Some major selection headaches are coming up for Coach McDermott in the coming weeks and months, none more than the 2nd row position. When Watkins comes back you would assume he would slot into Wing/centre meaning our list of SRs is as follows...

Ablett
JJB
Delaney
Clarkson
Hauraki
Lauitiiti (when finally fit)

6 into 2/3 doesnt really go and they all have an argument for a place. Personally, Ablett's my 1st choice every time, but then it becomes tricky. There are 3 more players all good enough for the starting jersey to acompany him.

JJB - Massive work rate, never takes a backwards step and will run his blood to water.

Delaney - Well suited and probably best in the SR. Strong upper body and drives the line back as he hits it. Has speed to go the distance if he makes a break.

Clarkson - you keep wanting to find reasons not to play this kid but he just keeps putting in performance after performance and it makes you sit back and think, "where did this kid come from?!". Id feel harsh dropping him ATM but with the quality we have it's a tough choice.

Then we have the 2 overseas players, 1 injured, 1 maybe dropped...

Hauraki - I like him with ball in hand. He's a strong runner and always seems to make a big run in every game where he sets up a try. The only problem is his 3/4 missed tackles a game. IMO he should be on the fringe at the moment but as McShane has proved, it is possible to sort your defence out in a small amount of time and when he does he will be an asset to us.

Lauitiiti - injury prone in his later "life" but on 1 leg Ali is as good as most on 2. A very dangerous player who can lift us with his presence and always finds ways to get the ball out in the right situations to set up the 2nd phase.

So, how would you go? It's a good position to be in and I doubt anyone else has the options we have in the 2nd row but there would be some tough decisions to be made in there if you were Coach McD.

Ablett and Delaney, with JJB and Ali (when fully fit) on the bench.

Am I the only one who doesn't see a place for Lauitiiti?

Yes his offloads are sublime (when they pay off) and he can break the line but the amount of time he spends on the sidelines though, is he worth it now?

We should never have resigned him, and he should not be back for next year. But whilst he is here and providing he is fully fit, that bit been the most important, then he needs to be utilized.

Given how much of the season has gone so far his re signing I would say hasnt really been worthwile for the contract he signed

Yes, Hauraki's defence is appalling. Not just missed tackles but also bolts from the line meaning he's often not even close enough to the play to miss a tackle. Not good enough to play from the start, impact/bench player at best when Ali is not fit

For me, it would be between clarkson, JJB and Ablett for the 2 spots although I wouldn's say any of them have the ability to make an impact off the bench like Ali does and Hauraki potentially could

A nice problem for Mac to have

What about Jay Pitts ?

I agree, what about him?

__________

Two of Ablett, Jones-Buchanan and Clarkson to start (rotation?), one of Lauitiiti, Hauraki from the bench when they're available fitness wise.

As Leeds aren't exactly flush with centres I'd leave Delaney there this season with Watkins/Smith on his wing.

Team selection is finally getting interesting - until the next round of injuries kick in.

For me its Ablett and Delaney starting with JJB on bench to lift the tempo and workrate. Ali 4th in line when fit, with Clarkson 5th (which is basically 4th with Ali's fitness record).

Thats if we are going into a final. McD has got to rotate that bunch. Once McGuire has a few games under his belt lets give Kev a rest, we've got the personnel to cover loose. This years SL will be won with the squad is fresher come October - we have the pack to make that happen.

Rest 'key players' only if forced has always been my way of thinking. One game a week shouldn't be a hardship and is probably what the players need to keep in good nick.

Sinfield is most definitely in that category. Not sure he'd appreciate the gesture.

Having to deal with lots of injuries at the same time (as we've done this season, with no props whatsoever at one point), will always leave you with the "problem" of fitting people in when they get back. The "replacements" have the opportunity to put the work in to earn a place.

Case in point, Carl Ablett. Ablett has been on our books years and has definitely benefited from us picking up injuries. It's only recently that people have started saying he'd be one of the first names on the team sheet. The question is, has he improved so much that he's now worthy of a 1-13 spot, or has he always been not far off but has more recently been given the opportunity to prove it?

Ablett is one of those players that probably wouldn't be where he is now, had he not spent the majority of his first 6 years at the club filling in for injuries. He played each of his '07 SL games as a Sub, and the majority of '08 as a sub or in the centre. The versatility of the kid has meant he's been able to provide cover for injured SR, Centres, LFs, and even Stand Offs (by shifting Kev and playing Ablett at 13) and now he's pretty much nailed on for a starting shirt, and the people he's been covering (Ali etc) are fighting to get the spot back off him. Injuries help to build your squad by forcing people to stand up and be counted. Ablett has done a fantastic job of seizing his opportunities perfectly and well done to him for that.

If BJB were fit, and Webb were to go 4/5/6 weeks injured now, Webby would be very hard pushed to get his spot back.

Sam Tomkins the same. Tim Smith's injury is the reason Tomkins was thrown in at the deep end, and Smith never got his shirt back either.

Ali gets back into the squad for what reason. His form prior to his injury was poor. Is he picked on the back of previous year's performances?

Delaney was recruited as a centre! We're now saying that we pick him as an SR. Does anyone else see the sheer desperation of that move. If Delaney moved into SR then Ablett has to play centre.

Hauraki has not had the best of starts and his performances do not merit inclusion in the squad.

Jay Pitts, how highly does McD rate him?

That leaves Ablett, JJB and Clarkson which doesn't give McD too many options.

Perhaps when you consider Ablett didn't make his full Leeds debut until 2008 (a Leeds SL record wait from debut to full debut of almost four seasons) then perhaps the above observation isn't quite as remarkable as it first appears.

Good post though all the same.

Not this again! 9.95703125:10