It was lack of basic skill that let us down towards the end of last year according to our esteemed coach who admits that he does read what we put on here: www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-6996256 Or maybe he doesn't.

It was lack of basic skill that let us down towards the end of last year according to our esteemed coach who admits that he does read what we put on here: www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-6996256 Or maybe he doesn't.

He acknowledges its existence. I'd be surprised if he actually reads it.

It's a bit of a damning indictment on some of the coaches and playing staff when you're talking about having to consciously upgrade people's skill levels at this stage of their careers. Makes you wonder how much some players do just sit back on their laurels rather than working on the basics of their game in their own time.

I heard that the new players kit will have a ball shaped pouch on the front that eliminates all passing errors. We will also be operating a kicking on the first tackle policy as defence was the strongest part of our game last season, and we want to maximise what we are best at. shouled also further reduce handling mistakes.

He mentions some tries were scored from individual brilliance by Joel Moon, Watkins and Maguire.
Errr must have missed them in the London away game as that is the only game I have not seen the tries from, just my luck!

McDermott has noticed the blind f'in obvious.

All we have relied upon for the past few years is hard graft along with individual brilliance with no structure. Thats all McDermott is. An ex military man that has hard graft built into his DNA which is drilled into the team. Tight, hard graft rugby wins you playoff games if you have the energy, hence our previous success. Unfortunately if the side is too knackered it fails, ala past two seasons. Plus its p!ss poor to watch in rounds 1-27. He will try and teach the side some set plays and structure but I don't hold much hope, as pointed out above its too late in careers. I've bought my season ticket for next year but I expect it to be a long ass season.

I hope what he is doing is going to work because I was alarmed by that end of season decline

An Assistant Coach who specialises in attack, set moves or general structure would be nice.

If the players can't pass accurately, at pace, having made the right decision, then all the set moves in the world won't get you anywhere.

One handed fancy passes only. Fancy damby pamby flick passes out the back of the hand.

If someone makes a clean break and is gona you can trip using your legs. That's another good one. Am I right?

Proper old school rugby tops. With collars. Not these skin tight things.

All the flashy players would put their collar up wouldn't they? Bet Moon would wear his collar up. Charnley would not only wear his collar up but he would button it to the top as well.

Do something about the colour of the boots as well. Its getting as bad as football.

^ This.

Infact, This x10000000

Which assistant coach would provide more knowledge and insight on attack and general structure than Sinfield, McGuire & Burrow combined?

Set moves aren't really very relevant at this level. Even Wigan's methodical approach is more nuanced than a set move.

I think McDermott's at least partly right, we've got to accept that we'll make mistakes if we want the ball moving around but our passing & handling, especially under pressure, wasn't good enough or fast enough to take advantage of potential opportunities.
I also think our lightness at prop effected our backrow and so had a knock-on (sometimes literally!) effect on our attack.

I also think there is a continued hangover from when we got 50 points shoved on us by Wigan at Headingley a couple of years ago. It really shook the club (along with other heavy defeats that year) and I think there's a determination that that won't happen again, which I think is at least part of the reason why we have a bit of a habit of playing conservatively against Wigan.

Hopefully they are also working on being less predictable ,using the full 17 on match day duty and not running JP/Kylie & Delaney into the ground.
Also if it's not too much to ask use Aiton as a 9 or not at all he's pointless in the BR.

I was talking to one of the Sky Sports SL presenters on Saturday evening (one of the ones who knows what he's talking about - so that narrows it down a bit...) and he raised a similar point about how Leeds skill levels were very poor these days. Compare how good we were with the ball at times in the past and the players today sometimes look like they met in the car park before the game for the first time. We also discussed how this and decision making are the main reasons that we still lag behind the southern hemisphere teams at both club and international level.

He also thought that Cas will once again surprise people next season, and that the quality of their signings is much better than they are being given credit for, although he had lots of praise for Luke Gale so I guess everyone makes mistakes sometimes...

Does that article mean that B McD has / is going to leave himself open for feedback from Southstander?

I wonder what username he has been using if he has been on already..? It would be good if he included us in the feedback anyway; probably might have saved him a bit of time as well!

No, it just means he knows the name of the club's fan forum, I'd be amazed if any coach didn't know that after several years at a club.



Yeah asking us is definately better than asking his players and coaches. The day he or any future coach chooses to ask this forum is the day even I'll give up on this club.

Don't know why - it was all the fault of the CC - all those years of walking past the trophy and not picking it up!!

The fact the coach has admitted the basic skills of the players is not up to scratch begs the question as to what he does in training!! I expect to see a more NRL type risk averse style i.e. 5 one man plays from the ruck and one expansive play or kick on the last.

Bring a pillow to HQ you will need it

I'm presuming this reply was tongue-in-cheek or at very least people understand that my post was said with tongue-in-cheek?

Unless Printer is double-bluffing and is actually B McD himself..?

A lot of people seem to mention Wigan and the way they are set-up in attack. They are at one end of the scale, we are right at the other in terms of structure. But a point people are missing is all that off the ball running (which Wigan do a heck of a lot of) will be energy sapping. McDermotts theory is probably to save that energy and instead use it in defence and error free rugby to strangle the opposition. We need to find the happy medium.

Jon Wells then.

John Wells then. And I too think that Luke Gale is a much bigger signing for them than given credit for. He is a miles better player than Sneyd. However, I don't think they will be the "surprise" this year, but will still be competing for a credible place, along with others.

Time will tell but I think Cas will be one season wonders - Whilst better than Sneyd Gale is no great shakes.

A player like Gale is exactly what Cas needed alongside Ben Roberts. A steady head who will organise and look after the kicking responsibility, letting Roberts just go play in the same way that Chase used to for them.