Newcastle were a particularly poor Premiership side last time (although sadly no enough to save us!) and by all accounts were lucky to beat us at Kingston Park. The win at Headingley in last season’s league, though, was no fluke, and the Carnegie boys have to go into this game with a modicum of confidence.

Although having shorn themselves of a few England internationals for this coming season, Newcastle are looking to turn their fortunes around, and have named a reasonably strong squad for the match – although clearly looking to try out various combinations during the game; after all what are pre-season friendlies for if not that?

It will be a big day for a number of people tomorrow. Mike McDonald will make his Headingley bow since being installed first XV captain, and of course it will be a similar chance for the new guys in charge to taste the atmosphere for the first time (at least, for the first time in the home dug-out!).

However, it will of course be by far the biggest day for Rob Rawlinson, since the match has been named as his testimonial game. Rob has been with Leeds since the 1999 season, and is the first player to be recognised by Leeds in this fashion. Despite being from the wrong side of the tracks (he is a Lancastrian, and strangely proud of it), the Yorkshire public have adopted him as one of their own, and he has in return showed a loyalty to the club and a never-say-die spirit that many people would expect to be dying in the professional era. Rob is a true club-man in its original sense, and there can be no better reason for us all to turn out and cheer on the Leeds team to a win, and at the same time give thanks to Rawly for his service to our club.

Here’s to you Rawly – lets get a thumping home win against Newcastle to put your name by!

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