I agree with your appraisal of Sutcliffe though don't think McGuire was as commanding as you say when he burst onto the scene (though he was a support player with no equal).

I know that McDermott has expressed real faith in the lad and, as I say, Ki-boshed the London loan deal. I just wonder, if Sutcliffe will be getting 10 mins in the 1st team and U19s games here and there if it was the right decision.

I'd also question while a loan deal would be good for Sutcliffe to get game time, whether the shambles that is London is the best place for him to learn as a playmaker.

I've just watched the highlights of the game on Rhinos tv.
It may be churlish to be over critical when the team has just won 60-12 but on at least 2 occasions after making a break players only looked to their left for a team-mate when there was a better pass to be made to the right.
I wondered if the supporting players are not talking (shouting) to the man with the ball.
Sutcliffe did look good & we appeared to have them well beaten for pace in most positions.

I was only thinking this morning on my way to work, DUlls lose SAmmutt and GAskell, they need a 6 and we need him to gain experience, with the bulls having a solid workman like pack to protect him, this could be a match made in heaven ?

Could be replacing Sinfield..

Yes you are right McGuire was never really a commander at 6 in the same way as Lewis Jones, John Holmes, Harris or Sinfield were/are. I meant his performances (as a match winning support scorer) 'commanded' a starting place in the team (he was sometimes at 7), something which Sutcliffe has not done to date despite showing talent and promise.



I think he will get plenty of game time this year as injuries and form inevitably creep in. Also because Sutcliffe has not really shown us his best position there would be a danger that if he were loaned out he would never find it as he would be selected to fill gaps rather than for his futrure development. I think he is rated and will be allowed to find his best position by staying at Leeds.

I would see Sutcliffe as a #13 and replacement for Sinfield, but where would that leave Stevie Ward, another player I have admired for a few years.

I maybe wrong but I think Ward played most of his junior rugby as a standoff. I would like to see Ward given a run in a pivotal role at either 13 or in the halves.

I was thinking that Ward would be best suited to SO and Sutcliffe to LF. Whilst Ward hits hard for his size I personally would like to see him at half back instead of in the forwards where he might not be big enough at this stage of his career. I do hope we don't revert to the McGuire Burrow half back pairing against Catalans.

Personally I think both Sutcliffe and Ward will end up in the back row. One as a LF, the other as wide running back rower similar to Greg Bird.

I can see where yer coming from with that CS especially if this Jorden Lilley breaks through eventually as a 6 he's highly rated.

It was great to see Stevie Ward back in the action Friday night.

he looked pretty sharp too