Harris
Sterling
Schofield
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Diskin
Izzard
Mercer
Lauitiiti
Hanley (c)

Lyons
Sinfield
Furner
Poching

Harris
Ettingshausen
Schofield
Senior
Hall
Holmes
Lyons
Morley
Sinfield <had to get him in the starting side somewhere>
Peacock
Ellis
Glanville
Hanley
Innes
Dyl
Dixon
Ward

From what I recall, Medley left after a fall out with Mal Reilly. Whilst at Leeds he produced some outstanding performances including coming on for the last twenty minutes in a match against Bradford where we were being hammered. He single handedly turned the match around and won the man of the match. (i think it may have been a Yorkshire cup game, the year we won it.)

Just as people aren't including players who were outstanding elsewhere, but a bit past their best when they played for Leeds, I included Medley because whilst he didn't do much elsewhere, when he was at Leeds he appeared unstopable.

He's someone who would have benifitted playing the modern game. He didn't appear to be able to do it over 80 minutes, but in spells he could be devastating.

I seem to recall that when the 1988 GB squad got together for training, he was second only to Offiah over 100 yards.

Since approx 1990...

1. Harris
2. Bentley
3. Innes
4. Senior
5. Hall
6. Sinfield (c)
7. McGuire
8. JP
9. Diskin (pre knee!)
10 Barrie Mac
11. Ellis
12. Ali
13. Glanville

14.Mozza
15.Fleary
16. Hanley
17. D.Powell

Special mentions(only failed to make the 13 due to balance of team with Sinfield and Harris I couldn't afford any more chiefs): Schofield (never saw him play centre for Leeds so can't really pick him there), Burrow

Squad members: , Godden, Webb, JJB, Ablett, Godden, Mercer, Cummins (bit of a sentimental pick), Furner, Bai, R.Powell, Dixon, Creaser, Carroll, Calderwood, Walker, Bailey, Gibson


I'd have to say that 7 and 9 were the positions we had the least options and centre perhaps the most.

I'd agree with that, especially in the "90's onwards" era.

At centre you have Schofield, Gibson, Innes, Iro, Godden, Carroll, Senior and players who did a job for us there such as Walker and Blackmore don't even get a mention.

Hooker for me was a straight choice between Diskin and Buderus. In a Leeds legends team I'd pick Diskin. In a best ever watched team Buderus wins hands down.

Scrum half was either Burrow or McGuire to play alongside Sinfield - as you say limited options.

Harris
Cummins - His record for Leeds was pretty good!
Senior
Godden
ET
Sinfield - He has to be there.
Schoey
Barrie
Buderus - Based on his whole career as a great player.
Peacock
Morley
Glanville
Hanley

Subs:
McGuire
Furner
Ellis
Fleary

I know it's all about opinions, but David Stephenson at centre ahead of Senior? Really?

I'd get a headache assessing the merits and disadvantages of my ideal team just out of this years squad, let alone making my dream team of what I have seen......ever!

I sat down with a pad and pen, and I wasn't gettting anywhere conclusive.

Nice thread, but I'll sit this one out.

malcom reilly actually says as much in his book, but also says he was soft mentally and actually wanted to send hime home from that tour.

That's probably the bit I can remember about him being a bit soft.

Totally agree about the modern game, and yes, he was lightening quick for a back rower. In his time at Leeds, I can remember a couple of good performances, but my memory was more of frustration - However, I was only a young un at the time...

Fallon and Iro were two others who really used to frustrate me. On their day, they could both be immense, almost unstoppable when they wanted to be. But I used to find that they spent as much time just drifting along and large chunks of games could pass them by and they'd have done nothing. But like I say, on their day, as good as any centre or winger out there.

Medley only played in three of the last twelve Leeds games that season prior to the GB Tour in 1988. His last game was from the bench at Wheldon Rd (final league game of the season) he came on and was back off again within minutes complaining of a neck injury. Although his comment in the paper the following night was that it felt much better as soon as he got off the field again. Yeah I bet it did, he didn't play the following week, probably too busy packing his bags for the flight.

Swapping Medley for a real forward in Paul Dixon was the best bit of business Mal Reilly did as Leeds coach and the stick he got through the letters page of the YEP from the majority of Leeds fans for doing so was unreal.

Medley was a banker. He was eventually replaced during the '88 Tour by another proper forward in Widnes' Paul Hulme.

That was then though and Medley certainly took great pleasure in sticking it to Leeds once he moved on from Thrum Hall to Odsal where he finally matured and grew a pair under the guidance of Peter Fox.