I’d be inclined to give Sarginson the fullback shirt also. There’s no doubt it’s his best position and if Hardaker is fit but not quite 100% then not covering the ground a full back has to may help him and he’s defensively very sound.

The props are the real worry and it’s tough to have any real confidence in whichever group we’re able to field. It’s safe to say Flower won’t be playing and Tautai must surely have done enough to be left out. In that case I’d go-

Sarginson
Marshall Hardaker Gildart Burgess
Williams Sammut
Clubb Powell O’Loughlin
Isa Greenwood Farrell

Subs
Bullock
Navarette
Smithies
Leuluai

We need a bench that ensures we don’t lose any intensity when we start to rotate. That’s where our major issues tend to start.
Assuming Hardaker and Flower miss out.
Sarginson Marshall, Hankinson, Gildart Burgess
Williams Sammut
Clubb Powell Navarette
Farrell Greenwood Smithies

Lockers, Isa, Bullock Leuluai

It`s interesting reading the posts on here and linking them to the posts we have on our (Leeds) site.
Almost a carbon copy with a poor coach, senior players not helping the youngsters, poor recruitment, lack of effort etc etc.
The fact neither team recruited well enough when decent players left also sounds familiar.
We or should I say some of our posters are now saying relegation this year should not happen in light of us looking like we could finish bottom.
Sounds a bit like the Brexit vote!!
What`s the view from your side of the fence?

Everyone knew the rules at the start of the season. Finish 12th and you go down whether you are Wigan, Leeds, London or Hull KR. For the integrity of the sport that has to happen even if we or yourselves finish bottom, which I don't think will happen anyway.

It would be mortifying if we finished bottom and the rules were miraculously changed to prevent relegation, worse than any of the cap breach fiascos.
The team that finishes bottom must go down.

Agreed

In 2006 we were dead certs for relegation by this stage of the season, unlike now when we are only one of a large group of potential relegation candidates.

Ironically, in 2006 we were getting bigger crowds than this year, and calls for relegation to be suspended were coming from other clubs too, as various chairmen didn't want to lose the income provided by Wigan's travelling army.

None of us thought that would happen, though, as it would have looked like outrageous favouritism.

That said, I have sympathy for your position.

One-up/one-down sounds like a good idea until it is a well-established, well-supported club like Wigan or Leeds who are facing the drop ... especially when the replacement could be someone who plays at poor facilities in front of a mediocre crowd, brings one man and his dog when travelling away, and has almost no track record at all for producing quality SL players or making exciting signings who will set the league alight. And once you're down there, there's no prospect of a quick return - ask Bradford, whose presence as a big-hitter we are still missing.

I don't really know what the solution is, but even though I'm Wigan through and through and Leeds are almost blood-enemies, I don't want them relegated. The British game needs all the big clubs it can get.

My take on Leeds is that, like us, they lack structure, plan, and leadership. Way too reliant on just chucking the ball around and hoping for the best in attack. But they do have some very promising youngsters (Walker, Newman).

Poor as they are, I don't see Leeds or Wigan getting relegated.

Both sides will be fine in regards relegation without any shadow of a doubt. We’re both poor teams currently lacking direction but individuals are producing enough moments to get a few wins on the board.

As for the longer term both sides just need to look at Michael Maguire in 2010 or Justin Holbrook these last couple of years at Saints for how quickly things can turn. The two clubs have some fantastic talent in their academies at the minute and 2 or 3 of them pushing through in addition to a couple of savvy signings could push either back in to contention in the next 2 or 3 years. I think Leeds know Agar isn’t the man long term to bring about that change. As for Wigan it’s dubious on current evidence that Lam is the man either but we’ll get to see I’m sure.

Your poor recruitment hasn’t been through lack of ambition/penny pinching though. You shelled a lot of money out and made some what looked on paper good signings from the NRL which for some reason haven’t worked out. We haven’t done that since Maguire was here and we signed the 3 Melbourne lads.

Some really good comments from you guys and all pretty much on the button.
I get that we have spent a bit this year on Hurrell and Merrin but we have missed out on players such as Greenwood, Austin and I`m sure other cos we wouldn`t pay the extra buck.
We do have some good young lads coming through but the experience on the field is lacking in order to guide them.
We have 2 halfbacks who must be the worse in SL and we have players like Ferres, Singleton and JJB who walk in to the team despite poor performances.
I too think we will escape relegation but only just and we are certainly not too good to go down far from it.
Roll on next year when Wigan and Leeds can resume their rivalry at the top end of the league and not the bottom.
Also agree that whoever does finish bottom gets relegated and if it is us without bigging us up other teams will suffer from the revenue we can bring to the home team maybe not as much as we used to but nevertheless more than Toronto will bring.

Sarge
Marshall
Zak
Gildart
Burgess
Williams
Sammut
Naverette
Powell
Clubb
Greenwood (right)
Farrell (left)
O’Loughlin

Smithies
Leaulai
Bullock
Partington

Leeds are 2 points and Wigan 4 points above relegation, although relegation is unlikely, neither team are safe yet.

This game is massive for both clubs, it will be back to back wins for the victor which would be a confidence boost to go with the 2 league points.

From the Rhinos matchday information,

Please note that the M62 westbound between junction 29 (Lofthouse) and junction 28 (Tingley) will be closed from 8pm on Friday 14th June to 5am on Monday 17th June for essential waterproofing work.

Genuinely believe that we are the worst team in the competition and non availability of flower, ZH and greenwood means we haven't a cat in hells chance on friday
I think Leeds will drub us this weekend and the same next week at Huddersfield.
After that it's hey lads hey. Too many players not good enough or not interested and I suspect London and HKR will have more spirit for the fight re the relegation battle.
Lose our next 2 games and it really will be reality of where we actually are as a team and club.