?

Because Leeds are obliged to complete their fixture list.

Correct on your other points, the kids will enjoy the experience, hopefully the hand ful of Huddersfield supporters will enjoy watching the future.