Ok. Lets just say for example we have 3 injuries at the same time. Burrow, Webb and Hall.
In this situation which backs would you play? And who would we have on the bench.

Don't get me wrong I agree we have a great squad with some top quality forwadrs but I just think with a couple of injuries we may be abit thin on numbers and could do with a couple more utility backs.
IMO I think we are abit short in the backs.

So no real basis then for your comment?
In your own posting above you wrote that he played in the GF, so he does play in games that he's selected for, 19 in all last season.
I thought you must know something I didn't, which wouldn't surprise me, but in fact it would appear to be merely speculation.
Nothing wrong with that as long as we know that's what it is.
IMO

With Burrow out it's Mcguire at 7 Sinfield at 6 (or mcshane in at 7).
With Webb out Either Watkins plays there or Donald or Bush.
With Hall Missing that gives a chance to either Coady or Bush.
We also have recall option on Bjb.
There's plenty of versatility within the squad to cover these positions barring a complete nightmare injury list.

Or even Chisholm, the fastest man in Superleague.

bjb back from loan to cover webb, watkins on the wing for hall, for burrow mcguire to scrum half sini to six, ablett to 13 and take your pick from our vast pool of forwards for the one backrow and bench spots

Yep i'd forgotten about young Jamal!

Regarding cover: Quote ="Sibbs Rhinos"I know it's early but this is how it stands ATM. (Names in Red are players who play more than one position) Wingers: Scott Donald Ryan Hall =redKallum Watkins Mike Coady centres: Brett Delaney =redKeith Senior Kallum Watkins Mike Coady =redCarl Ablett =redGreg Eastwood Full Backs: =redBrent Webb Scott Donald Mike Coady Kallum Watkins Half Backs: Rob Burrow Danny McGuire =redKevin Sinfield =redPaul McShane Brent Webb Props: Jamie Peacock Kylie Leuluai Luke Burgess Ryan Bailey Luke Ambler Kyle Amor =redJay Pitts Ian Kirke =redJamie Jones Buchanan =redGreg Eastwood Hookers: Danny Buderus Matt Diskin =redPaul Mcshane Jamie Jones Buchanan =redKevin Sinfield Second Rowers: Ali Lauitiiti =redGreg Eastwood Ian Kirke =redJamie Jones Buchanan Carl Ablett =redKeith Senior Jay Pitts Loose Forwards: =redKevin Sinfield Carl Ablett =redAli Lauitiiti =redJamie Jones Buchanan =redGreg Eastwood Jay Pitts'" viewtopic.php?f=17&t=423300 Possibly add Jamel Chisolm, Tom Bush, Chris Clarkson, Liam Hood to this.

Regarding cover: Quote ="Sibbs Rhinos"I know it's early but this is how it stands ATM. (Names in Red are players who play more than one position) Wingers: Scott Donald Ryan Hall =redKallum Watkins Mike Coady centres: Brett Delaney =redKeith Senior Kallum Watkins Mike Coady =redCarl Ablett =redGreg Eastwood Full Backs: =redBrent Webb Scott Donald Mike Coady Kallum Watkins Half Backs: Rob Burrow Danny McGuire =redKevin Sinfield =redPaul McShane Brent Webb Props: Jamie Peacock Kylie Leuluai Luke Burgess Ryan Bailey Luke Ambler Kyle Amor =redJay Pitts Ian Kirke =redJamie Jones Buchanan =redGreg Eastwood Hookers: Danny Buderus Matt Diskin =redPaul Mcshane Jamie Jones Buchanan =redKevin Sinfield Second Rowers: Ali Lauitiiti =redGreg Eastwood Ian Kirke =redJamie Jones Buchanan Carl Ablett =redKeith Senior Jay Pitts Loose Forwards: =redKevin Sinfield Carl Ablett =redAli Lauitiiti =redJamie Jones Buchanan =redGreg Eastwood Jay Pitts'" viewtopic.php?f=17&t=423300 Possibly add Jamel Chisolm, Tom Bush, Chris Clarkson, Liam Hood to this.

Stop please, you're getting me excited

Just thought id show that we do have adequate cover in all positions

I like your confidence kiddo but I guess we will have to wait and see. TBH I'm suprised I'm the only one who thinks like this.

I just think compared to our forwards we have a good starting team but no depth. If we get a couple of injuries I think we will lack quality and maybe struggle to score tries.
In our forwards we have plenty of depth, whereas the backs it will just have to be youngsters coming through (which by the way I think is good and we have done it for many a year. But I think with a couple of injuries we may have to rely on them in stead of them breaking into the team)
Just my opinion and I like I said we will just have to wait and see what happens.

I'm not.

BJB replaces Webb
McGuire replaces Burrow
Sinfield moves to stand-off
Ablett moves to LF
Watkins replaces Hall

It would give us a team of:

1. BJB
2. Donald
3. Delaney
4. Senior
5. Watkins
6. Sinfield
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. Diskin
10. Peacock
11. JJB
12. Ali
13. Ablett

14. Buderus
15. Eastwood
16. Burgess
17. Kirke

And we'd still have available:
Bailey, Pitts, Amor, Ambler, Coady, McShane, Worrall on loan and some more youngsters

We have plenty of depth in both the forwards and backs.

As I said, we would need 3 or 4 injuries in one position to be struggling, thats a freakish amount and can't be planned for, anything less than that and we're fine.

O.k so no back on the bench, I know we have a few utility players (ablett, JJB, sinfield etc).

But your missing my point, do you not think with a few injuries in the backs then we might have to rely on a few youngster in stead of them coming through slowly and at there own pace. I understand every youngster that has come through our rank has had their chance along the way. IMO a couple of injuries and we could struggle.

I don't think it would be 3 or 4 in 1 position but that’s my opinion I suppose. Lets just wait and see. I just see a lot more strength in our forwards than our backs. Any way lets just hope my example of a few injuries dose not happen at the same time and we keep winning

We rarely have a back on the bench so I don't see your point.


No I don't. Only with a lot of injuries in one position would we struggle, as any team would with a lot of injuries in one position. I don't quite understand how much more cover you want.
We have as cover:
1 specialist full back (BJB)
3 wingers (BJB, Coady & Watkins)
2 specialist centres (Coady and Watkins)
1 stand off (Sinfield)
2 scrum halves (McGuire and McShane)

only BJB and Watkins are under the age of 20.

To start with BJB is at Quins so he is obviously not in Blueys plans,
Coady from what i have seen of him he is about year away from breaking into the team and not good enough yet.

I like watkins and think he is our only utility back that we could use.

And I don't think McShane is a scrum half, a good hooker but not a scrum half.

Who does that leave?

Of course he's in Bluey's plans or he'd have been sold. He has a recall clause in his loan and as i understand the only reason he's been sent on loan is because of new academy age rules.


Of course he's not breaking into the team yet, he's only just arrived and has Senior and Delaney ahead of him, he was brought to the club for strength in depth.


As i understand it he started off at scrum half, and whilst is obviously a hooker now could probably fill in a scrum half if he had to.


Sinfield, McGuire & Ablett, are they adequate to fill the gaps? We have great strength in depth, the best I've seen for years. I really don't know what you expect the club to do, we can't be 4 deep in every position with 25 year old world class players, no club is. In my opinion we have by far the strongest squad of any club in SL.

McShane played at 7 for some of the Whitehaven game

I doubt Leeds would recall BJB if Webb was only out for one or two games.

I suppose it will depend on what injuries if any the team has at that time.

This is the best squad Leeds have had since the inception of SL. The only side I can see getting anywhere near them is Warrington - Smith love him or hate him is a high quality coach with a strong squad.

As at the other major sporting club in the city the coaches have all the tools at their disposal to deliver big style

My prediction - the team will go through the season unbeaten

That's some prediction David.

FWIW I think we will lose less than last season, but unbeaten, that would be some achievement, however strong the squad.

no way will we go ubeaten,not a hope in hell. i expect to lose less than last year though

I can honestly see us losing just as many but still winning the GF.