The stats disagree with you.

According to the Leeds web site Singleton was on for just 3 minutes longer than Donaldson (35/33) and in those extra 3 minutes Singleton made 2 more carries and 19 more metres than Donaldson. Both made 28 tackles and both made one tackle bust each and no missed tackles. So Singleton averaged 6.5m per carry and Donaldson 5m per carry. Both made either a tackle or a carry every minute they were on except for one minute each (perhaps when they ran on) so both were equally busy with Single marginally more effective.

As I said Singleton on paper was marginally better than Donaldson something that you chose to overlook or perhaps failed to observe..

In the game the other night Saints regularly went wide even in their own red zone and not always on the back of forward drives a point noted by the TV pundits. Their tactic for this match was to clear the fast line speed of the big Wigan pack....and it worked.

So they don’t disagree with me then. For someone who constantly goes on about stats, you really need to understand them better, you seem to struggle with them, and only pick out certain ones.

So again I will say, Singleton had more minutes, which of course you have already stated, and somehow point to this fact of 2 more carries, yet believe Donaldson wouldn’t have increased his own and his number of tackles in that time. Of course even then it overlooks the fact that one was playing prop, a role for high carries, and one wasn’t playing prop.

With respect to Hunslet though I'm confident their pack don't stack up to Cooper, Hill, Murdoch-Masila etc.

Yes and there is a duty of care for the young players too. Having said that, having one of those three in particular play first team periodically through this season could be beneficial. Realistically that probably happens in the event of injuries, but these boys need an opportunity to see how far off they are.

I went to the toilet on Saturday at half time, was about 20 metres and took me about 45 seconds to get there. Which means I made more metres than Singo and Donaldson will make all season in much less time. How's that for stats?????

Both of them are triers, both give 100% but if I played for Leeds I would give my all too but it doesn't mean I should be in the team.

we know Marty, and know your view, and yes it highlights a problem, but no alternative to improve it currently.

What it doesn’t highlight in terms of one of the players though, and I am sure you would accept, one of the players was brought on to shore up a defensive problem and did the job. One was brought on specifically for the issue you are highlighting, and failed in that regard.

Doesn't really matter what the stats say the Pack overall were well beaten.
Ward was the only one who looked like having the quality we need with Hurrell being over used coming out of our end.
Merrin looked like a BR trying to gain match fitness but being wasted at Prop.
The forwards we have available are definitely Quantity over Quality and will cost us this year.
Hopefully Furner starts integrating the younger lads into the Team asap.

Agree the young lads need some game time but from a developmental POV not sure how much they gain from playing in that kind of game. We were well beaten by a side who have a coach in place big players all over the pitch and have been building even before that coach arrived.

I think as the season goes in the young lads will get some games and be phased in, I just worry we don’t pin all the hopes ok them as it isn’t fair to expect an 18/19/20 year old or group of them to step into a beaten pack and suddenly turn it around.

This has always been a rebuild and it will take 2-4 years. Everybody talks about getting two big meter making props and a wrecking ball back rower. I agree we need those but where or who do people think we should have signed who we didn’t? Those players were not available this off season, if they were I think we would have signed them.

Next year we have the following players off contract (I think):
Walters
Parcell
Ormondroyd
Mullally
JJB
Ferres
Donaldson
Dwyer

Out of those I would only retain Dwyer.

We should also shed the following:

Ablett
Cuthbertson
Lilley
Peteru
Sutcliffe

That gives you cap to get 2 big props and a gain line breaking back rower, probably a decent winger as well.

How are you gonna shed contracted players?

I can certainly see us losing 5-10 players from the squad for next year. I think we almost have the young props to solve our issues within 3 years but we need something different to bolster in the meantime.
I’m happy with a back row of Merrin, Ward, Smith with one or two players in reserve (Trout is only a year or two away, maybe. If he fills out he’s going to be a cracking player).
Sutcliffe is still a bit of an enigma. Talented lad but he will not keep his place at Leeds if he doesn’t improve his defence. Honestly I was a bit worried about Lolohea’s defence but I’m putting that down to cold, getting used to positioning, playing behind a beaten pack etc.
Bottom line is that the club does not have the freedom to make all the changes it might like because of commitments on contract etc.

I'd agree with pretty much all of that. If we lose only those out of contract at the end of this season, minus Dwyer who we will most likely keep until Johnson is ready, that will free up £450-500k of cap. Plenty for three very good players with the other spots being taken by the kids who will be one year more matured with hopefully a few games under their belts.

I'd be happy to see the others you mentioned leave too, but don't see how it can be done unless they themselves want to go.