Leeds will only really miss McGuire, the rest are very replaceable with the squad they have. There are no excuses for Leeds really. They're at home in their old fashioned stadium and are playing with an English referee (we're being reffed by an Aussie). I suppose the worry is the lack of those experienced heads in Sinfield and Peacock. When the going gets tough who do they turn to? They've papered over some of the cracks over the years and helped out a limited coach in McDermott massively. If it is a tight game who kicks the goals (or drop goals) to bring it home?!

As I say though there's no excuse. Those lads have retired and are done and dusted. They're in the here and now with every advantage.

This is a weird post, you say no excuses but list a bunch of problems with the team

Mcguire is the biggest loss yes but there are other problems
weve now got 3 second rowers out- arguably our starting back row meaning less experience players like Keinhorst will be starting- though hes a good player and I dont think its too bad a problem, the thing is though if you take out those three plus Falloon we are missing a lot of big tacklers in the middle and our bigger forwards could get exposed
You also mention Sinfield and Peacock, which would not be a problem if McGuire or JJB or Ward (who will likely be our captain in the next few years) were playing, Im just hoping that burrow and Hardaker can really step up as leaders
As for kicking, no problem, young half called Lilley will be playing who was very good against NZ and in preseason, whilst Burrow has kicked DGs in Finals before

Having said that I dont want any excuses, I dont want us to lose!
It was just before I realised about Williams (and remembered Tomkins) I thought you guys or Saints had to win it if there was any point in the WCS- given the players the Broncos and Roosters have lost

Sinfield and Peacock can't be an issue, they don't and will not exist anymore as Leeds players. The issues their absence creates need to be fixed up by what you've got. You've spent their salary cap space so you have to presume you've solved any issues that have been created.

McGuire is a miss but besides him who's missing? Potentially Briscoe who will be replaced by a top young player in Handley. You've brought in an England international back rower in Ferres who can slot in alongside Delaney and Cuthbertson in the back three if Ablett is missing. You've got options at prop in Garbutt, Galloway and Singleton plus some other back up. You can move Burrow around and young Lilley looks a top talent.

All in all there's plenty of quality and there's certainly no excuses to be making out its a lost cause.

Brisbane have Ben Hunt and Jack Reed missing by the way. Not as many as we have missing and they've replaced them with James Roberts (The NRL centre of the year for 2015) and Kodi Nikorima (who is a Kiwi international).

In comparison we've got Lewis Tierney in for Sam Tomkins who is making his 6th first team appearance. We're quite clearly not as well blessed!

Well if you read my posts youd know that i forgot about Tomkins, my point was that basically 2/3 of their best players last year were out and it was a great opportunity
Also I dont know if you watched Brisbane last year? but the players Milford links with most were Hunt and Reed so I thought hed have an average game except maybe a few individual runs

Now that I know tomkins (and someone said Williams aswell) are out as well I think you and Brisbane are probably about equal given your at home

With a full team? who does he drop out of who i said, especially in the backrow?
Surely you would start Bateman and Farrell over tomkins and at least Flower over Mossop?

Its not a lost cause, I just found out antonio winterstein is out
We're gonna rinse 'em, Im betting on a Handly hatrick MOT

Did you even read my posts before you replied

Why is anyone taking on this idiot?

How does Lomax, McDonnell, Percival and Roby stack up, as for Mossop didn't he play in the reserves last week?

On that subject it's an interesting one. Presuming Lomax and McDonnell eventually being fit at the same time what will happen regarding positions? Lomax was looking primed to be No.1 before his injury and that is McDonnell's strongest position. Will one of them go to 6.?