The Rhinos are without Joel Moon through suspension and will also be without nine other first team players through injury. Kevin Sinfield (thumb), Ryan Bailey (thumb), Kallum Watkins (ankle), Kylie Leuluai (knee), Liam Hood (ankle), Joe Vickery (knee), Brett Delaney (knee), Stevie Ward (shoulder) and Danny McGuire (leg) are all currently out. Brad Singleton will face a late fitness test on a dead leg injury suffered in the Widnes victory last Monday.



The 19 man squad is entirely made up of players eligible to play for England and includes 15 players from the club's academy structure with only Mitch Achurch, Jamie Peacock, Ian Kirke and Zak Hardaker not developed by the Rhinos. The average age of the 19 man squad to face the Giants is just 24 and, if selected, Minchella would become the first Leeds player to appear for the club who was born in the Super League era.



The squad in full is:

1. Zak Hardaker

2. Ben Jones-Bishop

5. Ryan Hall

7. Rob Burrow

9. Paul McShane

10. Jamie Peacock (c)

11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan

12. Carl Ablett

17. Ian Kirke

18. Chris Clarkson

19. Mitch Achurch

21. Richard Moore

22. Jimmy Keinhorst

23.Brad Singleton

26. Liam Sutcliffe

27. Thomas Minns

28. Jordan Baldwinson

30. Alex Foster

31. Elliot Minchella

Blooming 'eck, some posters on here are going to have a field day with that squad... just look at all the academy lads being given a go!



(Or does it not count because it's a necessity?)

It doesn't count for that very reason. It is the wrong timing.



Should have been brought in individually as form warranted. But we are where we are, and they get a chance to at least have a go. Of course it is far easier for them to display their talents when they are surrounded by players who can cover for them, but I don't think they can have too much pressure on them this week anyway.

It's great to see so may u19's in the squad but unfortunate it takes so many injuries for some to even get a sniff.

I personally would go with.

How i think Mc wil go is in brackets.

Hardaker

Hall

Minns(Ablett)

Keinhorst

Bjb

Sutcliffe

Burrow

JP

Mcshane

Moore(Kirke)

Jjb

Ablett(Clarkson)

Singleton



Baldwinson

Kirke(Moore)

Foster(Achurch)

Minchella(Minns)

fingers crossed we get the win. As another poster said, that squad looks very weak, so maybe Hudds players have been laughing and joking all week in training. As put by another poster, they can batter a fully fit leeds so with this rag tag bunch they are certain of the win.....

and there in lies our chance of victory!

It's going to be stupid McDermott for not playing them sooner if we win or stupid McDermott for not playing them sooner if we lose.

Wouldn't want Minchella playing first team at the moment, he's not physically ready IMO. Keep him as 18th man so he can get a feel for the preparation and what being part of the first team squad entails.

Their attack is structured around brough. Get to him, and front up in the forwards and theres every chance we can win.

bet no other teams tried that- quick get on the phone to mcdummy- he must of missed that gem the last two times this season.

I know, he's really really stupid. And just a terrible coach. If only he could match the coaching achievements of Paul And... Oh, no maybe not him, how about Nath... ah my bad, but maybe John Sh...



Oh.

I know you understand sarcasm as you've used it in your own post- so clearly i wasnt having a go at your coach ....... paul Anderson must be a candidate for coach of the year. First year in head coach job- he's not doing bad is he?

He is doing well at the current time, better than i first thought he would TBH, but you do have a top four capable squad as shown in recent seasons and when Brough is on song, as he has been so far you look a very good side.BUT, will he and the rest of your team show up from August to October? History suggests not, and until such time any real Judgments on PA, and Brough as a big game player for that matter, cannot be made IMO.If you fail miserably as per, will you just be happy to just look back at the season and say 'we got into good position again and played some good rugby at times but couldnt man up when it got to the business end' ?



Will be interesting to see if PA has managed to instill something in your team others have been unable to when it comes to fighting for the trophys.