Do you think we are capable of beating Saints and win the competition?

Im not sure how anyone can answer that before a single game has taken place, there are far too many factors involved.

For a start injuries will play a massive part in any teams season, and there is no guarantee that Saints (or indeed us) will actually perform to their best as it appears on paper.

Can we beat Saints and win the GF this year, yes of course, why not, whether we will is a totally different matter.

Our squad for this year IMO is the best we've had since 2015 but it means nothing if it doesn't translate to performances on the pitch

Agree. in the seasons when we've got to GF or indeed won them (which is most

) we've almost always given the tops teams those years real good games.

Agree Chris. I'm looking forward to this year the most for a good while. It's very open imo as to who will win the GF. any team from Sainst, Wigan, Warrington, Leeds, Catalan could win it imo if things fall right for one of them (injuries etc).

Don't you big growler? We could do them in a one-off game for sure but all depends on personnel.

Everyone's always confident at this time of year before the season kicks off, but I'm expecting big seasons from several of our lads. Walmsley is a bit of a freak but Mik could be the competition's best prop this year (taking into account workrate too). Cam Smith has been looking smooth in pre-season. Sezer is arguably the best 7 in SL. Our right centre/wing looks a handful.

Been a long time since I looked at a Leeds squad and thought a) there are a few man-of-steel contenders in there and b) there are a significant number of lads who should be selected for England.

I dunno, we are a couple of players short of me being cocky about the season, but still this is a very different Leeds team beginning 2022 compared to last year. We look significantly better and better prepared. Whether we've made up that 30 point gap with Saints in the big games... ??

Correct, injuries will decide. We just look bit short in the pack if we get 2 first choice props out at same time…..

Youve covered every base there Jimbo. Very non-commital.this year lad

Just imagine if super league could pull this off https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... l-22974776

Just imagine if super league could pull this off https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... l-22974776

Quote ="The Veteran"Just imagine if super league could pull this off https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... l-22974776'" What, sign some pudding who's never played the game and nobody's heard of? I can imagine it but all my imagination is conjuring up is David Young mk2.

Quote ="The Veteran"Just imagine if super league could pull this off https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... l-22974776'" What, sign some pudding who's never played the game and nobody's heard of? I can imagine it but all my imagination is conjuring up is David Young mk2.

Think when he finds out his salary would drop by about 80% he wouldnt be too interested in switching codes to be honest.

Out of interest who do you think will be out half back cover first line?
I think Sutty, but I know alot will shudder at that.
Not got great options …..

Myler, obviously.

Myler with Walker to full back.

Sutty second choice cover IMO.

A lot of what we achieve this year rests on Sezer staying fit IMO!

You could argue we are weak in depth or quality in 3 of the 4 most most important positions of the modern game hooker, prop and halves.

Stay fit in those key positions and we should be ok. Lose 1 or 2 and we will fall short.

Unfortunately its a game wide issue tho, the game isnt producing enough quality in those positions.

To be honest I don't think we are any weaker than any other SL side in that regard, in fact Id say because we have Walker, Myler, Sutty and Johnson we are actually in a decent position in the halves and hooker.

I'd say its better than Saints cover for those positions in fact Id say we've actually got a stronger squad than theirs, if they get a few injuries like we had to cope with last year they will struggle.

I'm not sure how anyone thinks you can carry better quality cover than someone like myler in the halves on the cap? Had Gale stayed that would have been a pretty unique situation. 2 9s plus Johnson, again pretty good though you can debate dwyers weaknesses and strengths, prop is the real??

This, although having 2 halves ought to make a stand in's job easier than previously.
As for props, there are so many sides running light that injuries could strike down almost any

For Sutcliffe's sake I hope they keep him out of the halves and let him focus on centre. It's high time both he and the club found out what he can do in his best position. As others have said, guess it has to be Myler followed by Leeming and possibly Johnson in the halves. Maybe not perfect but don't see many teams who bat deeper.

This is spot on. Who can afford really to carry 3 or 4 real top-line halves? I mean they are out there "in the game" but good ones are heckish expensive.

When you get into the likes of Myler as a stand-in, much as I really don't like him in at half, it's realistically about as good as you're going to get. In another year, young Sinfield will be thereabouts and we'll be better again for it. But youth cover is what it is, you can't rush it.

I think you do the best you can with your first 13 and hope for luck.

Agar seems pretty happy going into this season.

Leeming is decent cover in the halves too

Apparently we still don't know if Austin has copped a ban for the shove on Gale yet. The Committee meets Monday so if he is suspended we'll soon find out who the back up is.

But we had 3 top line halves under the cap, all contracted. We was in a fantastic position.

If Sezer and Austin can stay fit then we are fine. Sorry but Myler and Sutty, we know from experience, arent the answer. No criticism of either player as both are good for Leeds but they are better away from the halves particularly Sutcliffe.

I agree with Seth that prop is the biggest issue we have and Holroyds injury makes that an even bigger problem but a tough tackling hooker can help minimise that issue. Leeming is an improving player on attack, he can defend but his contact is poor in my opinion. Johnson is far better than any other option we have at 9 behind Leeming.

Weve best squad for years, weve hopefully bought well and improved our team. Were definate top 4 contenders possibly top 3. Still short of cover in key areas for me but thats only my opinion.

I really don't see HB or 9 as an issue this season.
Walker and Johnson back in the frame makes a real difference.
Myler or Leeming will be first choice back up HB, with Johnson back up 9.

Prop is a massive issue.
We have 3 props going into the start of the season.
They will all have to play long minutes, so burn out and injuries are inevitable.
The back ups are far too light weight, as Cats and Saints showed when they steam rolled us.

Marty don’t forget what happened when Gale went; we gave contract extensions to key young players to retain them. Money much better spent IMO.

Gale is/was good but Sezer is the better player.

By the time we have more cap and quota I’d like to think Jack Sinfield is thereabouts in contention as a back/up - although if Austin doesn’t work out we will need to go back to market again. I can see us making a play for Will Pryce anyway. Would be a great foil for Jack.

I agree we’re short in cover but it is what it is. I wouldn’t criticise the club too much for decisions made over the last year or two. We do need to be smart again this year into 2023 as well though.

We could have extended the ones we have anyway. They was all in contract, none of the ones we have extended was out of contract.

Anyhoo whats done is done. Hopefully we can stay healthy and see how we do.