Another player who didn't play in last years GF team.

David, excuse me, but that is rubbish.

The strongest hint is if they play as close as available to their GF winning side, which is of course the reason they got to play this game. As 4 players have left the Melbourne storm since then, Turner, Chambers, Johnsson, and Anderson it is quite obvious that 4 changes would need to be made straight away. Nobody on this forum is knowledgebable enough to know who the 4 players the club have chosen to replace those 4.

We also know that Quinn is here and he would have been playing in that GF team had he been fit.

The only thing for certain is that from that GF winning side, only Cronk and White are still at the club who have not made the trip. That is a million miles away from half the side been left back home. And 2 players missing is a regular occurance in any match including finals.

There is no getting away from the fact that from last years two respective finals teams that are still at the club, that Leeds are missing 2 players and Storm are missing 2 players. What's fairer than that?

Leeds will be missing Ablett, Donald and Lee Smith from last years' GF winning team.

Are we not taking this game seriously?

As I said earlier time will tell how seriously they are taking it when you compare the side that plays on Sunday to the side that plays round 1 of the NRL season. Comparing grand final teams is a red herring as well you know - are they fielding the strongest side available that is the question. Manley fielded an almost full strength side and we all saw what happened.

Just because they say how important the game is doesn't automatically mean that is the case. McClennan may be genuinely mistified as to poor form on the field and is pinning his hopes on this being the reason. Bellamy has been uncommitted as to the importance - only he would like to win.

Whether Leeds are taking the game seriously has never been in doubt and is not where I am coming from.

As I said before - comparing GF sides is a waste of time - the comparison is about the club's best available side.

But David, all that is irrelevant to what you said about leaving half their side back home. That is simply not the case. They have left behind 2 of their GF winning side that are at the club, just as if we had gone over there to play, we would have left behind 2 of our GF winning side who are at the club.

Would you be quesitioning Leeds taken it seriously if that had been the case?

I agree that is what this is about and it has nothing to do with last year's Grand Final side.

Someone like Cooper Cronk who is unavailable right now (recovering from a groin operation in the off season) may be available in another 15 days time. That's what happens with injuries...... they get better.

What?

What happened, Salford beat us by more points at Headingley last year.

If Leeds were playing in Australia pre-season then I would be questioning how seriously are they taking it - when you see Melbourne's line up you will see how seriously they are taking it.

They may well have brought some players but with no intention of playing them - to me that is the same as not bringing them at all. If Slater doesn't play then you know how big a deal it is to Melbourne.

I hope he plays as it is one of three reasons I am going to the game; the other two Inglis and Smith

The issue with Cronk is his whole rehabilitation programme he has been targeted with round 1 NRL for a return - not the WCC - which to me suggests where the Storm's priorities lie

As they should IMO.

But David, who determines on this board who is worth of playing and who isn't?

The fact is 4 of their GF team have left the club, so can not play. They have signed two players to replace and promoted from within for the others. All those players are in this squad. The only 2 missing are Cronk and White.

Out of a squad of 23 are people on this board really in a position to determine if Melbourne were picking their strongest line up or not?

Why don't you give us your starting line up for Melboure that you would consider taking it seriously, then we can see how far out we are come Sunday?

Cronk and White's priorities appeared to lie with participating in the quad nations at the end of 2009 and delaying surgery until after the tournament. I'd imagine they delayed those surgeries with Melbourne's full blessing.

One thing is pretty certain, Melbourne will field their strongest side available for round one of the NRL competition. The nature/competitiveness of that league demands that.

That is the comparison that should be made with the team that plays on Sunday IMO - if the two sides are pretty similar 1/2 changes then that is a good indication that Melbourne have given the game the gravitas some on here believe it deserves - however if the side show 6/7 changes then you know they have treated the WCC as a warm up game.

Time will tell