Before SaintsFan blames the lack of Eastmond and Pryce for the loss? And also that we only beat them by four when they had no half backs is a positive for them?

just take a look on their forum

So it's not a valid excuse then?

I doubt Leeds would beat Saints in a semi final with 6 or 7 out including both their half backs to be honest. In fact I can't think of any club in the top 8 that would beat any other team in the top 8 under those circumstances.

Leeds were decimated with injuries early in the year and dropped to as low as 7th or 8th for a spell. These things happen in sport. Saints have done well this year to be in the chase for 2nd despite consistently having 4 or 5 injured each week. Playing without your 2 halfbacks, with their backup (Wheeler and Ellis) also injured is not going to be easy to cope with.

Not one used by your coach Mr Potter.
I thought the replacements were both current or recent international players.

I take it that we've never beaten you and with a full side in a GF then?

But it was raining

They are in other positions. Potter is just being diplomatic. He praised Leeds and said you played better and deserved to win. He knows like everyone else that our chances dropped massively when Leon was confirmed injured.

Lets say for arguements sake you narrowly lost a play off game to Saints at Knowsley Road or Wigan at the DW with several players missing including say Peacock, Sinfield and McGuire. You lot wouldn't even bring it up as a reason?

Yes agreed your chances dropped dramatically without Pryce and Eastmond

No you cant say you would have won if they had played.

Fair enough.

That is absolutely true.

We can argue all day long about "ifs and buts".

At least with Pryce out you had 13 men playing, and not 12 + 1 doing a hide & seek impression

Got to say it's fair enough that Saints can point to the fact that they were missing Eastmond and Pryce.
We have heard it all year that from galoots and doylems that injuries are no excuse for a defeat which is fair enough but they are reasons as to why your team are'nt as fluent or firing on all cylinders great game and both teams put their all into it imo.

Haven't been over there yet, I was saving it for when I had bad news to cheer me up...

saints chances improved when pryce was ruled out.

He goes missing in big games and they effectively play a man down with him there.

As they say forwards win the games, backs decide by how much. We were missing a fair few.

Such as?

You had Kylie, Buderus & Diskin, Peacock, Eastwood, JJB, Sinfield, Bailey & Burgess. That is your 4 first choice props, 2 first choice hookers, first choice backrow and first choice loose forward. I can only think of Ali L who was missing.

Only missing Lauitiiti and Ablett.

Clarkson has come in and more than made his mark already this season. Outstanding again today and appeared to play a lot of minutes.

Ali & ablett. One a real work horse, the other a player who always makes a difference vs Saints.

You also forgot kirke (:winkicon_smile.gif who has probably played more games than any other Leeds forward this season

Now now, let's not get into this who was more hard done by debate.

You can't use injuries as an excuse when you were in a winning position more than once and blew it.

Eastmond and pryce wouldn't have changed graham turning his back on us twice.

Easily done.

Jones-Buchanan - 27
Buderus - 26
Kirke - 25

At least it wasn't raining

Credit to Sts for pushing us all the way without recognized half backs. It's a valid excuse and they very nearly did us.

Leeds very nearly did us rather than St Helens.

You're right. FWIW I thought Leeds were awful today. Ball retention was awful and we still haven't stamped out the silly penalties.