I don't see how you can claim Mac doesn't trust Lilley because he selected more experienced players to start. I would have selected Lilley to start myself as Sutty was not going to be match fit but I fully acknowledge why Sutty got the call as Mac will have one eye on the WCC

no wonder Sutcliffe had a poor game if thats what he was doing

Sutcliffe did not play v wakey on Boxing Day. He is only just fit enough to play, he would have gone off after the knock he took but McGuire went. One fierce game in after horrific injury with captain and main half going off injured meant he was on a one leg hiding to nothing.

He gave some poor passes but he put in a fine tackle after a Leeds kick and the wire player lost the ball. This resulted in set where burrow was wrongly penalised for playing ball when child judged he had not been tackled. if play had gone on and we had scored which was quite possible after a rare quick PTB - the sky pundits would have said Sutcliffe turned the game. Give him 2 injury free years.

If Sutty is our 6, he is our 6 now. He isnt necessarily at the sink or swim time, but he is definitely at the learn by doing stage. Sutty needs to given a couple of years to make mistakes, he will have off games, will lose a bit of form, blow a bit hot and cold, thats young players for you. There is no point picking him week to week, he needs to be given faith and he needs to repay that faith.

Lilley looked good, but he looks a player developing in to a hooker rather than half to me, definitely played himself in to a position next week and one of the great things Burrow gives us is the ability to switch between hooker and half even in the same set which takes some pressure off him.

Golding coming through gives us another option too. With where we are as a club and a team developing, and where we are in the season, i think we go with what we have. Whoever we could get in would at best be very temporary, and would be available for a reason. Id rather Golding, Lilley, Sutcliffe got some time and experience than we looked for some short term option.

If Sutty is our 6, he is our 6 now. He isnt necessarily at the sink or swim time, but he is definitely at the learn by doing stage. Sutty needs to given a couple of years to make mistakes, he will have off games, will lose a bit of form, blow a bit hot and cold, thats young players for you. There is no point picking him week to week, he needs to be given faith and he needs to repay that faith.

Lilley looked good, but he looks a player developing in to a hooker rather than half to me, definitely played himself in to a position next week and one of the great things Burrow gives us is the ability to switch between hooker and half even in the same set which takes some pressure off him.

Golding coming through gives us another option too. With where we are as a club and a team developing, and where we are in the season, i think we go with what we have. Whoever we could get in would at best be very temporary, and would be available for a reason. Id rather Golding, Lilley, Sutcliffe got some time and experience than we looked for some short term option.

I hope we go with Sutty and Lilley at HB, lets show some faith in them. We will hopefully have Falloon back and Burrow on the bench if one of the HBs are struggling?.

Totally agree with 'your selections' ...but Rob is now acting captain, so I doubt he will start on the bench. At least Lilley should make that bench spot. ......

You don't know how happy it makes me to eventually see - at long last - everybody joining me in advocating the fearless promotion of youth

McGuire isn't the only one injured only a week into the season. Aiton is going to miss 6 weeks for Catalans. Shenton is going to miss the rest of the season for Cas and Luke Robinson for Hudds has been forced to retire. Always had good deal of respect for Robinson, he reminded me of Burrow in that he wasn't the biggest but he stood his ground in defence and took some nasty blows when attacking but kept going.

Wow! That is sad for Shenton....and especially for Robinson like you say. I agree he was another (normal/usual) Burrow. Fearless,incredibly resilient and plucky for a man of such small stature.

I thought Sutcliffe was really dissapounting for Leeds last week. Slow thinking and wrong options stopped Leeds getting points IMO but great players learn fast and kick on so hopefully with no injuries he learns

Its probably just lack of match fitness, in a position where you constantly have to be thinking the onset of fatigue can hugely affect your game, give it a month or so and hell be back to his best

One of the best prospects at the club, injured for 6-7 months then written off on his first game back. A game where he was injured for most of it.

Classic Southstander.

Shame about Robinson. Good player, brave and skilful.

I think that is quite harsh - he would have been nervous given how long he had been out and he was injured early doors too

Whilst I don't disagree he would have been nervous I agree with the previous comment. Sutty made bad decisions more often than not. As a playmate that ability to get key decisions right I'd crucial.

Age, experience, fitness etc... all have varying iimpacts but if sutty is to be a world class 6 he needs to cope with it all and make good decisions. It's the nature of the position he plays.