Just wanted to clarify my position - I am not saying get rid of the coach now, and I certainly wouldnt be disappointed if he stayed on beyond this year. Was just putting forward a thought as to why he may not be retained.

I still believe, even though we're not in the greatest of form, we will come good this year and I actually wouldnt back against us doing the double. We do have more quality in our squad compared to the rest of the league, for me only Warrington come close, but one or two injuries to their pack and they are in trouble.

As for next year, I do believe we need to freshen up a couple of areas, maybe bring in somebody external to JOIN the coaching team, just for fresh ideas.

Player wise - In Gary we trust..... I would love us to sign a star centre, purely on a selfish, like to see exciting players point of view, not sure we have the cover to go with Keith for another year, Watkins would be coming on the back of a bad injury and the other youngsters not currently looking ready.

Lauititi does have his injuries and his casual games, however there has been absolutely no Leeds player more important than Ali in securing our success at the business end of the season. Our forwards are pretty easily containable without him, and much more dangerous with him, not only for what he does but for the attention he takes.

I wish I had a stat which compared our points totals this seasons when Ali has been on the field and when he's been off it. Just from observation I think the difference has been huge. There's no way I'd let him go unless he wants to return Australasia.

That said...playing fantasy Rugby League...it would be something if in our ins and outs and squad promotions, fitting under the quota and the cap, we lost Buderus and Donald from the quota and replaced with Cameron Smith and Adam Blair, lost Diskin (replaced by McShane & cap space), replaced Senior with (slightly cheaper) Shenton, and maybe had leftovers for a young winger to adequately cover injuries to a Smith/Delaney/Shenton/Hall (and Watkins) 3/4 line. The above would also work if we kept Buderus and missed out on Smith. Oh, and Bellamy for Bluey maybe



Like I said, it's fantasy manager, but you never know, and I don't think it's overreaction to a poor start to the season, in fact it hasn't much to do with this season, but recruitment to *keep* a team at the top is far more prudent than stasis.

Team: Webb; Smith, Delaney, Shenton, Hall; McGuire, Burrow; Peacock, Smith/Buderus, Blair, Lauititi, JJB/Ablett, Sinfield; Leuluai, Bailey, Eastwood, McShane (Watkins, BJB, A.Winger, JJB/Ablett, Burgess, Kirke, Pitts, Amor, Coady)

For the those who want rid of Senior he is one of if not the strongest with the best hand off in super league! and has produced and coached two wingers into scoring probably the most tries they're ever going to score in a season in Donald and Hall.

Season 2008 Donald plays outside Senior 21 tries
Season 2009 Donald switches wing 12 tries
Season 2009 Hall plays outside Senior 27 tries

Whoever you want as a replacement has big boots to fill!!!!

Senior has two more years I think!

Don't you think we know what he's done for us?
That doesn't detract from some fans opinions that maybe his time is up.
It doesn't mean it's a witch hunt,scape goating or otherwise just that at 34 many me included think this should be his last year.
The Senior we are witnessing at the moment is a far cry from the bald destroyer we've had the privlage to watch for the last 10 yrs.
I don't think you can "replace" someone like Senior just make a change and give the new guy whoever it eventually is a clean slate and judge him on his own performance and not what Keith did.
Just to add i'd love to think we had at least another 2 yrs of him tearing up defences and putting his winger away fro fun but i don't see it.

Reverse that around and you're there. Fan's opinion expressed on an Internet forum does not detract from what Senior has done and is doing for us on the pitch.

Senior's displays on the pitch can easily detract from what the experts on here write and they often do.

Not all the wingers tries are attributable to the centre you know.

Our left hand side has always been strong with Keith, Lauiti'iti and McGuire generally on that side. The wingers good try haul is as a result of some very strong attacking players on that side.

The left hand side has been a bit of a weakness since Chev left for various reasons.

It's hardly a coincidence that the likes of Francis Cummins, Karl Pratt, Scott Donald and Ryan Hall have all been successful and regular scorers playing on Leeds' left during Senior's time at the club.

Don't get me wrong, Senior has a massive part in the tries that we score down that side. But its not soley down to him, and his influence is waning. He can no longer bust 3 or 4 tackles a game, and feed his winger in the same way.

You also missed Bai from the list.

Exactly I'd like to have seen Cummins regarded as half the player people remember him as without Senior!

Erm Cummins wasn't a bad player for a few years before Senior's arrival. At 17 he looked very good, and continued to do pretty well for quite a while. He never quite became the player he could have been, but that's not too uncommon with Leeds players unfortunately.

As for players off contract, I suspect GH will be looking at the bigger picture in terms of what needs to happen over the next few years, not just next year. I wouldn't be too surprised if there are a number of changes next year and for several following. What is incredible when compared to the past is how many of our squad have been together for a long time.

What we desperately need to avoid is having half the team leave/hit terminal decline at the same time. We have a few older players now, but we also have a bunch of players in their late 20s. Just as an example, you do not want to have to replace both Burrow and McGuire at the same time.

As for Senior, Diskin etc, whilst I used to admire the ruthless way the old Wigan side used to discard players even slightly over the hill and replace them with new stars, we are not in that world. We know that a number of our players could earn more elsewhere, but have stayed because they are loyal to the club and their mates. It's probably corny and out-dated but I think the club has - and should continue to - show loyalty in return.

I do hope Senior doesn't try to play on too long though. I'd like to leave it to him to decide, but I don't want to see him play on too long and tarnish the memory of just how good he has been. As for his replacement, well I'd give Watkins first go.

I'd agree. I know he's a prop and all, but come on.

He needs to lose the gut and gain upper body muscle, his upper body looks too soft as well. We're into the season now so he won't be able to start changing his physique until the off season, we're stuck with him like that.

IMO we should not renew his contract and get someone from the NRL. Same type as wigan with Maguire.

That's not a slight on McClennan I just feel it would be the right time to freshen things up, as this could well end a pretty poor season. It could end a good one, and if it did McClennan would leave a god and we'd have someone new come in which would help us stay one step ahead of the competition.

In terms of players, can't believe people are suggesting we let diskin go and retain buderus. Short termism or what? Let buderus go, keep diskin.

Retain bailey.

Senior, just retire mate. Do your body a favour.

Donald retain if possible, but don't break the bank remember we have smith and hall.

Ali - Ali is a potnetial match winner, but all too often he seems to be carrying niggling injuries and we rarely seem to get a good consistent run out of him in the team. Though maybe that's my imagination. TVOC? I think we could use the money he's on to get much better value which would benefit the team overall.

If we let ali donald and buderus go, as well as not renewing McClennan's contract we'll have quota spots and money galore to get the right players in, hopefully some whizzkid as coach from aus to bring in fresh ideas, and we'll be ready to win super league again.