I just feel that the pack is always #1 priority. An average back line can look good when given consistent momentum and field position, and a good back line can be made to look very average when playing compressed and spending the majority of the time in D.

It's not the case that we don't need to improve the squad across the park, of course we do, but if it comes down to limited resources then the pack is still the first port of call. However it does depend on player availability too, and if the right winger became available, fair enough. The point is that we can't just continue panic buying and barrel scraping, and expect a better result. We require considered, longer-term planning with recruitment, and a better success rate of securing our targets. That's pretty tough when you're committed to existing employment contracts, the team is out of form and the crowd is booing them.

Ablett and Crosby may yet add something to the pack this season. To be fair, with Peteru and Oledzski stepping up, the front row hasn't been as abject as it might have been, but we still don't have great rotations and lack consistent threat carrying the ball and in D in the middle.

I still think we will win against Cats because I think the pressure being applied to the players is affecting performances, and going over there might galvanise them. The team have actually played better away from home that at home this season on the whole.

That's ridiculous to throw Handley into the mix with the pack & HB problems. Every game we've lost has stemmed from HB's not working behind a weak pack.
90% of the cheap penalties we concede are by the forwards. Our lack of attacking threat comes fr9m the HB's not having ebough to create more either with ball in hand or a consistent kicking game.
All of that is out of a wingers remit yes we could have better but like i said he's the least of our worries.

Really Mark? You saw last weeks game as an example? You might be right on the forwards and halfs, but don't try and make out Handley didn't bomb a couple of try's last week, just by being pure poop. That was a win without that crapness, so please don't tell me it is wrong to put him in the mix. It is ridiculous to suggest otherwise, unless it only apply's to certain players.

The point is, he is crap, and if we are going to call for youngsters to play instead of other players to plan for the future, then why is that role ignored also? I find the whole comments completely hyprocritical. I accept wing is not the be all and end all, but if we are talking about positions needing changing, that is one, just like the others that definitely requires it.

As someone said, our pack needs strengthening big time, but our halves are killing us. Dreadful kicking game. McClelland needs a shot.

How many of the points conceded or cheap penalties conceded this season are Handleys fault? Lack of go forward or Attacking nous?
Physical & mental weakness when teams up the ante?
Im sure its not difficult to conclude AH isnt at blame for 99% of the above.
Wrt being hypocritical its a case of priorities replacing a winger is way way down on the list of ours & rightly so.
Also just so we're crystal clear this Clubs GF glories has included the likes of Ian Kirke , Sutty at Centre etc get the quality & balance right in the pivotal positions first.

Mark your questions are completely irrelevent to the point. The whole comments smack of hypocritical rather than with reason. You are only as strong as your weakest link, and that has alwasy been the case in our sport. Nobody is saying that role is our priority, infact it has been stated the opposite, it is purely the player in question that has been pointed out. We must have a better option than him, whether that is significant or not.

Example, you have complained constantly about Donaldson, he is one of those forwards you are grouping together for the same critisism. In relation to your questions, I would say with confidence that he has played less a part in the problems than Handley as, but you are choosing to ignore that. The same could be said of Peteru. There is players in that pack, that with the right players around them would excel. By contrast on the wing you would have the same issue staying with the same player.

My issue with Donaldson is & always has been we signed an ordinary forward when we already had enough of them & the money used could & should be put towards a better player the same with money wasted on Ablett & Jjb
As for him playing less a part in our problems he's part of a pack thats been consistently over run that isnt a winger issue & lets face it Handley is hardly Joe Vickery either.
As for Petaru he's done well but that pack still needs more power & quality.
I aren't ignoring anything the priorities are still the same as they were in the off season thats Forwards & as we're finding out the hard way Half back.
There's nothing hypocritical about that whatsoever thats the main weakness' & thats where the oriorities for recruitment should be.

And there you are again. Critisize Vickery, and rightly so, but accept Handley who is equally poop. Yet you say it is not hypocritical.

I agree on your point on Donaldson, but equally this can again be flipped to Handley. Why give him a longer term deal which now ties up cash? Same thing applies.

I genuinely think you as with a lot of posters woud not be posting exactly the same things had we had a couple of extra wins under our belt. I genuinely think we would have had a couple of extra with just an half decent Handley replacement. Although I do accept your constant viewpoint about too many average/below average players. Just don’t understand why you leave Handley out of that equation.

Squad is...

1. Jack Walker

2. Tom Briscoe

3. Kallum Watkins (C)

4. Konrad Hurrell

5. Ash Handley

6. Tui Lolohea

7. Richie Myler

9. Matt Parcell

10. Brad Singleton

11. Trent Merrin

14. Brad Dwyer

15. Liam Sutcliffe

16. Brett Ferres

18. Nathaniel Peteru

19. Mikolaj Oledzki

20. Jamie Jones-Buchanan

22. Cameron Smith

25. James Donaldson

32. Tom Holroyd

Walker
Briscoe
Watkins
Hurrell
Handley

Tui
Myler

Peteru
Parcell
Singleton
Ferres
Smith
Merrin

Dwyer
Buchanan
Oledzki
Holroyd

Walker
Briscoe Sutcliffe/Watkins Hurrell Handley
Lolohea Myler
Peteru Parcell Singleton
Ferres JJB
Merrin

Dwyer Oledzki Holroyd Donaldson/Smith or Sutcliffe.

These are strong individuals but playing in a week squad

It would be pleasing to see leeds display similar character as Wakefield tonight, no sulking and feeling sorry for themselves just digging in and playing for each other. That said leeds don't have players that can bend the line like they do.

Good to see Smith brought in and Holroyd retained.

Maybe start with Singo and Peteru to take some sting and then unleash the young bulls....

Must get that back row balance right. Halves must play better. Watkins must not be terrible. We will see!

Hopefully Singleton makes more than 5 metres per carry this time. He must be the easiest forward to tackle in SL, which is a lot about his technique.