Any word on who out the injury returnees is more certain to be involved..?

I am travelling down from Glasgow for the game; first time back since the GF. Everytime I have seen them online / on TV since they have lost - am convinced it is because they are missing me not being in the usual SS spot. So I fully expect a good performance tonight and will take at least some credit for it..!

Can't wait to be around normal people again, who actually know what rugby league is..!

From that press conference it sounds like (injury wise) things are even worse than we realise. All the players coming back are coming back early before they're fully ready. Ie "Briscoe came back early, he needs a rest". But he also said other players playing are carrying injuries but implying they can't take a few weeks off to recover as we're struggling to field a team.

He said they aren't able to run through plays in training, I think he said perticularly deffensive structures cos everybody's in the medic room. Those playing at the weekend aren't fit enough to train well.

I don't get the impression he was just making excuses either. He said we won't be fielding our first 17 for over another month.

We need to find a way to win with what we have. Like what saints did a couple years ago.

Why don't we give one or two of the young kids a chance then?

I think all the kids who are considered. ready, except Baldwinson, have played this year. It'll do nobody any good to throw under prepared and not physically ready kids into the team.

Let's play with unfit injured players then.

Hull KR put up a very good performance the other night at Wigan with many youngsters. How do you consider someone ready?

I can't buy into this every other team has had injuries but seem to put in some reasonable performance even if they lose . Obviously Mcdermotts feeling the pressure and the recent excuses about the referee then this doesn't cut the mustard with me.

It's an interesting question isn't it, I remember Salford fans the other year suggesting that they went for loans because a lot of their U19s were in their first year and not physically up to SL. So that could be a factor.

It's also different blooding someone like Handley on the wing at 18 compared to asking a lad of the same age to do a stint at prop.

So to give you an answer, it'd have to be someone physically big/strong enough, preferably who has spent some time with the first team. Would that mean Cam Smith, Sam Hallas and that Polish youg man whose name I can't pronounce would be next in line? Do we need forwards or backs right now?

Could be he's making excuses to give Kirke a run out .

Given the poor performances of the forwards you have to question why McDermott will not give Baldwinson a game?

If the lad has no future at the club the best thing they can do is let him move to another club where he might thrive

I think a major issue is the decision to scrap the Reserve Grade Competition and not have dedicated Coaching at that level.

You can run that team to the same drills and comms as the 1st team so people can slot in and out with ease.

Jordan Baldwinson should have had a game at 1st Grade for the Rhinos by now I agree. He is stoked to be signed up with the Rhinos too. I hope they keep him and give him his opportunities.

This could be our most important game for some time if we loose tonight or at least but in a decent performance,where do we go from here?

The only way is up, bayyybii

Let me tell you. Cam Smith has a contract that is to train with the first team, but that he will play a maximum of 8 academy games this year. The rest of the time he will be training with first team and building up, as they want him ready for next season for super league. I don't understand this, for me if you are getting him ready he needs to play games, and the odd substitute appearance now is needed, if they are planning for next season.

The coaches I was speaking to last night were saying how the championship is a physical tough competition, but a very slow one. They were saying the biggest difference for a youngster stepping up to Super League is not the physicality but the speed of the game. Both coaches said the academy was faster than the championship, so did not see the benefits of playing championship rugby.

I agree with you, if they think he's good enough to train with the first team, and he clearly didn't look out of his depth on Boxing Day then the odd sub game would do him good, as would imo a loan, because how much will he learn playing against his peers who pretty much to a man he is bigger/faster/stronger than.

I would also be tempted to agree with you regarding the pace of the championship, it would explain why props (Hill, Walmsley even Yates) were able to step up, but we don't see many pivots or ball handlers make the jump. Jamie Ellis and Finn are the most recent successful examples and neither have set the league alight.