1. Webb - understandably lacking match fitness but what a superb pass for Hall's try - personally I would have moved him to 7 when Burrow went off - on the whole a good all round performance.

2. Donald - not much opportunity in the game all the attack as the majority of the play went down the left - quiet game in what has been a quiet season.

3. Smith - 100% for effort was always willing to take the ball up and made a pretty good job of a new position to him. Unlucky in the Gilmour incident where it Gilmour was pulling his hair - Lee never seem to get the rub of the green in these cases

4. Senior - solid performance took his tries well and still looks as good as any centre in the competition going forward - caught out on a couple of ocassions in defence

5. Hall - as good a player as Leeds had on the field tonight - willing worker lost count of the number of times he took the ball up - would just like to see him run through the line when he has the ball rather than stop when he gets there.

6. McGuire - continued his good form - lovely run around for Senior's first try and better kicking from hand - his defence was also pretty good - now starting to look the organiser the team needs.

7. Burrow - concerns must be there as to the number of times he is getting knocked out - needs to be looked at before he sustains a really serious injury - whilst he came back on he was nothing more than a passenger - his missed tackle that led to the last try an indication of his state.

8. Kylie - good performance when on the field he really takes it in and his defence has improved significantly this season - I would like to see him have more game time - perhaps in shorter bursts

9. Diskin - injury has reduced Matt from an outstanding player to bog standard SL player - he lateral movement is non-existent and that leads to miss tackles not something you need from a defender in the middle - his forward pass to Ablett changed the momentum of the game - hopefully Buderus will be back soon to give Matt some much needed support

10. Peacock - bet he was unhappy sat on the bench when things kicked off

a typical Peacock performance ran himself to a standstill in both attack and defence - unlucky to be penalised for a show of frustration in a tight game

11. JJB - played the whole game I think? which in a game of such intensity should be admired - would like to see him get of the tackled player a bit quicker he runs a very fine line which gets penalised too often these days

12. Ablett - not sure what to stay - not his finest hour - at fault with Sinfield for the Pryce try and offered little going forward - he is a loose forward with skill who plays in every other position - perhaps a run in the second row will build his confidence.

13. Sinfield - as with Ablett not his finest hour - a couple of poor defensive decisions cost two tries in the last 5 minutes of the first half. Seemed to incapable of controlling his and his team's emotions on the night - the game was there for the taking at 18-12 the calmer more methodical performance sadly they/him let Saints run away with it through a combination of needless penalties/poor ref decisions.

14. Allan - looked out of depth both physically and skill wise - not sure he is the answer as the deputy half back

15. Gibson - excellent game filled in at hooker and out performed his more senior team mate - perhaps this could be his best position in the modern game - he passes well and runs well in a position that requires guile rather than blistering pace.

16. Burgess - one dropped ball apart one of best performance - in a white hot environment he really stood up to be counted - he made some real yards ball in hand and put himself about in the tackle.

17. Bailey - what can you say - he is really coming of age - the hit on the lazy Samoan was a beauty he is just the type of player Leeds need right he intimidates opponents and does the unheralded stuff on the floor in the tackle - the fact that Graham got so irrate shows Bailey's new found status.

What a spectacle of a game - Saints deserved to win on the balance of the game - we made far too many simple errors - having said that it is only two points and there will not be many sides that beat Saints at KR. I didn't think they would win both this and the CC game. Of the two sides Leeds have the most improving let's hope they have learned some lesson to take into the game in two weeks time.

Both good calls.

Webb looks like he has a lot of confidence to rebuild also, but with Allan and Gibson on the bench we looked light. We have had the option to move Ablett/Ellis into the pack from centre (let's not take that too far

) but with forwards missing we didn't have the impact. I thooght JJB and Ablett looked tired 4th quarter as a result.

Fair points - with Buderus, Ali and Kirke to return then we have a pretty good side - can we get them all fit at the same time - something that has failed to happen in McClennan's reign.

we def looked very light in the forwards last night,and seemed obsessed with working the middle channel. had we gone wide more i think there was something to be gained

You need the players out wide to go to Leeds simply didn't have those players - Senior apart. We have no right side attack which is why we needed a centre or we need to continue with Watkins - neither JJB nor Ablett offered anything going forward which is why we need Ali.

It is no coincidence that the only time we have looked anything like fluid was against Wigan when Burrows and McGuire played as a half partnership - Sinfield is great in a slow paced game in an intense fast game game is lack of pace finds him out. Lat night as soon as Burrow got injured I would have moved Webb to 7 and Smith back to 1 and put Gibson in the centre.

I'll agree with that.

I cant say i agree with either of these comments.

Diskin has been having a fine season by anyones standards and i dont believe Gibson did anything special last night to warrant such high praise.

Totally agree. Diskin wasnt at his best last night but has certainly had a really good start to the season.

Gibson IMO as the original poster would have put it - Injury has led him to become a bog standard SL player.

Let's not forget he's 5 games into his comeback after a injury nightmare so give the lad a break eh??
FWIW he hasn't let anyone down and will only get better!!

I agree but sadly IMO that injury nightmare has caused him to become average. Hopefully for the lad I am proved wrong

Lovely ball form Webb that put Hall. Nearly a carbon copy of the ball in the WCC when he put Donald over for our only try.

Given that Diskin has missed two of the SL games it is difficult to substantiate you claims tbh - to me he has continued where he left off last year - when he came up against a good side in Saints he did not cover himself in glory - the injury has really diminished the physical side of his game especially in defence where the stats show he misses a lot of tackles - in 2004 that wasn't the case.

Gibson got to the PTB something Diskin struggles with these days and his passing was quicker and more accurate than Diskins.

Exactly what I said last night. When he is the field there is always the cahnce of something happening, be it an offload a break etc. IMO he is quite possibly the best impact player in the league- when fit. He can cause havoc running out wide and his plays often change games in our favour.

I agree with you re: Diskin and Gibson.

I thought both Gibson and Allen offered nothing and the games I've seen Allen play at the top level I agree with another poster who doubts he'll have a super league career at Leeds.He offers nothing in attack and Gibson who looked a fine prospect three years ago has lost any pace he had because of his leg/knee injuries so no longer has the pace required to play in the backs at the highest level.

Some seem to see him as a future dummy half but I'd take McShane long term over him in that position every time.

If Senior does hang up his boots (and sell them on ebay

) at the end of this season then without another experienced replacement for him we are going to have big problems in the centres.

Smith likely to go to RU in next couple of months.Gibson no pace,Watkins all the talent in the world and will one day be a huge player for us but at this stage makes too many poor defensive reads (which whilst I admit will improve over time and its fine if we want to make do,it will be found wanting and cost us in the cup semis/finals/other big games that we hope to continue to compete in)

I think Watkins needs to be brought on gradually over the next two seasons and personally don't think its ideal if he suddenly becomes one of our first choice centres playing week in week out.

You probably said the same about JJB

Does the OP cut and paste these "player ratings" from an original set he wrote 3 years ago?

I only ask because they are repetitive and seem to reflect pre-conceived opinions on specific players rather than what happened during this or any other game.

I thought Webb was a liability really. Poor on defence,weak on kick returns, and brought something to the attack with his passing, but not his running. Hopefully, he'll get back to his past form quickly.
Smith was good. Centre isn't his best position, but he does look to be our best right centre.
Burrow didn't seem fit to come on. I suppose that was a long shot gamble that just didn't come off.
Ablett and Sinfield both had problems in defence. Saints did very well at getting to Sinfield in particular. We need to look at ways of protecting Sinfield in defence.
Bailey's performance is an interesting one in how his clash with Graham is viewed. One great shot, some good niggle, but lost his cool. Running sideways and being pushed back was just stupid. However much you want to go at an opponent and get him, you have to pick your moments. Interesting too what Sky highlighted about Graham before the match - his ability to pass as he hits the line and put a runner into a gap one or two spots outside him. I reckon Saints would have been looking to get Graham to run at a defender one or two spots from Bailey with an expectation of Bailey coming out of the line looking for Graham, and Graham to use that vision he has to put someone into the hole. That's why Bailey came off.

On the refereeing, refs are obviously looking to slow the PTB down. The two sides did that a little differently. Saints had the far quicker speed from their defensive line. We weren't so quick, but got more bodies into the tackle and wrestled better. Players seemed to have fallen into a habit of relying on the ref to get the tacklers off the ballcarrier, and a few inicidents aside, weren't fighting to get up and play the ball as much as you would like.

I apologise for giving you my truthful opinion...........remind me next time that boosting your ego and agreeing with you is the only way to go

STFU you precious tool.

Leeds fans are too quick to get on the back of players. JJB was the same as Gibson with injuries early on his career but the club stuck by him.

Unlike idiots such as you.

A well rounded response to the topic



Did you not read the part about how I hope Gibson proves me wrong?



My opinion stands however.

Are you Ashley's Father? If not........ tried anger management?

A pitiful "It's my opinion and i'm entitled to it" got the required reply.



Yes, but you'd already written him off when you said he was an average player.



As does mine. Unfortunately JJB ahs proved your opinion to be ba[its[/ihit looney tunes or just someone who likes to write players off too early in their career.




You've quite emphatically missed the point here (which doesnt surprise me as you were too bothered crying about my reply).

The point is you are writing a young player off when its bene proved others have come thorugh injury when the clubs sticks with them.

Quite different injuries though - is there a player playing that has come back as good after a knee reconstruction?

I'd agree with most of that. PTB's were slow for both sides, I think Kylie was looking to get a quick play by diving into the tackle and trying to choose his own position, but even then Saints were slowing it up.
I also think Webb needs another couple of weeks and maybe even reserve games. We would have looked much more solid with Smith at FB and Ablett or Gibson at centre, but I guees we wouldn't have been able to spare Ablett from the pack anyways with Kirke and Ali out.

Clyde had a couple and one was very early on in his career I think. He paid much later when he arrived at Headingley in fact. I think it depends on the timing. If you are palying first team football at 18 and you need one at 26-27 you may struggle more than a kid who has one at 20 after only a couple of first team games. Less mileage and the hunger make a huge difference.

And I'm sure there are also a number players who have not "come through" injuries and hence not been as successful.

A difference of opinion is more than acceptable however immature name calling is rather poor IMO