[Frosties.]

Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 11:19 am  

So next Sunday we take on Featherstone Rovers in a pre season friendly. Agar has confirmed that Jack Walker will play a part in at least one of the next three pre season games. I would expect it to be this one & to play some part against Bradford.

I’d expect Broadbent, Edwards, Field, Gannon, Johnson, Mustapha, O’Connor, Simpson, Sinfield, Thompson, Tindall, Walker, Walters all to play Majority of Featherstone, Bradford and Hunslet games

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 12:40 pm  

Mmm, not sure Walker will feature v Fev. Agar reckons he's not done any contact training yet. My guess is he plays against Bradford and part of the Hull game.

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 1:37 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

So next Sunday we take on Featherstone Rovers in a pre season friendly. Agar has confirmed that Jack Walker will play a part in at least one of the next three pre season games. I would expect it to be this one & to play some part against Bradford.

I’d expect Broadbent, Edwards, Field, Gannon, Johnson, Mustapha, O’Connor, Simpson, Sinfield, Thompson, Tindall, Walker, Walters all to play Majority of Featherstone, Bradford and Hunslet games

Certainly the regular pre-season Leeds v Fev games have usually featured a lot of Leeds youngsters, but generally they have been the really talented ones that are on the fringe of a first team place, and I'm sure you're right, it will be a similar scenario this season. It usually provides a really good test for the Leeds youngsters and a good contest for Fev too. Normally you'd expect Fev to be a bit stronger and I'd probably anticipate that again this year, but to me this looks like a cracking group of up-and-comers at the Rhinos and it should be an intriguing game.

Which leads us on to the DR arrangement announced yesterday, with Broadbent, Edwards and Walters highlighted as being earmarked as possibles for Fev. As a Fev fan, it will be interesting to see how this works. In previous years Fev have used DR players from week 1, and they have filled obvious gaps.

However, this year the gaps aren't so obvious. For instance, at centre Fev have high-profile signing Joey Leilua and last season's Championship player of the year Craig Hall (and Josh Hardcastle), and with Gareth Gale and Luke Briscoe on the wings there isn't an obvious position vacant. Same goes for Levi Edwards at centre and also at back row along with Walters, where Ferres and Sene-Lefao are the likely starters.

It's possible Broadbent could feature from day 1 if not selected by Leeds, perhaps with Leilua eased in off the bench or as a back row option, but I also think there will be an element of rotation given Fev have a smallish squad (currently 25 players) and of course it will depend on availability too depending on call-ups to the Leeds squad. I'd be a bit surprised if all three are in the 17 for Fev's opening game though unless there are several pre-season injuries.

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:20 pm  

Good points Phantom and I think you are right that Leilua might be used between centre and second row this year.
Barring injuries I`m not sure where the 3 Leeds lads fit in.
I thought maybe Muzzi and possibly O`Connor might have gone to Fev.

[Frosties.]

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:51 pm  

chapylad wrote:

Good points Phantom and I think you are right that Leilua might be used between centre and second row this year.
Barring injuries I`m not sure where the 3 Leeds lads fit in.
I thought maybe Muzzi and possibly O`Connor might have gone to Fev.

I think they will be just fine at the bulls though, which is another good deal for us and them

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 4:04 pm  

chapylad wrote:

Good points Phantom and I think you are right that Leilua might be used between centre and second row this year.
Barring injuries I`m not sure where the 3 Leeds lads fit in.
I thought maybe Muzzi and possibly O`Connor might have gone to Fev.

My guess is that somewhere along the line the 3 Leeds lads mentioned will average 10-15 games each for Fev, depending on injuries, form and of course Leeds call-ups, and I think that will meet the requirements for both teams.

My guess is that Muizz and O'Connor (and Johnson) are just that bit further down the pecking order at Leeds and the club wanted to send them somewhere where they were more likely to be guaranteed being in the 17 most weeks. Those 3 are all very good players but I think all 3 would need injuries at Fev to make the 17.

We have a cracking Championship squad at Fev but it's very much an ageing one - I think we will have five forwards over the age of 35 at the start of the season. Ferres, Kopczak, Moors etc are all likely to be rested from time to time, and I think opportunities will arise.

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 4:09 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

I think they will be just fine at the bulls though, which is another good deal for us and them

Indeed. there has been a lot of noise about Scurr at Bradford but for me Muizz is a similar player with ball in hand and infinitely better in defence. Johnson is in my opinion a better player than George Flanagan, who again although dangerous near the line is weak defensively, and O'Connor is also probably a better option than at least some of their middles.

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 4:46 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

So next Sunday we take on Featherstone Rovers in a pre season friendly. Agar has confirmed that Jack Walker will play a part in at least one of the next three pre season games. I would expect it to be this one & to play some part against Bradford.

I’d expect Broadbent, Edwards, Field, Gannon, Johnson, Mustapha, O’Connor, Simpson, Sinfield, Thompson, Tindall, Walker, Walters all to play Majority of Featherstone, Bradford and Hunslet games

Agar did say Walker would play in at least one. He also said they are confident that they know which one but if he gets himself Iinto a position to play sooner that's great. That tells me it probably won't be against Fev.

[Frosties.]

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:14 pm  

The Phantom Horseman wrote:

Indeed. there has been a lot of noise about Scurr at Bradford but for me Muizz is a similar player with ball in hand and infinitely better in defence. Johnson is in my opinion a better player than George Flanagan, who again although dangerous near the line is weak defensively, and O'Connor is also probably a better option than at least some of their middles.

I’ll be glad if Scurr ends up at Leeds through this partnership.

Re: Pre Season Fixtures Thread : Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:41 pm  

Phantom Horseman have you heard any rumours about Brian Mac wanting Adam Cuthbertson as a Fev player for the 2022 season?
I was told this the other week but I'm not sure if there's any truth to it?