I cast my mind back to the Wigan player off game 2003, and how things had changed. I remember wondering whether we would ever win anything apart from the odd cup. Can you believe six years latter 4 GF wins plus one final, two WCC , two league leaders and one ccf. Apart from 2006 we have been in every GF. I believe great credit has to go to Tony Smith who changed the culture to wining one. Well done Leeds long may it last.

Yes I can believe it.

I'm not sure, I'd like some more evidence...

i think we could see the potential was there

I actually saw the potential within the club when Malcolm Clift was in charge

I think it was down to Hetherington's ambition to have a nucleus of kids who have come through the academy, topped up with quality internationals.
The majority of the nucleus have stuck together and are now our key players. Becuase they have had the experiencve of playing together for a lot of years, they read each other's play well, and I believe the fact that they have grown up together contributes to the strong team spirit that is evident in the Leeds team. They are mates as well as team mates.

The foreign players that have been brought in are quality internationals. The likes of Ali, Webb, Donald would walk into any Superleague team, and they obviously enjoy it as they have all signed new cntracts.

So in short, yeah, the signs were there!!!!

hetherington deserves great credit for the way he has turned the club around.

Lots of love for Mr Hetherington right now.

Wasn't here in 2003, 2006 or even earlier this very season.

That's where the credit has to go. He's built a foundation of a club, and a team at the pinnacle of it.

And to think, how many have campaigned against him, even recently.

The bloke outside the 2000 bar, who then carried on in the 2000 before getting thrown out springs to mind.

Wonder what he thinks now!

When smug self congratulating threads like this appear I can see why Head High Tackle might want to remind some posters what they said about Mr Hetherington just this very year,

I'll let this one run a little longer and give them a bit more rope.

GH dserves credit, he aint the sharpest tool in the box but he has delivered.

He is also incredibly fortunate to have landed during the golden era of young talent in the history of the Club.

But its how you look after that young talent. Wigan had lots of young talent as well and it is now dotted around SL. However they chose to go with aging Aussies and Kiwis over their young talent and maybe that is where the difference lies.

I agree, and Wigan are a blueprint in delivering failure, but Leeds have made similar mistakes over a similar period by releasing top young talent, its just that Leeds had that much they could afford to make a mistake or two along the way.

It will also be interesting to see how Wigan nurture their latest crop of youngsters as they are quite a special group.

Must be catching.

I'd like to offer an arguement but off the back of that it would be difficult so I don't think I'll bother, I'm too busy getting out of this hole.

Although..........

I stand by the Poching and lack of depth argument.


Now i'm crawling away so leave me alone.............

The difference is Leeds have kept the players in key positions (McGuire, Burrow, Diskin, Sinfield). Its much easier to replace the likes of Calderwood, Ward, Scruton than it would be any of the above.

I aint done with you yet pal. not by a long shot.

think the last 6 years have been a result of right coaches, good youth system and willingness to take a punt on youth.

In fact looking back over the last decade how crucial does that clear out that happened under Powell seem right now. In terms of both squad make up and club policy that seems pretty key imo. You could say it was the turning point.

I'm sure you'll be back before the dust has settled!!!

Typo

So many people have said on here that they would rather watch us involved in a good game than watch us scrap for a win..

I'll go for a poor win over a good loss every time .

"Marching on together
We want to see you play well
Na Na Na Na Na'

Just don't sound right does it .

I give the golden era another 4 years, which will take it to a total 10 year period.

By that time sinfield and peacock (both will leave mammoth holes) will have retired, and burrow, mcguire diskin and JJB will be veterans (it sounds funny saying that, seems only yesterday they were young nippers with potential).

You also have to take into account increasing injuries with age and possible declines in form are all [ipossible[/i but not definates - just look at senior.

Sinfield burrow and mcguire are irreplaceable IMO, not just on the field but possibly off it too.

When these players retire is when leeds will begin their downward spiral. That doesn't have to mean the apocalypse, it just means we won't be making grand finals practically every year (like we have been doing since 04). We are a big club so barring gross mis-management we'll be always be pretty decent.


It's all about NOW. We've won 3 titles on the trot and no one has done that before or IMO is likely to do it in the future because this is a very very special team, not just in terms of ability but the togetherness and understanding that comes from growing up together and playing together for many years. These are great times because it won't be long before sinfield et al will be retired and we'll be looking back with fond memories on the great moments they gave us.

Hetherington took over a club that was going out of business and had won chuff all for years. He turned it into a thriving concern with more trophies during his tenure than the whole of the club's previous history. Not bad for someone who "isn't the brightest tool in the box"

I only hope he doesn't read some of the twaddle that's written about him on here and decide to walk way!