i won't let it go though. You have made a completely unsubstantiated and innacurate claim about something I have supposedly.

You can't substantiate it so you should withdraw it.

I even clarified my stance on Smith for you earlier in the thread FFS.

Eh? You were slating Donald and made some wild comments about him. I asked if you were writing him off. You then made stuff up I'd never said about Smith.

You've been a distant relative of reality in the past but I think you and it and getting further and further away.

For mine, I think we do not look organised enough in attack.

There seems to be little structure, and pattern. Also, the forwards didn't seem to make the yards that Saints did yesterday. Again, this could be down to pattern of play rather than ability.

If you look at the angles and lines that the saints players ran at, they always seemed to be dangerous, bar the odd break, I don't think we looked as dangerous as they did.

I do believe that this will come, and its no point starting the season like we did last year, only to crumble in July/August. I would rather keep picking up results and build towards a great finish.

I hope Hethrington is looking at options to add to the squad. Now that the cup is out of the way, unless a big injury strikes there is less pressure on him, so he may be able to pull a great signing out of the fire. If not, our players will be suitably primed for the end of the season.

Gibson or Watkins?

A bit like being asked: "Who would you rather wake up with, Dawn French or Ray French?"

More seriously, Senior & Donald should be reunited on the left. This would at least create some attacking potency on that side. The downside is that the defence down the opposite wing would be weakened, but at present neither side looks watertight in any case. Back to Gibson and Watkins, my preference would be the latter, were no alternative available as I think he's the better prospect.

Deffo go with Watkins - he has pace and size - unfortunately Ashley Gibson has neither. Gibson has been unlucky and his injuries have definately had an impact on him.

Sometimes hard decisions have to be made with players, i haven't seen anything in Gibson to suggest that he will become a top class centre much needed by the Rhinos. Same kind of scenario as Tansey - IMO not good enough for the Rhinos - will be a solid NL1 or lower SL performer.

I would look to play Watkins when required and offload Gibson at the end of the season or in a part ex to get Shenton from Cas.

We appear to be taking our eyes off the ball a bit at present and i beleive that we need recruit (i.e. pay a transfer fee).

I agree with you on Donald being on the wrong wing but i think Hall has pace. I personaly think its the centres we are having the problems with

Right now looking at the long term picture has to be Watkins over Gibson.

IMO Gibson no longer has the pace and has never had the size. At least Watkins looks like he's the potential to be a muscular build and already has some pace and good footwork,just his defensive reads are a little suspect at the top level at this stage of his career which i'm sure will get better in time and with more coaching.

Players like Brad Godden who I think was awesome for us wasn't the biggest or fastest,a bit like Gibson but he had a great pair of hands and could read the game and make space for his winger and put him away.

From what I've seen of Gibson he doesn't yet have that and i'm not sure he ever will?

Smith although largely untried at centre because of injuries this season,isnt the biggest lad but has pace but sadly looks like we're about to lose him.

If we were a middle of the road team happy not to be in contention for winning things and building for the future then I'd say Watkins over Gibson every time.

However as we are one of the top teams wanting to be competing for trophies on a regular basis then short term I feel we'll continue to fall short in the big games and Cup semis/finals etc with either Watkins or Gibson.

With Senior probably in his last or next to last year I dont think we can go next year with a starting centre pair of Watkins and Gibson and expect to be challenging on all fronts on a regular basis (assuming of course Keith retires at end of this season,which form wise I hope he doesn't)

Assuming there is no one out there to get this season with the right quality,I feel recruiting a top centre should be our number 1 priority for next season.Even if Keith goes one more year,with injuries etc there should still be oppertunities for Gibson and Watkins to provice cover. (on this point has it been announced yet that Gleeson has gone to Wigan? I know it was supposed to be in time for the weekend but wasn't officially announced? Could it be another Ali/Ellis Situation? Right upto the day of us announcing both signings it was widely accepted that Ali was going to Saints and Ellis to Bradford....if theres no other quality centres available and nothing else lines up for 2010 I'd take Gleeson like a shot now...** just seen it now confirmed to Wigan**)

If we still had Toopi and Senior now, I'd consider sending Watkins out on a season loan to another SL team to gain hands on experience a bit like we did with Burgess.We are now reaping the benefif I think of him getting SL experience elsewhere at a 'lower' club before coming back to us.

Right now I feel Watkins has the potential to make the grade at a top club in the next 2-3 seasons.It might be unfair and just my opinion,so don't shout me down but I don't believe Gibson has the same amount of potential.

Once you lose your speed because of injuries it rarely ever comes back.

If he's no speed then he either needs to be more solidly built so he can take the crash ball and attract opposition winger/defenders into the tackle so he can release his winger/inside runner or has to have the hands and guile (SP) to be able to put people through gaps.

In crap weather like last years GF when Saints cannot use their fast passing,dummy runners all over the place attacking game we can make do with the likes of Ablett in the centres.

When the conditions suit,like yesterday,you need more creative and/or faster centres than we had in Gibson.

Best of luck with all that. You get my vote.

Agreed, Saw the line and took it selfishly himself despite his winger being open on the outside...

Why don't you add a Poll?...

Not according to Verity.

I still think IMO that with McShane and Kaye (as then) on the books money would have been better spent else where on the squad.