Watkins may well be a future centre, but his best performances have been coming on the wing. At centre, at this stage, his defensive fallibilites and over-ambitious handling would provide the same problems as Senior, albeit with more attacking threat.

Never thought I'd say this, but can't wait for Delaney to get back to provide defensive solidity and ball retention in the centres and go with Watkins, Smith, Delaney, Hall for a few weeks, but, yes Smith, Delaney, Watkins, Hall would also be a better combination than the current one.

Jamal Idris is a defensive liability at times too for the Doggies. He hasnt been shifted to wing though. The only way he will learn is by playing in the position. Plus he may feel more confident on the opposite side in defence. We wont know until we try him though.

Do you really think this is the answer to our problems?

Btw the photo you put on the other thread of the kc I was at that game in a box with exactly that view were you in my box?

I was a lot higher than you

I was commentating from the press area at the back of the top tier. The camera just made me look closer.

As for the answer to our problems.... no, not at all. But it's a positive start.

Would love to see him there but I have been wanting to see it all season and no matter how poor senior is he still gets in the team. I wouldn't want senior in the pack either, he just looks to have carried on far too long in his career and IMO should retire soon so we can remember him as the player he was

Found the Senior thread!

Game changing stupidity today with the hospital pass in his own 10. That’s nothing to do with physical ability or age, its rank stupid play selection and with a third of the season gone that’s enough for me.

He needs to be shifted position or left out once we have enough troops available to make it happen. By that I mean someone defensively solid like Delaney because Watkins isn't ready for the centre until someone coaches the ball watching out of him, and its unlikely to be the ex Bulls clowns in charge at the moment.

Senior will still have a role to play this season, and I am sure they are leaving him out there because of his experience amongst a bunch of kids, but when he's setting an example like today ....

Water boy or carrying the kicking tee

I agree with the OP but i think injuries will keep players in the 17 that don't deserve it after tonight which is a shame but a real test of the 17 selected and the coach.
The pi$$ poor passing and tackling of established players is a joke and they need dropping imo now.
I honestly would pick the likes of Singleton ,Ambler ,Wilson and co now and give Hauraki ,Senior ,Burrow ,Kirke and Ablett time in the stands to think about their efforts or lack of.
I still think this squad can have an impact but a change in attitude ,application and coaching needs to be addressed.

At the game today and thought he was outstanding. Dont know if its the shirt colour that does it but he is one big unit!

No he appears to have bulked up alot from last year, and was one of the positives for us today.

A fit reasonably squad to choose from makes us a different proposition.

I remember when I first started watching Leeds the coach at the time was Robin Dewhurst, the 83/84 season Leeds had a poor start and he was replaced by Mo Bamford. The rest is history, Leeds equalled their best unbeaten run (18 games) won the JP Trophy and reached the CC semi. They printed an interview with Dewhurst he gave after he left, he said "I'd tell the players what to do and they'd go out and not do it". Now is that the players or is that the coach?

It's both, the players and the coach have to both believe in the same philosophy or it doesn't work. If they don't then one has to leave, and due to cost it's usually the coach...

That's the ideal situation definately.

I'm sure I remember us changeing the whole team every year back in those days though. Ah, the good times. Mind you we also used to change the coach as well.

Oh we did change the whole team back then, we didn't even wait until the end of the season to do it sometimes. There is a major difference now in that we are in an age of full time pro's and contracts so it's tough to change the whole team (although we may need to change some faces).

Ultimately I think that we will change the coach at the end of the season, but we also need 4 or 5 new faces too or the new guy will also be left with an ageing squad all signed to 2 or 3 year deals, and we will continue in the same vein.

Agree with all of this.

We simply can't keep picking Senior as the first choice left centre. Too slow nowadays, and it's about time to say thanks for a great career mate....

Watkins is a winger at the mo, and a good one, but in IMHO is not ready to claim the centre position either.

The sooner we get Delaney back the better.