...I assumed he must be injured again ?? Others tell me he was 'dropped' ?? Surely not.
Not saying we would have won .....Warrington were vastly superior in all areas......but surely Ali wasn't dropped ?

If only Bailey had gone low for his try effort; if only Riley had rightly been brought back for offside on Atkins' second try. If only all the forwards had played as well as Eastwood.

As a team though all the season's chickens came home to roost on the biggest test/stage so far this year. The defence that looked so much tighter at Cas (players playing for a place at Wembley ??) and the performance against the Dragons both flattered to deceive: back to our usual "leaky" ways.

I did think the priority should be a half-back. McGuire is our most potent attacking threat but arguably now our ONLY weapon in the armoury. Burrow was brilliant on defence (scrambling particularly so) and nobody can doubt his 'heart'.....BUT on attack he offers nothing apart from running sideways and/or trying his duck-under move.

However, I have to agree now we more than ever need somebody to replace Peacock and his go-forward ability. We were so badly exposed at Wembley without him. Completely dominated in the forwards. Bailey is good from the bench to mix things up, but he aint a first choice prop. Maybe Ambler or Burgess can step up longer term, but can we afford to wait ??

Maybe the team can pick itself up and do well in the play-offs....but it's a big ask.

2011 has got to be a period of re-building (with maybe another concerted effort for the CC) with the likes of BJB at FB, Watkins at centre, Hall at centre, Smith at stand off, McGuire at scrum half, Ambler at prop, McShane at hooker, Delaney and Clarkson in the second row all being the first names on the team sheet. Conversely in 2011 some of the older more 'established' career twilight team members can be the 'reserves'.

He was dropped. He was involved in the warm up in training gear and seemed healthy enough. Big error, I feel.

i'm sure we were all stunned at the news leaking out Friday that Ali was not going to be playing.

I had assumed it was because of yet another set back with his leg/knee injury but then was stunned again to see him runnning around with the lads in the warm up having had it confirmed by the press that he was not playing.

I'm not sure we will ever know what Bluey's reasoning behind this was but seemed very baffling to me and i'm sure several others.

Leaving a massive attacking threat like Ali out who seemed to have proved his fitness (at last) over the last 2/3 games. Surely a game like that and the open spaces of Wembley were a marriage made in heaven for him?

As things turned out it was probably a bridge too far anyway but at 14-0 down the game was set up and crying out for some Ali magic.

Ali COULD have added the spark we needed and IMO was a much better option on the bench than Ablett. Ablett is a workaholic starter (who often doesn't know when to pass by the way......another certain try bombed yesterday in the second half when he cut back inside in their 20) not someone who is going to make an impact off the bench.

I heard he was picked but gave up his shirt to Clarkson. But he still should've been in the side before Kirke or Ablett. A bizarre decsion from McClennan.

An act of nobility from Ali that does not sound implausible.....but as you say McClennan should have over ruled him. Clarkson should have been consoled by the head coach that his time will come (personally I believe Diskin should have missed out from the 17......but obviously Kirke, Ablett, Bailey and indeed Buderus hardly covered themselves in glory to justify [itheir[/i selection).

If the coach selected Kirke ahead of Ali or allowed the players to pick his team for him then, frankly, it confirms some of teh rumours I've heard about him.

not his greatest game yesterday but leeds look infintely more dangerous with buderus on the field - can he not do 80 mins?

What rumours pm me.

PM me with these rumours plaese

Speaking to Ali after the game, he said that he was selected, but he did not feel he was fit to play, and didn't want to break down in the middle of the game and leave us a sub down like 2005, that is why he "offered his shirt to Clarkson"

I agree -

Not what he told me, he said he was fit but dropped! Blueys logic was supposedly saving him for play offs. One really has to question his tactics! It was so obvious where Wire's strength was and it appears he just ignored it.

Agreed.

Half an hour of Ali yesterday and more minutes for Bailey, Ablett (who I know had a poor game in the end)would have been a much better option. We were crying out for a game breaker to make something happen at 14-0 for at least 20 minutes

Must agree if Ali was fit then it was a shocking decision to leave him out of the 17

Having just sat through the sky+ to see if we were that bad I noted Davies comment about Kirke missing Atkins due to being tired...............tired!!!! He'd only been on the park 10 minutes!

As much as I felt before Kirke was worth a shirt.............it certainly wasnt at the expense of Ali!

Outcoached on the pitch and out thought selection wise........questions to be asked??