Plus Burrow and McGuire came in at a much different time for the club. In the halves you had Harris leaving for RU, Powell was now coach and Ben Walker never worked out.

If you look back at some team lineups from back then you'll even see Karl Pratt starting in the halves a few times.

Sutcliffe is 20 played 13 first team games scored 7 tries
Ward is 21 played 11 first team games scored 4 tries.

They are ready and should be playing 6 & 7 next year


Hardaker
Hall
Watkins
Moon
Briscoe
Sutcliffe
Ward
Peacock
McShane/Aiton
Singleton
Ablett
Delaney
Sinfield

Leuleui
JJB
Bailey
Burrow

Not sure they should be 6&7, but to suggest they are not developed enough physically is just ridiculous. Skills wise and knowing the game would be the only question, and Certainly in Wards case that is covered.

Sutcliffe didn't look to bad either when used last season with comparisons being made here with some of our past legends.

The side listed looks well balanced IMHO. The 3/4 line is the best in the SL and the pack has a good mix of experience.

As you say these two young players need to be developed asap and to do that they need the ball in their hands. Where better to develop those skill sets than at the heart of the action not with their heads buried in the pack.

It also allows us to settle the rest of the side with players playing in their true positions.

Looks like we will maybe have 2 out and out hookers to select from.

I'd be wary of starting Sutcliffe for the minute. While he undoubtedly talented, getting plenty of open-age game time at Hunslet might well be useful for him.

Ward however spent most of 2012 in the first team, and was performing fantastically before injury in 2013. Starting him at LF allows our two best second rows (Delaney & Ablett) to start in their best positions, nurtures more time out of JJB and gives us an additional ballplayer at LF.

So, for 2014:

1. Zak Hardaker
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Joel Moon
5. Ryan Hall
6. Kevin Sinfield
7. Danny McGuire
8. Brad Singleton
9. Paul Aiton
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Brett Delaney
12. Carl Ablett
13. Stevie Ward

14. Rob Burrow
15. Kylie Leuluai
16. Ryan Bailey
17. Jamie Jones-Buchanan

It's not ridiculous to suggest they're not developed physically enough since members of the Rhinos coaching staff say they're not.
The game has changed. Even from when McGuire, Burrow etc made their debuts. It's much faster and tougher in the middle. Everyone is bigger, faster and stronger. Of course there'll be some who handle it just fine, even thrive. That doesn't mean everyone will or can. As Smokey says, it's a balancing act. They need enough game time to ensure they develop, but that doesn't mean playing them every minute of every week. Because they're not going to develop at all if they're on the side injured.

Liam Sutcliffe is not yet 19. Stevie Ward is not yet 20 and has had 2 major shoulder injuries. There is an argument that Ward ended up playing LESS this year because he wasn't protected

Wouldn't argue with any of that.

Course, it's dependent on Barry Eaton playing ball and wanting a pivot who may not be available from one week to the next.

Who? who on the coaching staff said there not? I don't recall Smokey being on the coaching staff.

It is ridiculous. If you have come through the systems and are as old as 20, then you are ready physically, especially when you have already played 20 games that level.

You might not be ready head wise, which is what I said, but is different to what was commented.

Spot on mate.

Had Ward not got injured early in season, it was a high probability that he would have been playing on Saturday against Australia. Yet some think he is not ready physically for Leeds, dear lord.

Do you not think there is a chance that those two things are linked? That the fact that he has suffered with specific injuries is because he wasn’t physically ready? That to have had 2 major shoulder operations in 2 years is perhaps evidence that he isn’t physically ready? That perhaps Ward is getting injured and is missing games because he is being asked to do too much and his body isn’t capable of handling that workload yet?

Like I said earlier, is that the same for Delaney? If not then no I don't think it is linked.

Perhaps the role he is asked to play could be the key. That doesn't mean he is not ready to be playing regular first team. Like I said, had he not been injured he would have been playing in this World Cup.

and as i said with Delany
and yes, if Wards body had proven itself ready for SL he may have been playing in the WC. But then if his body had proven itself ready for SL i wouldnt be saying he needed protecting.

As it is Wards body hasnt proven itself ready for SL. He has struggled with injury, thats why he isnt in the WC squad and also why i think he needs a bit more nurturing.

I do wonder how a player can make over 30 appearances before it is decided that "no this player isn't physically ready yet".

In case your wondering, yes it is as stupid as it sounds.