Be careful Wiliam, [urlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29678989[/url

Bailey and Kirke are obviously seen as a safe pair of hands to hold the fort whilst JP and Kylie have a rest - the offer nothing in attack, but don't drop the ball too often, and make a decent number of tackles - which is fine, but surely we should be aspiring to more from our bench - we want some impact, a lift to the team.



Singleton surely has to be 3rd in line, yes he'll make some mistakes, but it's the only way he'll improve - from both a technical and fitness perspective. No amount of training offers the same benefits of match fitness - getting used to that 2nd wind and pushing on is what builds a players stamina and mental agility when tired.



I'd much rather go down fighting as a result of mistakes from a youngster who's trying to make an impact than fall by the wayside as also rans who's 'steady eddies' weren't quite good enough.

Singleton for me needs to bulk up. Carrying too much timber for me. But yes I agree needs some game time all these up and coming props need the time ahead of bailey and kirke for me

A general election is clearly looming.



Tough on trolls,

Tough on the causes of trolls.



"Prosecution awaits" according to Richard Madeley in that link above. He ought to know. Wasn't he once acquitted of walking out of Tesco with sundry bottles of wine he hadn't paid for?



Shoplifters of the world,

Unite and take over...

Stick around

We'll have to wait and see with respect to whether the team can consistently beat top sides, but Superted is plainly wrong in terms of one-offs - Leeds this year showed they were more than capable of beating any of the top sides when they really wanted to.



My feeling is that next year won't be anywhere near as bad as some reckon, even if we don't sign anyone else. The following year, post JP, is another beast entirely.

The basic fact is that the Leeds pack and set of halves is ageing and the team now lacks the exciting skill factor that has been recently acquired by other clubs (e.g. Catalans Todd Carney, Morgan Escare and Elliot Whitehead, or Hull KR's Albert Kelly, Kenneth Sio and Kevin Larroyer). Leeds is not only standing still, but because of age it is going backwards while certain other clubs are improving. And all Gary Hetherington can do is try to sabotage talent acquisition by more dynamic clubs (e.g. the Catalans signing of Todd Carney).



Leeds needs a new front office.

Leeds showed nothing of the sort this last season. They showed they can beat Castleford if that is what you meant. But we lost twice to Wigan, twice to Huddersfield, and twice to Saints of the other top four sides. When it really mattered we couldn't even beat the 7th placed team.



Let's not confuse this last season with previous years. Personally I think we are much worse than people make out, rather than not as bad. But of course we could still end up seeing sense and make a couple of changes yet, which would change things a lot.

Sorry mate but things have not regressed that far yet as to think Hull KR will be a threat to us or any of the top sides.Just because they have signed a couple of unwanted Aussie halves (Its happened before, how did Kris Keating work out again?) does not mean they will be a factor.Catalan are always an interesting one.If they can get all their big names on the pitch and firing they can match anyone and are always formidable at home but on the road will always be the big test for them.The signing of Carney should firmly put them in the mix for next years top 4 though.



As for us, i think we will make the 4 no problem as long as all the key players stay fit (JP we cannot do without for any length of time though). Beyond next season is clearly the worry right now.

The three that have gone to Hull KR are pretty poor NRL players especially Kelly who is very like Chris Sandow in that he has one great game a season.

The idea that we will make the top 4 no problem is arrogance - under McDermott they have made the top 4 once with arguably stronger sides. Wigan have shown they have our measure so have Saints, if the get all their players back it could be embarrassing, when was the last time we beat Huddersfield? That doesn't account for Warrington or Catalans.



I would be amazed if Leeds made the top 4 they have shown over the past 4 years they are not consistent enough and not able to beat the top sides regularly enough. It wouldn't be a massive shock if they didn't make the 8.

Including Ablett, Leeds current squad has 8 first team regulars that have been playing top flight Rugby for 10 years or more.



Is that an achievement or a hindrance?



If BMcD continues to use Burrow as his starting hooker, we're looking at a starting front row with a combined age of 106 years old!



IMO I think we'll struggle to make top 4 next year. We'll do exactly the same as we did this year - come out of the blocks like a hare but finish the season like a tortoise.

I'm a bit split.



On one hand I think the new system will see Leeds having to go for it to make the top 4. At the cut off stage this season we were second. We also have players coming through who can take over from the aging legs over the course of the season. Many of our biggest players have a full off season. There is no CC monkey to get off the teams back. All of these point to a reasonable league campaign.



On the other hand, the way Leeds played in the 2nd half of the season was dire, with little imagination, or flair. Often losing games they had got themselves into a position they could have won from. The squad is older, and the coach doesn't trust the younger players to do a job.



I think a lot depends on McDermott. I think the sqaud is decent. I don't think it is champions material, but I can see top 4, but only if managed correctly.



Burrow back to 7 seems a no brainer for me, to add a bit of zip and unpredictability.



I think we need to accept that Peacock is more limited than he used to be. He is still very capable, and the first name on the teamsheet, but not for 80 mins. Give him smaller stints and allow him to produce better quality.

Leeds have to go all in with some of the juniors. IMO they should start the season with the shirt. The likes of Singleton and Sutcliffe won't kick on unless they are given regular time, rather than 3 weeks in 2 weeks out. If they're not up to it we need to know this season to make other plans rather than next season when its too late.



Its not all doom and gloom for me but I think it not all roses. We will beat some top teams, and we will lose to some poor teams. I think its up to McDermott to get the best out of the players that he has

First of all i made that statement on the basis in which i stated, that the key players i.e the likes of Sinfield,Burrow,Hardaker and particularly JP stay fit. That is a must because our squad depth is not the best in certain areas.And secondly, for all Billy Eve's constant ramblings one thing he has got spot on is the fact that the bigger teams have toshed it off for large parts of the season on the current format , Leeds being the founder member of this strategy.Now, with less scope in which to down tools i have the belief that the side will bust a gut to finish top 2, which i agree maybe beyond us but top 4 will be comfortable enough IF we don't lose said key players.



i fail to see the arrogance in that belief.