We can't control what Leeds do, they look pretty strong all over the park and have few weaknesses. Our strength has been the ability to score tries, especially from cross field kicks. Briscoe has bags of ability but he can be dodgy on these and under pressure has a tendency to wilt. We need to target him with these and get JM running onto these.

It always baffles me that we don't use that kick as much as we should because it causes teams all sorts of problems.

I don't read to much into stats but watching larroyer he does a lot of tackling and not 3rd or 4th man and he's got the aggression some of our players lack

Mantallato caught everything in the semi because for some reason Warrington kicked to him every time not because he was covering for Dixon

Good point.

In the opening game of this season against Leeds, we got a lot of joy out of kicks to the corner and kicks to the in-goal in behind their defence. The Pies got a couple of their tries last week against Leeds with kicks to the in goal against Watkins and Briscoe. If we decide on kicks into the in-goal, I hope we avoid the sort that Chisholm produced against Saints in the last regular season SL game.

Briscoe is dodgy around his own try line under any sort of pressure.

When I saw us play Leeds at Headingley, we scored on the flanks for fun in the first half. Dixon skinned Ryan Hall twice. He has a tendency to come in early to shut down the play when the fullback joins the line. If Ken Sio holds his line out wide, it could be quite productive until they make the necessary adjustment, which they often seem to do.

Their biggest advantage over us is they have forwards who can offload at will, break the line with supported runs or short passes. Also Rob Burrow is a legend. Then mayhem.

The 'some reason' was Rovers aggressive midfield defence and line speed forcing Wire to hurriedly put in nothing kicks spraying anywhere and everywhere.

Or maybe Wire just thought it was a good idea to kick to Mantellato & Sio instead of Dixon, seems unlikely surely?

Combination of both.

Wire don't have a decent kicking game out of their half backs.

Our line speed was incredibly worrying at times.

My biggest concern, and one that Leeds will exploit is that we're very poor on kick pressure.

If we allow Sinfield et al time, we'll find ourselves having to do ninety metres every set.

It was that Salford game that caused everyone to conclude that Dixon was a liability under the high ball (Judging by Tomato's taking of all the high balls after that it seems that this was Chester's conclusion as well), but within the other games Dixon had taken some unbelievable high balls under pressure and had ran them out making valuable metres ......If Dixon has a mare in the final we will lose, but if Dixon has a great game in the final then we could very well go on to win it ......And the same applies to Kelly ......If these two players perform on the day, we have a chance.

I'm more concerned about our two centres than catching bombs, they've both been poor defensively in recent weeks, Salter is normally a good defender but he's looked out of sorts for some reason. Luckily they'll only be up against two average centres at Leeds

Have been away and not seen much of recent games.
Allgood was our best forward before being injured so has to play. Tilse was good in all the cup games and though isn't spectacular by any means is very good technically and does his share.
Walker Puletua should play also. If Green brings some attitude then he could help us get on top. If he doesn't he'll amble about contributing little. Has he deserved it on recent performances?
Puletua to second row or loose man for me.
Larroyer to play to. Horne and McCarthy too with one of these on the bench with Boudebza who continues to inspire. I love Toulouse Leutrec.
Dixon every time at full back. Le#ds will be terrified of him on that big pitch.
Hope Albert makes it. Chisholm to centre...again haven't seen enough.
Salter is tedious with the ball. 17 tries in 75 games is poor for a back row forward never mind a centre. He gives his wingers nothing. Maybe 2 assists for Sio all year. Most of his tries are from kicks or cut out passes. Big opportunity though for Salter to defend well. Their centres are terrifying. Watkins is world class and getting better. Don't see him making a mistake or taking wrong options. Man of Steel this year.
I hope for rain. We pressured wire and Wigan in the wet and they fell apart. Maybe a downpour could bring us the cup.
Can't wait for this.
Wish everyone a good trip and a great game.
Let's raise the roof off the place!

After the Widnes game today during which we displayed the sort of defensive intensity, resolve and spirit we will need again next week, here is my controversial starting 17 for Wembley:

Dixon
Mantellato
Welham
Salter
Sio
Blair
Kelly
Walker
Lunt
Tilse
McCarthy
Larroyer
Puletua

Allgood
Green
Horne
Boudebza

I wouldn't have Puletua at Loose man though!

Jism shouldn't be anywhere near the seventeen even if Kelly doesn't make it.

From Pickering Red's team, I'd leave the backs as they are, and go Walker, Lunt, Tilse, Larroyer, Horne, McCarthy in the pack, interchange of Puletua, Boudebza, Allgood and Green.

It's essential that our kicking game is top notch, we need to be turning Leeds's pack at the end of every set and making them start in their ten/twenty.

Could anyone imagine Marsh Partnering Kelly in the halves? What a stage to announce yourself. Won't happen obviously. But he had a decent game in atrocious conditions today.

No, he's shown promise, but he's not an out and out obvious super star.

I would however put him on the bench over Chisholm if we have concerns that Kelly won't be able to play the eighty.

I'm concerned that we played Cockayne at full back today,I think we should have gone with Dixon (although we did switch him there in the second half), Dixon has to play on the vast space of Wembley.

Such a shame for us and Campese that he can't play.