any news on Masons injury ?

Nope

Going for a scan. Apparently he was in discomfort during the game and didn't feel comfortable taking the ball up. CC doesn't expect any real problems so should be available for Leeds 2 weeks.
Let's hope so.

Knowing that Leeds will have Gale and Eastmond playing 7 and 6 it is going to be tough to defend against that pace. Certainly don`t want to be playing someone carrying an injury. I dont know if Lino is quick or not but it will be a baptism of fire for him and he will need to be 100 % fit.
Anybody know if Rocky is available, did injury keep him out of the Dewsbury match.

I doubt Gayle will play tbh, it's a big injury to come back so soon from.

Frankly can't see the Eastmond/Gayle partnership working, far too alike but I'll probably be proved wrong on that.

Also watched a bit of Eastmond and he's certainly not as fast as he once was.

You're right though it's a huge ask for us to get anything out of that game though we did last year so it's possible. All the same, I'm far happier to start a season with a difficult game than an easier one. If nothing else it's a wake-up call.

I think quite the opposite, Eastmond hasn't played RL in 10 years, 10 years! He hasn't played in a competitive match in Union in a year, I expect him to be well of pace if not look completely out of place on a rugby league pitch, he looks overweight as well.

Gale hasn't done any training at all in pre-season, just about starting to do his fitness now I believe, if he plays round 1 then he will be nowhere near 100%.

Hampshire had a clear out on his knee so won`t be ready for Round 1 I don`t think.

Belly knows that he's a bit of a wind-up merchant, he likes to play up the opposition for some reason.

He's spot-on in that we should be very wary about Leeds but for my money, those two are not especially the reason.

Gale always destroyed us in a Cas shirt, never been quite so impressive in a Leeds shirt, so let's hope it stays that way!

I know which Leeds side I would prefer to face and they have had plenty of disruption, both in terms of training and with a number of injuries.
As you have said, Eastmond is not currently anything like the player he was 10 years ago (not many are!) and Gale will be some way off 100%.
It will be interesting which 13/17 players take the field for them.
They have a big pack, plus Hurrell (who plays more like a forward coming off their line) but, I'd take our threequarters over theirs all day long.
Their two 9's are both excellent, especially Dwyer, who is improving every season.
As always, it will be down to the forwards, should be a good first game and cant wait. Just a pity isn't not at BV and in front of our (very) loyal fans.

Gale destroyed us when he was at Cas because he was up against Finn who just did not have the legs to prevent Gale getting on the outside of him which dragged all our other defenders in. You need a quick 7 defending against him. Gale will play and Eastmond will be straight back up to speed, RL is a pretty simple game. I disagree that Gale and Eastmond are similar, Gale is an organizer who sets up the plays and ensures that the game plan is adhered to, he also has a very good kicking game. Eastmond on the other hand has individual skills that create something out of nothing, his footwork, speed of the mark, explosive power make him a constant threat. He is not an organizing half back. He is by the way a 20 / 1 bet to win the Man of Steel very tempting odds for such a gifted player but I just think that Sezer at 8 / 1 favorite will take some beating.

Still better to face them now, before they get fully up to speed, than half a dozen games into the season

I won't argue with you regarding Gale, you're way off on Eastmond. I think he was a kneejerk signing when Leeds thought Gale would be out for longer. I think he may prove a duff signing but who knows. The idea though that he will be up to speed after 10 years away is just plain wrong and I suspect you know it is.

He won't be up to speed in terms of team play but individually he is fast an evasive. If we give him room to work he could make us look silly. If we are on him we could take advantage. It's in our hands imo.

Vasty they bought Eastmond to cover for Lui who is out for a while, I can tell you that Gale was always going to make the first game. I agree I would rather play Leeds in the first round than later and rather play them when the South Stand is empty. Bookies have given us an 8 point start on the Handicap which for a team that all bookies and pundits think will finish 11th or 12th is not very generous.

He's not that fast anymore, he's lost his pace as Miller has. If he still had pace he'd still be picking up easy cash in Union.

Don't get me wrong he's a fine player but he's not the player who left the sport 10 years ago. One thing he can't do is make up for his loss of pace with guile as most ageing RL HB's often do, simply because he hasn't played the game for years. Even if he does catch up, I think it's unlikely it will happen in his first game back. That said if any team is going to give him a free pass it's probably going to be us

I'd say cover for both.

We will see if Gale plays, I've been around long enough to know that there are two types of injuries, one is when coaches overplay it and one when they don't. If Gale is on top form then we've been duped or attempted to be duped, if he breaks down Agar has cocked up. Not having a crystal ball I don't know which it is in Gales case, I just have a feeling he's a player whos starting to fray at the edges, I certainly hope so because he's a nightmare to play against,

Eastmond is a pure gamble, might pay off, might not, bit like Gigot was for us.