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

Perhaps it is now.

[iSix days before the biggest game of the season so far – the Gillette World Club Challenge – stars from Leeds Rhinos happily took part in a testimonial event for team-mate Matt Diskin, at the Frontier Club in Batley. They didn't just take part, they worked hard at it. When this reporter rang Jamie Jones-Buchanan on Monday afternoon, he was in the middle of rehearsals for his Jackson Five tribute performance, along with Kallum Watkins, Brent Webb, Rob Burrow and Keith Senior. [/i

Glad to see the players have got their priorities sorted.

Now that time has told, David, what say you now?

Does this mean you and others were wrong to claim the game meant little to Melbourne and the 'some on here' have been proven correct.

Bet you're all cacking your drawers for next Friday after last nights SKY match eh...?

Didn't make it for round one. If he wasn't fit for round one it's fairly safe to say he wouldn't have made it for the WCC either.



Didn't make it for round one. If he wasn't fit for round one it's fairly safe to say he wouldn't have made it for the WCC either.



Didn't make it for round one. If he wasn't fit for round one it's fairly safe to say he wouldn't have made it for the WCC either.



Played in the WCC so let's cross him off your list shall we.

It appears Quinn was the last unless you just got bored with the exercise.

This was the Storm squad for their 1st NRL game this weekend, not sure how far it differs from the WCC, not much IIR;
1. Billy Slater, 2. Luke MacDougall, 3. Dane Nielsen, 4. Greg Inglis, 5. Anthony Quinn, 6. Brett Finch, 7. Cameron Smith, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 10. Jeff Lima, 11. Adam Blair, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 15. Kevin Proctor.
14. Rory Kostjasyn, 16. Hep Cahill, 17. Jesse Bromwich, 18. Ryan Tandy