I'd go with

royston
raynor
walker
platt
ah van
briggs
kearney
lynch
diskin
hargreaves
elima
whitehead
langley

l'estrange
scruton
kopczak
sibbit/sykes

from that lot.

kearney in halves is a no brainer although Im not sure who would be scrumhalf out of briggs and kearney. probably briggs as he looks a little more creative. Think royston is comfortably our strongest FB option after kearney and platt looks the stronger out of platt and sykes. Prefer ah van out wide over ainscough for this one. Only question mark for me is last bench spot. sykes to give cover for backs or sibbit for more power in pack?.

Leeds are packing down much stronger than we expected. JJB, Bailey and Hauraki all included in the 19 man squad. Any hopes you had of Bulls' more experienced pack bossing the likes of Pitts and Clarkson about have vanished.

That's the side I'd pick too. With Sibbit instead of Sykes.

May be a little harsh on Ainscough, but it'll be harsh on whichever of him, Raynor or Ah Van gets left out.

briggs and kearney in the halves? at a guess we'll be something like this:

Royston
Ah Van
Platt
Walker
Raynor
Briggs
Kearney
Scruton
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Sibbit
Langley

SUBS:
L'estrange
Hargreaves
Kopczak
Sykes

Always a chance he might go with Ah Van at 6 too and play Raynor & Ainscough on the wings. But I wouldn't think that's the case as I don't think Ah Van's passing is nearly good enough to be playing full games in the halves.

I can't see Ah Van being left out but if it does come down to Sykes or Sibbit I know who I would pick out of the two.

Been in the 19 man squad on off chance you could get visa/over slight injury is differnet to actually getting on the field..in the past weve picked players for 19 man squad knowing full well they aint gonna be ready for the final cut just to keep oppo guessing.

It has to be Kearney at six with Briggs at seven IMO.

Too much of risk so early in the season to have Ah Van at stand off.

i would have briggs at 6. if he's more dangerous at first receiver to run at the opposition then let him. Kearney has played 7 before in Bulls colours.

he put sibbit in starting line up instead and used bench for someone else.

I wonder how late on in the week Potter knew that Herbert was deffo not going to play?

He picked up the injury against Wakefield, so I suspect it's at least been in the back of his mind for a couple of weeks.