Today




Tuesday




So which is it from your two man-in-know tales???

Full co-operation from the two guys or denial that it was even them?

I totally agree he needs to take responsibility. I have even said on this thread, that IMO there should be a parting. However, I don't agree in talking in the public by the coach, without confirming his investigation is over. That is unprofessional and out of line.

What the club say to the press, and say to each other behind closed doors are often completely different. How do we know the club didn't make the players aware of what they were going to tell the press? It doesn't really show the players in a worse light than they already appear to be, and it makes the club look like the angelic public servants as they would like everyone to believe they are.

McDermott usually seems to say whatever's going on in his head at the given moment at press conferences. There doesn't seem to be any strategy to it. Not just in this instance...it's pretty consistent. GH is the opposite, will be interesting what he says when back from his holiday/scouting trip.

I'm baffled as to what McDermott has said that is so rock-the-boat controversial. It's all just a bunch of generic cliches in the circumstances
"We're disappointed"
"He's disappointed"
"We're taking this matter seriously"
"He's made an error".....etc.

Yet he's getting criticised for not keeping these generic comments "in house" by a poster who has apparently been told juicy "in house" details of what's gone on (I assume in confidence) who has then gone and pasted them on the Internet for thousands of people to see and pass on......staggering.

McDermott's said nothing that wouldn't be apparent to anyone with any access to the media reporting of the story so far.

He's certainly not prejudiced the outcome of any disciplinary hearing.

Maybe he should have just dead-batted the question, but then there plenty on here that would have been criticising him for not keeping fans up to speed with what was happening.

IMO McDermott answered the questions put to him honestly and did not "hang Hardaker out to dry" at all. What he did make clear was that just because Hardaker has escaped police prosecution this in no way diminishes the seriousness of the offence in the Club's view and that the club investigation may lead to disciplinary action by the club and that this investigation will be led by GH.

Now the club will want to take into consideration Hardakers's previous record before deciding what action they will take on his latest fall from grace but the coach had every right to make clear that the Club take this matter very seriously. A lot will depend on what Hardaker told the Club (denial or admission of guilt) and his attitude since will determine if he gets selected to play again.

I see Golding played for the u19's tonight vs Hudds, as did Minchella......so Hardaker will be back in the team for Wigan.

Noticed that myself and thought the same.

Really looking forward to this game tonight!

Me too, you can't beat a packed HQ on a Friday night against the goons, hope Zak does play and has a stormer

What an absolute belting game this could be.

We're without Sinfield, they're without Lockers.

Both sides have an experienced half with McGuire and Smith, with both also having inexperienced youngsters along side them in Sutcliffe and Williams. Seeing that tussle alone will be very interesting.

The crowd also looks set to 19,000+. This is going to be an absolute belter. Prepare for some biff!! Shame all the talk is about Hardakre.

Cracking weather in Leeds at the moment as well!

Bring it on....really looking forward to this! Nice night, full house, and hopefully a game to match.

No Handley though. Injured, or a late call-up to the first team?

I noticed that too. Briscoe was one named mentioned earlier in the week as having a knock so could be a late issue there or precaution if there's a late setback for Moon.

On a general point, how poor is the club's media coverage of its lower grades?

Yes the highlights of 19s games get on Youtube pretty quickly, but there's no still no match report up from last week's game in London, no team up on the website for last night and there are very rarely any score updates on Twitter - unless they're provided by the likes of Mark Lilley or Glynn Bell from their personal accounts.

Shouldn't be beyond the wit and wisdom of a club the size of Leeds to keep people in touch with what's happening to the junior sides much better than they do.

They are the future after all - the club should not have a problem giving them the media exposure they deserve. How difficult would it be for Phil Daly to at least tweet?

Probably GH not prepared to pay the overtime for Thursday nights

That'll be it. Other year when the first team played Saints away and the u19's were in the curtain raiser he tweeted updates throughout the match.

Ash Handley has been called up tonight.

It's gonna be a rough one.
Wane'll be desperate to squeeze a performance out of his side in the only way he knows.

So Briscoe hasn't recovered from his knock against Warrington?

That or Moon. He passed his tests from his concussion but maybe he didn't feel right after training again, recall that happening to another player recently (might've been in RU)

Leeds by 20-30 points