If you just consider HKR then we should probably play a really big team to roll over their small pack and not give their backs a sniff, which would probably mean dropping Delaney and keeping Peteru.

But, given we play the WCC next week, I recon we should just play the team we expect to play then, which will probably mean starting Ward and Garbutt, dropping Delaney and JJB to the bench and dropping Peteru and Ormandroyd out the 17.

No need to rest anyone this early unless anyone is carrying niggles.

Rest someone, for the 2nd game of the season - surely not! Where's the sense in that?

If anything, you want your top line players getting game time and full match fitness ASAP at this time of year. I'd say particularly as we're playing relatively weaker opposition (KR will be one of bottom teams this year) and in a big stadium with a decent sized crowd - this is a great opportunity for good game preparation for Melbourne.

Absolutely agree. The one advantage we'll have over Melbourne is match fitness so can't see anyone rested unless they're carrying an issue.

A previous poster mentioned Garbutt and Ward straight into the 13 with others dropping to the bench. I think definitely in the case of the latter he'll start on the bench due to lack of match fitness both against HKR and even possibly Melbourne.

You have to play Dwyer for the same reason. The whole point of signing him was to provide a proper interchange hooker who could also step in if Parcell is injured. He needs game time as much as anybody.

Peteru is out and if he needs surgery it could be 12 weeks

Garbutt back, replaces Peteru now due to injury. Ward in for Ormondroyd.

Walker
Briscoe Watkins Sutcliffe Hall
Moon Myler
Garbutt Parcell Singleton
Ablett Delaney
JJB

Dwyer Mullally Cuthbertson Ward

Oledzki Ormondroyd

How's Oledzki's shoulder problem? Would be a missed chance for him if he's missing whilst Galloway and Peteru are sidelined.

Lineup wise can't see them swapping JJB and Delaney around and think Garbutt will come off the bench due to lack of game time like Ward

Walker
Briscoe
Watkins
Sutcliffe
Hall
Moon
Myler
Cuthbertson
Parcell
Singleton
JJB
Ablett
Delaney

Dwyer
Mullally
Garbutt
Ward

Totally agree. Thought he was our best forward at Warrington.

From McDermott's press conference it sounds like Garbutt is still touch and go for HKR and that in normal circumstances he probably wouldn't play but they would prefer him to have some game time before playing Melbourne. Could be a risk if he plays and breaks down, need him against Melbourne as our big meter maker in the props.

Melbourne are the best defensive side in the NRL - Leeds will not win by hoping to make big metres done the middle - it simply will not happen, they are far too organised and strong defensively.

Not saying that's how we'll win or he'll be able to do big numbers against Melbourne but we still need to make metres and he does more than any of our other props. He'll definitely give us more than Ormondroyd who'll be the next cab of the rank if Peteru and Oledzki aren't fit.

Does anyone know if special match buses are running to Elland road on Thursday. If so what are the details? Thanks.

Where's the best place to park? coming from Cleckheaton way.

I'm right in that this is the Rhinos' first SL game at Elland Road aren't I ?

Leeds have only played World Club games there before ?

Always seems to me that Melbourne are not too bothered about giving up meters as long as they slow the ptb down