Watkins is thoroughbred who could - if coached properly - be one of the best centres in SL. Ball in hand he glides across the field, pity he teammates seem incapable of making the best use of him.

Sinfield defends on that side surely he can read the game as well as Burrow?

He doesn't seem to does he?

Sinfield has defended in the middle for most of his career, perhaps Burrow is more used to it. Maybe it would make no difference. I don't know but I do know we get opened up over and over again down that side and have done for a long time. The McGuire, Senior, Lauitiiti, Bai combination of 2004 would have loved to play against our right side defence!

Most teams attack on the left so perhaps Burrow who always defends on the right looks better because he doesn't get the traffic? It is the reason that Watkins doesn't get as much ball passing to the right is much harder for a right handed player

Atkins isn't half the player that watkins is, if nothing else, yesterday proved that.

Having said that, Atkins' defence has been found wanting since he played his first team game and I'd argue that it has improved since Phil Gould's observation on his skills.

That's the crux of it for me the coaching of him. Agree he is great to watch attacking the line, shame he doesn't see more ball in attack

I think the sentence you finish with could apply to Watkins just as easily as Atkins.

I'm playing devils advocate slightly as I'm a huge fan but coaching defence while obviously easier than teaching someone to do things with the ball which Watkins can do isn't as easy as you're making out.

Sal - Quite possibly yes. Saints also got to Burrow a bit defensively and they attacked to the right more than anyone else.

But apart from those positions the forwards are good, yes?

Yes other than that the pack looks good!!

Phew, that's a relief then, I was beginning to think we'll struggle to put a team out next season.

What we appear to have is a team with no structured attack or structured defence. A team seemingly and increasingly incapable of winning without McGuire - although that could just be a coincidence. An absolute triumph of coaching.

As for selecting 'Lee Smith light' on the bench to make only his fourth 1st grade appearance ..... was there a prize on offer for fielding the least experienced player in a Challenge Cup Final?

Apparently nantwichexile has some incriminating pictures of Bri. He said if he didn't pick Keinhorst, Singleton and Hood he'd show them to the Leeds board. Bri told nantwich he would but Hood & Singleton were playing dual reg games so were unavailable.

They settled on Keinhorst. Sound crazy? So does the fact that we have a fully fit squad bar McGuire and not one player from the top 25 could force themselves into the final 17 over a kid who at best looks raw and while he is obviously talented was in no way ready for that game.

Who said it was easy? Certainly, not me. You're confusing statements of fact with criticism, which given my feck wit comment was entirely my own fault.

A quality coach is there to improve the players and can do that job. What we have is a good man, who has some coaching skills but, against quality opposition, he is way out of his depth.

You implied it was!

I agree by the way, but not all players can or want to be coached to be better defensively. I doubt this is the case with Watkins but I don't know.

Du bist richtig

"Kid" ? He's 22

Yet he is the coach of the current SL and world champions!?!
Think I'm with BM on this one