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.