I agree - well coached, but same squad as last year with a lot of the same weaknesses.

Having said that, I don't think Leeds can turn them over unless Peacock and Sinfield are fit. If they are, it will be a cracking game and I would fancy Leeds to turn them over.

They are playing well and deserve to be getting a little excited, Hull were in a similar position this time last year, for me it will take more than 7 games to convince me of any team, Wigan will have a sticky patch during the season no doubt and that will be the interesting time to see what they are made of.

I agree too. Wigan are the team to beat but with Leeds having a very poor start and Saints not a great start, Wigan are a good media story because of that and not because they have out-and-out GF certs written all over them (although not writing them off at all!) this early in the season. Had Wigan, Leeds and Saints all had the same sort of win record then Wigan would not be the news they currently are.

That all said, they are the form side and I think a Leeds victory is a tough ask given form and injuries.

They had a sticky match against Bradford and I don’t remember a Leeds or Saints team losing a match like Wigan did that day in the last three years.

If Michael Maguire gets the same result as Brian Nobel this season then surely we won’t see a Wigan side lift up the super league trophy until there’s been a complete overhaul in playing staff in all three teams with Wigan featuring the better players.

At the moment they have the third best set of player based on the last three years when it counts.

Speaking of sticky patches, Puig Aubert hasn't posted in a while.

Didn't Saints blow up in a similar fashion at home v Bradford last season?

Yes i believe they did indeed.

Come on Rogues, you know better than to think Damo has a clue.

The big question is whether Lee Smith will come straight back into the team.

Been on the glue; maybe! Has a clue; 'fraid not!

The answer is Yes, providing he is fit. (Which I see no reason why he wouldn't be)

Straight cover for Donald (unless Webb gets injured..)

I think it oversimplifies it a little to just say 'same squad, same weaknesses'. For a start, the squad is [umuch[/u deeper this year with additions from the youth setup. You don't need to 'buy in' to strengthen a squad as you lot over the lump have been telling us for years!

Players like Ainscough and Farrell, Feka, Deacon etc. would/do grace many SL teams but can't get a sniff at ours ATM. Also lads like O'Carroll, Mossop and Tucson are coming in and taking their chances well; in Mossop's case becoming a regular member of the starting 17. Remember, he wasn't even a part of the squad for a large chunk of last season.

In addition, players who were in their first year last time are settled and playing well. A great example of this is Amos. He certainly isn't showing the same weaknesses as last year and seems like a new player!

Apart from which I think a new coach can address many of the weaknesses anyway (which is surely the point iof getting a new coach!) Look at the difference Anderson made to your defensive frailties post Millward or Tony Smith here at Leeds and again at Wire when he took over.