Have to agree with that, let's not forget the Rhinos are missing some top drawer talent and arguably the inspiration (along with Hardaker) behind our good run at the start of the season, in the form of Paul Aiton.

I've not been a fan of Burrow at 9 because of the mess it makes of our defensive structure, although somehow or other this season we've seemed to work that out.

However watching the Leigh game, our hookers at dummy half did something other than pass straight from the play-the-ball precisely once (when Robbie Ward scored a neat try).

Never mind running from dummy half, neither Ward or Clarkson even took a step off the mark, faked one way then went the other, or anything else hookers do to put doubt in the opposition defence. I don't think Clarkson has done it once in the half dozen games he's had there.

And then we wonder why the opposition line is so fast up on us, or why by the time our halves have the ball they've been shut down. I used to think that Burrow's distribution didn't help for this but by god this is worse.

Sinfield has the ability to play what's in front of him at acting-half and not be as predictable as the other options. He's got to play there until Burrow or Aiton are back, because if he's at stand-off with Clarkson/Ward there he's never going to get decent ball anyway.

Not sure JJB has missed at all - I am unsure what improvement he will make on Achurch and Ablett? One of the reason the defence has been so much better is because it doesn't have JJB jumping out of the line and leaving his team mates woefully exposed.

If he does return let's hope he has a better game than he did in his last CC semi final he played in!!

Agreed. If Achurch isn't out for too long, then with him and Ablett starting and Stevie Ward as your substitute back rower (the other bench spots taken by 2 props and either Burrow/Aiton) then I can't see putting JJB back in the 17 as correct.

Much could also depend on Stevie Ward. Had a good game against Leigh by the sounds of it but had some dips too in some games when he's not looked physically developed enough yet.

Been a big fan of JJB over the years, but agree with these points. Generally, I think we lack some dynamism in the back row and Achurch has a lot to prove for me. Plenty of steady eddies and grafters, but other than when Ablett plays at SR / 13, we've not had any flair since Big Ali left.

You may want to watch a replay of the Hardaker try. Really clever running from dummy half by Ward, spotting the late retreat from the marker before slipping a perfectly timed pass to JP.

Just watched the highlights and you're right. So that's twice. Both in the last ten minutes and both resulting in tries. Point stands about how much more dangerous an attack is if it doesn't just mechanically pass from dummy-half. If Ward can do this, the great. But prior to the last ten minutes, either through orders or nerves, he was more conservative.

A dummy half also needs a quick play the ball to be able to threaten out of that position.

Something Leeds generate on woefully few occasions. We must have some of the slowest PTBs in the competition on average, so rarely do our forwards win the collision and land on their front.

I agree with most of your post and ordinarily I'd agree with this point. The problem with Sinfield at acting half is that we have so few kicking options at present, what with Burrow and McGuire out. Moving him to acting half would further screw up our kicking game (such as it is).