Neither Sutcliffe nor Ward are stand-offs in the long term once their bodies develop properly. Both will be back rowers, potentially competing for the same spot as a pivot-type loose forward

Nah! Sutcliffe has apparently proven today that he as well as Ward deserves a starting spot: one at SO the other at LF for me. (Even Dave Heron in t'olden days - when forwards were far more different - could play in each position with equal aplomb. Sinfield less so of course ).

A classy scrum half is more the priority IMO for the future; next to freshening up the 'dad's army' pack of course.

I've always thought Ward has the perfect frame and skill set to be a Paul Sculthorpe type back rower, and I'm convinced that's where he'll end up. I've not seen enough of Sutcliffe to form a full opinion yet, but Ben White looks to have all the makings of a very good SL HB. As for Gaskell, unless McGuire or Sinfield are retiring I don't see where he'll fit in.

A Lee Smith utility who can cover 1-5 better than Vickery/Keinhorst/Minns? If, as Rogues says, he's happy with that. Wouldn't expect him to be a starting half.

He looks like a HB to me all day long. A couple of years ago I thought he looked a better long term HB than Lomax and I still do, I can't see him ever playing centre or wing long term for any side.

gaskell is a starting 6 without a doubt,but would be a good back up player from the bench for any sl side,but i can't see him singing for us tbh

I would have Suttcliffe at 6 over Gaskell without doubt.
I know he's a big lad and wouldn't be surprised to see him and Ward as 2 of our BR's for years to come but Sutty still has much more to his game than he's showed thus far including a long and short kicking game and a defence splitting pass.

Interestingly McDermott commented that the next step for Sutcliffe is to improve his game management (that's how I interpreted his Widnes post match comments anyway) so I think McDermott sees Sutcliffe as a HB long term.

Don't get me wrong CS i'd be happy to see Sutty play anywhere because i think he'll potentially be a great player for us but i have seen him a lot this year and he has so much more in his locker.
Also i honestly think whatever SC we have spare needs to go on the pack.

I've always thought Gaskell looked a very good 6 at Saints and was surprised he didn't kick on there.

Not sure how he would fit in with Sutcliffe when Mcguire and Sinfield are back but its an intriguing option. I understand Sutcliffe has been told by the coach he is in there on merit, regardless of injuries.

At the moment it should be sinfield to 13. The current 6-7-9 are doing well.

It'll be interesting how we line up when Ward, Bailey and Sinfield return. You have a 6,7,9 and 13 to fill from Burrow, McShane, Ward, Bailey, Ablett, Sutcliffe and Sinfield. I just hope Burrow does not go back to hooker, he needs to be SH or an impact sub.

Think I'd go with Sutcliffe 6, Burrow 7, McShane 9 and Sinfield 13 with Ward and Ablett at second row and Bailey at prop.

Ward is still 8 weeks off, which is pretty much play off time it will be tough to ask him to come straight in if that's the case, hopefully he gets back a little earlier.

When's Delaney back?

I've heard he will be a Leeds player too. But not for the Rhinos...