Given how dreadful the 2016 season was, the pre-season friendly phase of the RL year could actually matter a lot more this time around than it has for Leeds in the recent past.
In previous years the impression one gets is that these games are largely for the commercial well-being of the club, with most front-line players needing time off due to extended campaigns in the Challenge Cup, Play-Offs, internationals and sometimes WCC preparations. We've had the luxury of a lot of continuity in good form and playing staff in key positions. All this is gone now. The first team needs to hit the ground running this year, so there is more impetus to do more than give youngsters/fringe signings a run out and let regulars blow-off a few cobwebs... It will be interesting to see if the club take the friendlies a bit more seriously.
