Hopefully, they won't

Last year the J.Tomkins try aside i thought he played alright the year before against Wire he along with the other 16 didn't turn up so what's yer point or is this one of yer little digs at posters lamenting his absence?

how is that relevant to this game

I guess it depends on your definition of few?

I'd have thought the present biggest concern is how to win this season without him in the side.

Although no doubt outside your definition of the 'last few' I still wonder what might have been had Powell selected a player bang in form who had played a huge part in securing a semi-final win just two weeks earlier in 2003. Powell selected McGuire for all remaining twenty-four games that year.

Looks like you'll have everyone fit (or nearly fit) apart from McGuire. I think he can be a real game changer for you but you have others in LRB and Kevin Sinfield. It's still unfortunate that McGuire isn't playing.

I see some of you are expecting Bridge to play for Wires but I can't see it myself. He has been very good in previous seasons but now looks a shadow of his former self. I've thought so for a while but I went to Broncos on Friday and he was awful. I don't think Wire can risk him.

I'm looking forward to Saturday and think it will be closer than most people here are suggesting. It's anyone's game. I just hope they turn the public address system down a bit.

Dear Leeds

Please return the favour and play like you did in 2010.
.
.
.
On second thoughts, this time, at least turn up.

You missed at least one comma out there.

Ouch.....stinger....owned etc.

You lot could try turning up at the other final. Would be a first..........

Well, he played in 2011, 2010 and 2005 didn't he? Didn't he? I think he did. I am struggling to recall.

Regardless, I was just wondering how Leeds would game-plan to replace his big game prowess displayed in those Cup Finals (assuming my vague recollection of him playing is accurate).

If only Leeds could face, say, Widnes, one of these days in a CC final. I'd have £50 on the nose for Danny to get a Lance Tood.

I'd be more concerned about translating the big game form of the whole team from Old Trafford to Wembley, rather than trying to recreate anybody's influence from our last few Challenge Cup finals. That would seem like a rubbish idea. We lost in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2010 and 2011. Probably wasn't all down to McGuire. I really wouldn't be too interested in replicating too many aspects of those performances when there are much better benchmarks we can use.

Unfortunately for William Eve's acolytes, Danny McGuire has a pretty good record at Old Trafford. Still, squad game innit, and we have a couple of Harry Sunderland trophy winners (injury to Burrow permitting) to step up.

Absolutely, let's hope Burrow and Sinfield (who also has a Lance Todd btw) can produce yet another big game display.

I am aware of the Lance Todd win (when he played exceptionally but I'd still have given the award to Richard Swain that day), but I was ignoring it since I was talking about recreating Grand Final performances.

I echo those sentiments entirely though.

Indeed. Individual awards are always secondary in a team sport and are rarely won without the support of team-mates.

Burrow got a final opportunity at McGuire's expence in 2003 when directly replacing him on the bench from the successful semi-final line-up of two weeks previous where McGuire had helped to turn the tie on it's head. Unfortunately Burrow was knocked out cold within ten minutes as the plan to weave around and under the big Bradford pack backfired in spectacular fashion.

Fast forward to 2010 and it's McGuire again finishing a terrific run and offload by Peacock to take Leeds back to the final. I subscribe to the theory that the worst place to lose is in the semi-final and Leeds have been fortunate to have players such as a McGuire to come up with a big contribution at the crucial moments but always as part of a bigger team effort.

Burrow "earned" a final opportunity. There were games between the semi and final where McGuire didn't do enough to merit a place. In the semi he dived over from dummy half and exquisitely finished a Sinfield Furner piece but was far from a dominant player in that semi.

Just like Sinfield in 2000 though, he took it on the chin and made himself invaluable in the seasons to follow.

Care to elaborate who these 'games' were against ?