widdop was very good this morning. kicked some cracking goals too

I think Danny said He would like one more trophy to round off his career .That could be an indication that he intends to retire this season .I can't see him playing beyond his 35th birthday

Agrreements mean as much as contracts these days.

While Widdop would be an improvement I still think we would need another HB if Burrow is also retiring or staying as hooker cover.

As much as I think Lilley might deserve a chance at some point, for me it shouldn't be alongside McGuire. We need some pace in the halves be it from Moon or Burrow-I don't want to see Burrow as anything but a back up half / interchange hooker though really. The emergence of Keinhorst has allowed Mac to experiment with Moon and I think he compliments Maggs perfectly. The only thing really lacking is a credible kicking game.

Maguire has arguably possessed all the skills to be a world class half throughout his career, just not all at the same time. Having said that he's been a very very good player for 15 plus years and that is testament to the word he has put in developing and evolving his game.

McGuire can be frustrating to watch at times but he's still a vital part of the current squad with his organising game. I'd expect him to continue to improve provided he can stay fit.

I dont think anyone can or will question Dannys contribution during his time here & 100% he stands with Sinfield et al amongst our greatest ever players.
However time & tide wait for no-one especially when it takes longer to recover from injuries as has been his case.
I think his time is coming to an end at least as a sure-fire starting HB & Captain.
That said id definately keep him on in either a Coaching or mentoring role if he wants it.

If he plays in the next game it will be his 400th club appearance another milestone

Sutcliffe has had over 100 games now, and countless training sessions to show he could replace first Sinfield, and now McGuire, and has come nowhere near so far. Now it seems the coaches have decided he's never going to make it as a regular first choice half.
Lilley should be given some game time at some point this season. He looks to have developed physically and seems to be doing well at Bradford, but I still have doubts about him as a long term main half back at a top club.

Widdop has been in great form for St George this season, he'd be a fantastic signing at this point, but if he carries on I think he'll stay in the NRL

We need a quick half with great organisational skills, a hybrid of Danny Mags 10 years ago and Danny Mags today.

Widdop would do us great and although I'm enjoying seeing Moon in the halfs he's not got the out and out pace that a really good half should have. Don't get me wrong here, Moon can dance his way through the tightest of gaps but would have to rely on anther 'speedster' to get to the line from distance, something Mags could have done 10 years ago with ease.

I think Lilly should be give a decent run at stand-off but we would need an experienced partner with him to help him mature into the role, but by the looks of it Mags and Burrow may have hung up their boots before that happens.

Honestly, these days genuine pace is the least important attribute a half back needs. I'd much rather a half has a complete passing and kicking game.

Noticed that Aston is starting in the halves today for Featherstone, we'll see what reviews he gets but I can honestly see him never playing a league game for us (might get the Doncaster cup game) as at the time of his signing I doubt we planned on playing Moon in the halves which puts Aston further down the pecking order.

I'm happy to go with Moon in the halves at the moment. Yes he has some shortcomings playing that position but what half doesn't in SL right now? Think he has enough positives with his style to succeed there and more game time there will only benefit and help him in the long run. If you put him in the halves in most teams it wouldn't work but it kinda suits our off the cuff play what you see style.

Anyone who saw Aston play for Sheffield will tell you he will never be a regular for Leeds

We signed him to bail Sheffield out probably

Slightly OT but I thought Moon had his best game since moving to 6 against Wigan and was instrumental in a lot of our success. If McGuire had a kicking game to match his passing game we'd be well set. Unfortunately, it's the one part of his game which has never really reached the top level.

I think moving moon in to the halves has really worked, and I like how McGuires playing off the back of it. Moon is an elusive runner and defences hold back when he's roaming around which creates space for our attack. Mix that with Mcguires passing game and I think we'll start to see our outside backs getting some good ball in space. And Keinhorsts good form has been key to allowing this move.

As sad as it is to say it I think we look a much poorer side when ever Burrow plays in the halves. For me he should only be used at 9 to give pacell a 15 min rest and that's it. He does offer impact running with ball in hand but he can't run a game and for me, for whatever reason, it brings out the worst in McGuire.

As for sutcliffe, I think he's a great runner and can break the line. I like watching him play when he's not burdened with organising. I think he should just concentrate on bulking up a bit and becoming a big powerful running 13. I think he has incredible potential, it just doesn't seem to bring the best out of him in the halves.

A try and 9 goals, albeit against the worst team in the comp. Lilley started for Bradford, but was on the losing side.

Agree re-Aston i genuinely think GH took that gamble mainly to bail out Sheffield.
Wrt Moon at 6 IF we sign Widdop or another HB do you see Moon staying in the halves or Lilley getting recalled?
Personally if we get GW id like to see Lilley play 7 & Moon return to Centre & JK returning to tje backrow.
As a side note if Ferres is gonna maintain his new physique then surely a move to Prop beckons making room for JK to become a regular starter in the BR.

Without wanting the thread to descend into McDermott's position......the future HB's do depend on who will be coach next year and further ahead. Like I mentioned I know what people's opinion on McDermott's future is but we aren't making the decision. If he does stay and Moon carries on doing well then Moon might keep the role there next year.

I can definitely see Ferres ending up at prop as you say. For me though whilst Keinhorst does a decent job at 2nd row I don't see him playing there week in week out as he doesn't have enough size to play there effectively long term.

Very harsh thread imo, some people seem to have had it in for McGuire for the last 5 years

He was poor in the first half but in the second he upped his game and we ended up dominating for the last 30 mins

He still has the vision that very few English halves seem to have and has always had a strong passing game and his short kicking game has gotten better, his big weakness has always been his long kicking game, but that has been okay in the last few games

I think the bigger issue might be how reliant on him we are, our form as a team seems to mirror his form too much for my liking, if he gets injured again we could be back to the woeful attack of last year

Well if we win a trophy with moon at 6 then noone will complain if he stays there (or if the coach stays for that matter)

Disagree RE Ferres, if he can maintain the workrate and agility needed to defend as a second rower with added size, which he seems to have done, then I can only see benefits to him staying as a wide-running second rower

Agree with this, we haven't had an off loading lump punching holes on the fringes since Ali and it has been something we have missed. If Ferres can become this for us that would add a nice dimension. Be good to see him get a run of games for us, then we can judge him properly.

I haven't seen anything from Ferres in 18months that should guarantee him a place in the first 17 never mind comparisons with Ali. Too many dumb decisions, too many penalties, in and out of the squad with injuries and suspensions.

Difficult to judge from our awful 2016 though in which he was in and out of the side. I wasn't comparing him to Ali, just pointing out that is the kind of player we miss and if Ferres can bring that in time then great for us, but all to prove.

Again, lets judge when he strings a number of games together, he is still working his way back from injury, although i agree that silly suspensions will not help the cause.

Or even as a wide, running second rower.

Ferres hasn't shown anything that resembles the impact Ali had but by switching him to interchange Prop he now has the size to match the impact Garbutt has and take some of the workload off the other front rowers which imo will be more effective v the bigger packs.
Of course all of this is just an opinion the first thing BF needs to sort is his discipline.