[quote="Spookisback":13fpln4t]:lol: I think the issue in the first 25 was the lack of penetration from the middles... All three starting middles began the game at championship pace and intensity (particularly with ball in hand) ... I think Powell likes to play his halves quite flat, but that needs the defensive line to be in retreat... (disappointingly) the team didn't initially adjust well to that and Leeds intensity and line speed, and gave away field position and momentum. That said... There was some real positives in the performance and i think adding the likes of McMeeken, Atoni, Storton, and/ or Pitts into the starting line-up for the middle of the pitch will make a difference.[/quote:13fpln4t] More or less sums it up for me however Leeds have been in pre season a month longer and looked sharper for it. When the season starts I am confident we will be able to rake them on bit we will have to be smart with the ball to come away with anything.

The full game is now on YouTube, still the Leeds commentary not TC

[quote="Trojan Horse":31mluv5u]They would certainly stiffen the defence up which in turn would improve field position and have an effect on where we play our sets out. Hood especially is a strong defender. Regardless, those 3 would strengthen the team in a few areas, not just down the middle.[/quote:31mluv5u] Hope Hood is not around a lot ,struggled in is last stint in S L .Need more than a player who can tackle at 9 as not even got a kicking game. Defence looks decent, lot more work to do in attack . Hope Russell plays 9 and Lino 7 .If we are struggling to make some ground ,we got 3 good kickers on the park

[quote="alegend":2ocf1d3f]Hope Hood is not around a lot ,struggled in is last stint in S L .Need more than a player who can tackle at 9 as not even got a kicking game. Defence looks decent, lot more work to do in attack . Hope Russell plays 9 and Lino 7 .If we are struggling to make some ground ,we got 3 good kickers on the park[/quote:2ocf1d3f] Strange reasoning there. You want to not play an experienced 9, replace him with an inexperienced 9 who wants to be a 7 and play a player at 7 who struggled in Superleague last time he played there. That just doesn’t add up to me. The issue with Hood imho isn’t that he isn’t good enough for SL but that he wasn’t managed properly. He was slogged on the pitch for 60/65 minutes a game. Too long imho. He needs to be spelled better in SL this time round. His defence is very good and his distribution is fine, he’s a danger on the opposition line too as he’s quite strong. What he is, is a solid 9 who this season will help us transition and play his part well enough and also allow Doyle and Smith to grow their game this season.

Hard to disagree with any of that, Trojan

[quote="Trojan Horse":1x1kopeo]Strange reasoning there. You want to not play an experienced 9, replace him with an inexperienced 9 who wants to be a 7 and play a player at 7 who struggled in Superleague last time he played there. That just doesn’t add up to me. The issue with Hood imho isn’t that he isn’t good enough for SL but that he wasn’t managed properly. He was slogged on the pitch for 60/65 minutes a game. Too long imho. He needs to be spelled better in SL this time round. His defence is very good and his distribution is fine, he’s a danger on the opposition line too as he’s quite strong. What he is, is a solid 9 who this season will help us transition and play his part well enough and also allow Doyle and Smith to grow their game this season.[/quote:1x1kopeo] I agree completely. He was great until he sometimes ran out of steam because we left him on too long. That would be the same for any front rower who tackles like him. I'm more than happy for him to start and Doyle to come on. Or at first, Smith if Doyle not ready.