I certainly hope so, but have seen nothing to convince me he is anywhere near. I think it will go something like Leeds->Wakefield->Batley.

Of course it was!! it was simply a hissy fit on your behalf - perhaps if your weren't so precious about all things Rhinos it might do you some good!!

I'd have said, more like Leeds->Wakefield->Featherstone. Had the chance to give a SL team the lead for the first and (as it transpired) only time and fluffed that too. That seemed to be missed by many on here which is a little surprising after the spray Hardaker received after Warrington, coupled with the loss of a point or even two by not deferring the duty to Lilley.

Halves, IMO, need to offer a running threat otherwise defenders can just slide and pick off the runners, thus far Lilley's threat has only come from little mid field chip kicks and I imagine he'll soon be discouraged from using them.

Thurston missed his first kick from a similar position to Lilley. Reckon he'll end up at Featherstone as well?

I haven't been as excited about the potential of a scrum half at Leeds since Gareth Stephens.

Its more like Wayne Bennet took won look at him and said, wait have I not signed darius Boyd again already?! Your failing to mention he got that role by pushing Ben Barba out of position

1) he runs the ball a fair bit
2) the current England 7 has no running game what so ever

Like Sinfield did? Briers was hardly dashing around in his latter form years. I think one of halves need a running game but not both (hell McGuires had diminished yet he and Sinfield saw us to a treble last year)

As for the kick, Golden Boy Thurston missed a similar one in what was tricky conditions for a kicker and I can forgive some potential nerves for someone in his first big game in only his 7th game.

Why is it silly to point out fundamental flaws. No player is perfect by any means, but a halfback who can't pass is like a 5 stone prop.

The current England SH is relatively garbage. I've argued that for years.
But aimless running is potentially worse than no running.

Ooh that told me

I'd hope he might end up at Leeds for a couple of seasons but as long as Leeds continue to produce and roll out the SL quality halves the like of David Gibbons, Gavin Brown, Paddy Handley, Jonny Hepworth, Scott Murrell and Ben White's of this world then priorities clearly lay elsewhere.

Re the two kicks - Different ends of the pitch so as both are right foot, instep kickers one of those 'similar' kicks was with a natural shape while the other was against it.

Lilley kicked one last week at Widnes off the 'wrong' touchline, Sinfield's (IMO) greatest conversion was in the Huddersfield CC SF of 2003, Lee Crooks' two pointer to draw a Test (and World Cup Qualifying) match at Elland Road in '85 also springs to mind - great kicks because, the latter two at least, were under the most extreme of pressures.

Hardaker failed his first real test of a pressure kick (arguably first two tests V Warrington) and was almost universally condemned on here, most (IIRC) offering the opinion had Lilley been given the job one or both points would have gone to Leeds, well that jury may have to reconsider their verdict on their favoured alternative given this latest evidence.

I seem to remember Sutty nailing one of those pressure kicks (at least on a par with the one Zak missed against Wire) against Catalan. Is he out of kicking contention because of his knee? Because when Sinifield wasn't on last year it was Sutty who kicked.

Lilley looks a natural kicker, but is not guaranteed a spot when everyone's fit.

Hardaker is a strange one,I seem to remember a couple of games where he's kicked really well, but at the same time he's just as capable of going one from four.

All 3 with work could be vaiable options, but at the minute non have really seperated themselves from the rest.

Think JJB and Ward said during their USA game commentary he had done a bit of goal kicking whilst over in Florida (along with Hardaker, Lilley, Golding and Cam Smith). But he must have only just started again around that time after several months out so might be rusty/kicking poorly upon his return.

bring back furner he was effin brilliant