[quote="1315trinity":2uf5kvyh]Exactly. Players like Jack Croft who I didn't see much of a future for, but he's proving to be a very capable second rower![/quote:2uf5kvyh] Pitts, Croft and Stortons stats were incredible yesterday. The cogs behind a winning game alongside everyone else.

[quote="Pat Bateman":2mlckjie]I know you didn’t you’ve said before. lol: When I look at top draw centres majority are tall and rangy ie Farnworth, Wardle et al. Pratt is 5:10. For me that goes against the grain of what I’d known. The forum is all about Opinions, Powells opinion was he didn’t know whether Pratt was a centre or a winger. I hope he becomes a future international, he completely nullified Handley (my opinion isn’t a centre in a month of Sundays but a class winger).If I give an opinion I’ll happily eat humble pie if it means we’re winning or a player proves you wrong in a positive way. I didn’t think Pratt would be as good as he is this early on in SL. Yesterday showed that I was wrong.[/quote:2mlckjie] He looked impressive and I’m with you on the size I thought it may hold him back from becoming a top SL centre but yesterday was a great start for him. He and also Jowitt look to have worked very hard during the offseason on their condition and it really showed. Pratt is clearly a talented lad but as you say he’s up against some physical freaks for international honours which are being talked about by some. My approach is let’s enjoy his development and not put too much pressure on him. The reality is he’s fighting for a starting spot in our side and he’s made a great start to that. As the the old saying goes iron sharpens iron and having comp across the park for places not only gives up depth when injuries kick in, it also ensures the players have to play well every week to be guaranteed a starting spot.

[quote="jonh":1bha8bh0]He looked impressive and I’m with you on the size I thought it may hold him back from becoming a top SL centre but yesterday was a great start for him. He and also Jowitt look to have worked very hard during the offseason on their condition and it really showed. Pratt is clearly a talented lad but as you say he’s up against some physical freaks for international honours which are being talked about by some. My approach is let’s enjoy his development and not put too much pressure on him. The reality is he’s fighting for a starting spot in our side and he’s made a great start to that. As the the old saying goes iron sharpens iron and having comp across the park for places not only gives up depth when injuries kick in, it also ensures the players have to play well every week to be guaranteed a starting spot.[/quote:1bha8bh0] Wardle and especially Farnworth, who in my opinion is the best english centre i have seen in my time of watching RL, are the bench mark for English centres. As Steve Mills said “We only analyse players when they play against the best teams”.

Highlights include the last Leeds try. https://youtu.be/gKFkIyiTncM?si=mNE9nJmGz1ENmz8l

Highlights include the last Leeds try. https://youtu.be/gKFkIyiTncM?si=mNE9nJmGz1ENmz8l

That was a great team performance all round, with McMeeken, Storton and Russell leading the way. Also special mention to Lino, with a new hakf back partner, competition and better players around him, he is looking much improved. Quietly fancy us on Thursday night, but we need to get into their faces a bit, especially Lewis and Litten

A great performance, 2 great halves each for different reasons. The first once we got out of the arm wrestle brilliant attacking. The second defending and the never say die attitude which will stand us in good stead going forward. Many reasons to be optimistic I know it's only a first victory but a run has to start somewhere. I've got my smug smile on and will have for a few days yet.

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... new-977268

https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... new-977268

[quote="supercat":u211y2ct]Anyone see the Liam Hood incident at beginning of the second half. I am sure that the Leeds lad who runs it back uses a forearm to fend Hood off and sparks him. Showed one quick replay but never got reviewed unlike Lino's.[/quote:u211y2ct] There was another incident in the first half that seems to have gone unnoticed. Uele put in a strong run and Bentley was struggling to get to grips with him, as Calic bowed forward to drive the ball Bentley forearm smashed in at the back of his head. Looked like pure frustration from Bentley and it went unmentioned by the commentators

[quote="Pat Bateman":nefxcwx2][color=#FF0000:nefxcwx2]Pitts, Croft and Stortons stats were incredible yesterday. The cogs behind a winning game alongside everyone else[/color:nefxcwx2].[/quote:nefxcwx2] Throughly enjoyed the whole day! Agree with the above 100% and can't really add anything else to what's already been said. 1-17 were outstanding and tbh, we should have won by more! Well done to DP and the team for getting the tactics spot on.

Looking at the faces of the Rhinos fans after the game as I made my way back to Leeds city centre was a thing of beauty . They were full of it in the pub pre match and giving it the usual condescending comments . Little old Wakey are a different animal these days and would probably have crumbled in the past when Lino was sin binned and we had to defend those repeat sets close to our line . The boys didn't take a step back . I haven't felt too well this last week but that was the best medicine I've had in quite a while even if my beer intake wasn't too grand .

[quote="BarnsleyTrinity":2lp3j6fo]Looking at the faces of the Rhinos fans after the game as I made my way back to Leeds city centre was a thing of beauty . They were full of it in the pub pre match and giving it the usual condescending comments . Little old Wakey are a different animal these days and would probably have crumbled in the past when Lino was sin binned and we had to defend those repeat sets close to our line . The boys didn't take a step back . I haven't felt too well this last week but that was the best medicine I've had in quite a while even if my beer intake wasn't too grand .[/quote:2lp3j6fo] My favourite comment on this thread!

Thought the ref was excellent yesterday as it goes. Didn't blow up on many 50/50s which is what I want to see. I can't believe anyone thinks Pratt's effort was a try! McMeeken literally points Pratt through the gap in front of him then backs into the defender. 100% obstruction, and Oli wouldn't have coasted through without it. Our best case scenario would have been for Pratt to take a tackle, but I can understand why he took his chance in hope. I also saw the Bentley forearm, but he puts that in half his tackles, and as the season goes on he'll pick up bans. Not sure I've seen anything as satisfying as him dropping that ball cold and Pitts laughing at him.

[quote="Butcher":1dnbm9kr]Thought the ref was excellent yesterday as it goes. Didn't blow up on many 50/50s which is what I want to see. I can't believe anyone thinks Pratt's effort was a try! McMeeken literally points Pratt through the gap in front of him then backs into the defender. 100% obstruction, and Oli wouldn't have coasted through without it. Our best case scenario would have been for Pratt to take a tackle, but I can understand why he took his chance in hope. I also saw the Bentley forearm, but he puts that in half his tackles, and as the season goes on he'll pick up bans. Not sure I've seen anything as satisfying as him dropping that ball cold and Pitts laughing at him.[/quote:1dnbm9kr] Disagree re: Pratts try . Ackers would have struggled to touch him , never mind stop him.

[quote="wotsupcas":1twrfdnk]Disagree re: Pratts try . Ackers would have struggled to touch him , never mind stop him.[/quote:1twrfdnk] If the situation was reversed would you still believe it not to be an obstruction.

[quote="wotsupcas":niajyn3e]Disagree re: Pratts try . Ackers would have struggled to touch him , never mind stop him.[/quote:niajyn3e] It's possible. But if Pratt would have got through that gap, then it's stupid of McMeeken to shepherd Ackers. It's not a try. If Leeds had scored in the scenario I would have been screaming.

[quote="Butcher":29w3wxw9]It's possible. But if Pratt would have got through that gap, then it's stupid of McMeeken to shepherd Ackers. It's not a try. If Leeds had scored in the scenario I would have been screaming.[/quote:29w3wxw9] I'd normally agree but Pratt came from so far away McM wouldn't have known he was in the line when he stopped.

It was interesting that Ackers made no attempt to tackle Pratt when he could have tried to. Instead focusing on appealing for obstruction.

[quote="The Avenger":1gwkm4qt]There was another incident in the first half that seems to have gone unnoticed. Uele put in a strong run and Bentley was struggling to get to grips with him, as Calic bowed forward to drive the ball Bentley forearm smashed in at the back of his head. Looked like pure frustration from Bentley and it went unmentioned by the commentators[/quote:1gwkm4qt] Speaking of Bentley, that was funny towards the back end of the 2nd half when Leeds was getting frustrated, Bentley got tackled and started to get all over-excited getting up and jumped up as though he was gonna have a go at the marker, then he saw it was Big Mike and he quietly played the ball and wandered off.

Watched the full game this aft, two players that I didn’t really take much notice of during the game (4 pints) but stood out like sore thumbs during their stints were Oli Russell and Caius Faatili. Russell was an absolute dog in defence, that lad can graft and the energy that Caius brought, albeit it was only 10 mins or so was the best period of defence in the second half. I genuinely think he will be a very impressive player Caius, he’s just got it in bucket loads. When he’s match fit he’ll cause teams a lot of bother, he reminds me of Greg Eastwood. He was very dominant in defence and carried very well, just needs to get match fit.

[quote="Pat Bateman":15ylz1nx]Watched the full game this aft, two players that I didn’t really take much notice of during the game (4 pints) but stood out like sore thumbs during their stints were Oli Russell and Caius Faatili. Russell was an absolute dog in defence, that lad can graft and the energy that Caius brought, albeit it was only 10 mins or so was the best period of defence in the second half. I genuinely think he will be a very impressive player Caius, he’s just got it in bucket loads. When he’s match fit he’ll cause teams a lot of bother, he reminds me of Greg Eastwood. He was very dominant in defence and carried very well, just needs to get match fit.[/quote:15ylz1nx] seems an odd thing ... But I think Russell is far more suited to dummy half... His aggression in offense and defence is outstanding and his decision making is excellent.

[quote="Pat Bateman":1fq4qxb0]Watched the full game this aft, two players that I didn’t really take much notice of during the game (4 pints) but stood out like sore thumbs during their stints were Oli Russell and Caius Faatili. Russell was an absolute dog in defence, that lad can graft and the energy that Caius brought, albeit it was only 10 mins or so was the best period of defence in the second half. I genuinely think he will be a very impressive player Caius, he’s just got it in bucket loads. When he’s match fit he’ll cause teams a lot of bother, he reminds me of Greg Eastwood. He was very dominant in defence and carried very well, just needs to get match fit.[/quote:1fq4qxb0] I quite like Russell at 9 to be honest. Looks to play quite tight around the play of the ball. Faatili I’m sure only got 10 minutes as he’s only had a handful of sessions as he wasn’t struggling or anything. I think we will see Faatili and Vagana get more minutes this week vs kr. With Hood out, i would just bring Smith in at 9 and run with the same 17. We do have the option of swapping in a few backs if there’s still some fatigue set in but hopefully a big effort this Thursday and it would be a dream start to go 2/2.

[quote="Spookisback":308q715r]seems an odd thing ... But I think Russell is far more suited to dummy half... His aggression in offense and defence is outstanding and his decision making is excellent.[/quote:308q715r] He’s an absolute dog that is putting the team before himself to just play. They are the players we need for sure and with him more than likely playing next week at 9 his kicking from dummy half gives us more ammunition.

[quote="Trojan Horse":x38d8d63]I queer like Russell at 9 to be honest. Looks to play quite tight around the play of the ball. Faatili I’m sure only got 10 minutes as he’s only had a handful of sessions as he wasn’t struggling or anything. I think we will see Faatili and Vagana get more minutes this week vs kr. With Hood out, i would just bring Smith in at 9 and run with the same 17. We do have the option of swapping in a few backs if there’s still some fatigue set in but hopefully a big effort this Thursday and it would be a dream start to go 2/2.[/quote:x38d8d63] Not sure Russell would like that statement

[quote="Pat Bateman":1nl7z6tk]Not sure Russell would like that statement [/quote:1nl7z6tk] iPhone auto correct strikes again

[quote="PopTart":1mlv9e5n]I'd normally agree but Pratt came from so far away McM wouldn't have known he was in the line when he stopped.[/quote:1mlv9e5n] Just watch that footage back (camera facing east stand) and have a look at McMeeken - he literally points to the gap, looks over his shoulder and backs into Ackers. I totally agree Ackers plays for it, and that’s another story, but it’s still an obstruction either way.