Buderus and Hall only missed last week, as did Bailey. Sinfield hasn't played since the WCC. Like one of the others said, we look okay with the first 13. Eastwood is the big dissapointment for me, he was beginning to look a real threat out wide for us, improving with each game. Albeit only 3 or 4 games but there were some good signs there.

What's happened with Feka, just not producing the goods? The couple of times I've seen him this season the weight he's lost seems to have taken away his impact?

The coaches want the team Super Fit, but Feka just isn't. He's fitter than last year but he's not up to the standard the coaches want, which is a shame because theres no better impact prop than him when hes on his game.

Great to see Micky Mac back in the frame.

I get the feeling we'll see a hige improvement from him too under the new regime.

thought they might have put deacon on the bench with tomkins going off on sunday

I think Mickey Mac will be in the 17. Goulding and O'Carroll to miss out.

That's what I mean, does the fact the coaches want a team like that mean that an impact player like Feka has no place in the team? Sounds obvious I know, but the fact he has lost weight seems to have limited the metres he is making. Personally, I used to hate him coming on last year because he could completely change the momentum of a game with a couple of runs?

There was a similar debate on the Leeds board about Eastwood in the off season as to whether or not he was fit and the shape he was in etc. but having watched him, it doesn't seem to make much difference. You obviously want players in tip top shape playing the maximum amount of minutes but I think sometimes an impact player should be looked at as just that, may only play 30-35 minutes in a game but will change things for you. A shame really, was really looking forward to seeing him in action on Friday to seewhether or not the weight loss had made a negative or positive impact.

I think you'll be right. McIlorum might just turn out to be the kind of hooker that Madge really likes, he's superb in defense, plus he hit's really hard and is able to do long stretches at 9. Hopefully under Madge, McIlorum can add to his offensive capabilities, which while ok could do with a little attention if he's to become a permanent fixture at 9 for us.

Totally agree with this and will now hopefully put Riddell under pressure.

Also the new regime seem to think the same as me about feka - He just ain't good enough.

Goulding and Bailey to miss out for me.

The main game-changing moment I remember from him last year was when he came on against Warrington in the semi, and left a gap in the middle for them to run through (more than once).

You're certainly right about the momentum switching at that moment. It switched from us to them.

I know it wasn't totally Feka's fault. It memory serves, Phil Bailey was injured at roughly the same moment, so Fielden went off and Bailey went off - two tacklers - and in return we got the non-tackling Feka. Another cracking interchange from Nobby. So no, it wasn't entirely Feka's fault, but bearing that in mind, if the new coaches want a Feka to be a soldier capable of putting his body on the line, rather than a 10-minute luxury, then I'm inclined to go along with them.

Eastwood, Peacock, Donald, Ablett and Watkins all out so we have got a few excuses



But yeah, better team than expected, although Sinfield, Buderus and Hall are all 50/50 by the sounds of things. Which would of course change the Leeds line up immensely. Fingers crossed though.

Does anyone else remember a cracking comeback from Vicki on this forum a few years back when during the same discussion as this she retorted that Leeds had more players in prison than on the physio's bench - and that was the truth