: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:46 am  

Dave Lister wrote:

Also at the game today and don't agree totally with Highbury Rhino's assessment. Thought Manly were very light weight in the forwards and the Quins forwards were on top today. The difference was the speed of the backs, especially the full back who will need to be watched carefully. Our defence outwide is generally quite poor anyway so I expect Leeds to be able to deal with it.

After seeing that today, I fully expect a comfortable Leeds victory on Sunday.

Well the fact that I have found out that Quins 2nd half team was like a reserve team has made me feel better. Why did they do this though? Would it not have been better served to each play the reserve-ish team in the 1st and then have the strongest for the 2nd? Would have made a better game.

You are right about Brett Stewart though. Easily the best attacking FB in the World IMO.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:47 am  

Hollywood Harrigan wrote:

Well the fact that I have found out that Quins 2nd half team was like a reserve team has made me feel better. Why did they do this though? Would it not have been better served to each play the reserve-ish team in the 1st and then have the strongest for the 2nd? Would have made a better game.

You are right about Brett Stewart though. Easily the best attacking FB in the World IMO.

He ripped us apart tbh.

It was a reasonable game actually, the Manly second string was very poor indeed, key Quins players were rested towards the end. I'm not sure why Manly did it the way they did really.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:45 am  

I don't expect us to win this year. Manly seem to be up for this a lot more than any other sides recently. We have a few injuries. Having said that defensively we look strong, and I think we will see a few injured players back for this game.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:33 am  

I'm gradually learning not to write us off in big games. This, contrary to the knockers' views, will be a big game. Big crowd, good teams, silverware on the line. It may be the least important of the 3 main trophies on offer, but it's still a trophy.

Manly are a good side, but may be rusty, Leeds just haven't really hit form yet this year. Regardless of what you thought of the refs performance on Friday, discipline will have to be tighter against Manly. If we give them the kind of field position we gave KR we will get hammered. I hope we can get Burrow fit for the game, as well as Smith. I feel that we need all the attcking options we can get our hands on for this one.

Hard to call, in the absence of any real form. I'll go for Manly by 8, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to be wrong!

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:57 am  

El Diablo wrote:

I'm gradually learning not to write us off in big games. This, contrary to the knockers' views, will be a big game. Big crowd, good teams, silverware on the line. It may be the least important of the 3 main trophies on offer, but it's still a trophy.

Manly are a good side, but may be rusty, Leeds just haven't really hit form yet this year. Regardless of what you thought of the refs performance on Friday, discipline will have to be tighter against Manly. If we give them the kind of field position we gave KR we will get hammered. I hope we can get Burrow fit for the game, as well as Smith. I feel that we need all the attcking options we can get our hands on for this one.

Hard to call, in the absence of any real form. I'll go for Manly by 8, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to be wrong!

Does anyone know how Ali is getting on.

Having Ali, Burrow and Buderus adds a huge amount of creativity to the 17 who played against KR

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:17 pm  

still think we will win but close

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:11 pm  

lionarmour87 wrote:

who cares about record score in 1935 by the country cousins in some penal colony

your long lost cousins missed the boat

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:15 pm  

I think Leeds will just sneak the win.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:36 pm  

I haven't a clue what's going to happen!! Usually I get a feeling how it's going to go, or what kind of game to expect, but with this one, I got nothing!! I don't have a great deal of NRL knowledge (or knowledge in general ) and Leeds' form isn't giving much away. I mean we've hardly hit a great deal of form. The first two games we weren't out of second gear, but the Hull game was a serious test, and even though we weren't at out best, we found the way to dig in, and come back with the two points. Not an easy thing to do. Plenty of work to do, but the disruption with injuries and conditions was never going to allow an expanded game. But there is one huge factor we have going for us at the minute, defence. Our goal line defending has been nothing short of manful and effective, no-ones hiding, and teams are struggling to post points past us. 2 trys leaked in 3 games makes for excellent reading.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:07 pm  

League express say we could be without 7 this week and thats with no mention of Bailey.

Webb (obv.), Burrow, Buderus, Lauitiiti, Smith, Peacock and Ablett according to McClennan.