I thought RU trashed it the other week?

It looks decent to be fair.

was just repeating what I read on the L**ds board a few weeks ago, players having to replace divots during games etc.

hopefully the pitch, conditions or idiot with the whistle won't ruin what should be a good game tomorrow night.

I honestly think and hope I am wrong (wont be the first time) that Gentle has made a error picking Crookes instead of Lineham, like others I really worry about our right hand defence.

Also like others I would play Whting or Pitts at 13, to play through the middle, start Pitts as he has earnt the start with his pre-season.

Our pack on paper is a good, if not slightly stronger than Leeds IMO, but their backs and halfbacks are stronger than ours, with this and home advantage I think Leeds will win (again hope I'm wrong).

Very excited though about the season starting, really missed my rugby this off season.

1. McDonnell
2. Crookes
3. Arundel
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Holdsworth
7. Seymour
8. Ogre
9. Houghton
10. Lynch
11. Ellis
12. Westerman
13. Galea

14. Green
15. Johnson
16. Pitts
17. Heremaia

It's about time you did something with that pitch, it's been truly awful. Oh, and McShane's . The reason you're weak at 9 is that your front row is weaker than ours and neither of your hookers are very good at moving them around.

Hopefully its just a case of Gentle giving the more experienced player first chance at grabbing the job. I expect if Crooks doesn't earn it Tommy will get a go.

Dont know what everyones onsession with Lineham is. Granted he can attack but he's still very green and from what i can see cannot defend as yet. In this game choosing Crookes is the right decision though i must admit having both him and Arundel playing together could be a potential nightmare

I don't really get all of the defensive concerns over Arundel, TBH. Always looked pretty decent in defence for a youngster to me, and I'm sure Ellis will be a big help to him, too.

Nah it was the RU drama queens moaning because of the movement in it at scrums where it wasnt quite fully bedded down enough for 400stone to push each other about.

Ellis (along with the other senior players) will have them all fired up against L**ds, I'd rather make comment once we've seen a competitive game, friendlies count for nothing.

ah right, thanks for that, knew I had read something about the pitch and RU.

I agree, and from what I've seen of him for Cas rather than in friendlies for us after a year out injured I think his defence will be much better than we've had at right centre for the past couple of years.

Surely Brett starts at 7....Just hope he has a solid game and starts to feel comfortable...Last thing we need are the boo-boys on his back at season start.

Leeds look pretty lightweight in the front row without Leuluaibut their backs are, on paper, streets ahead.
If the Hull forwards take it to Leeds it could be a very good game.