Particularly the 9th March

See this is the difference. Warrington know if we play our best we will win regardless of how they play.

I understand why we are underdogs but it is nice to know it's in our own hands.

Not really since apart from the 2003 CCF and 2004 & 2009 SLGF's, I've attended all the others. I'll take my broader experiences, knowledge and conclusions ahead of the more limited-in-scope domestic one-club supporter experiences, lack of knowledge and conclusions any day of the week.

Don't rise to him... look at his signature... 'Warrington - the Brazil of Rugby League' Brazils last major competition was the olympics... and they came second... The last time they won a major trophy was '09... so yes... Warrington ARE the Brazil of Rugby League.

Ah, if only there were a single level of performance you could use to describe "like we've been doing all season." But then we wouldn't be so joyously unpredictable would we?

Particularly the 9th March

-erm,vice versa mate

( cept for underdogs tag

)

I can guess why you would want to remove the Challenge Cup final of 2010 from your memory....if my team had been so badly beaten I'd do the same.

Oh, trust me, that performance can never be erased from my memory... I'm just glad I was sat so far back I could hardly see it. But.... Warrington have won the CC 7 times.... Leeds... 11.

Warrington have a long way to go to reach the sucess that Leeds, St Helens, Wigan and Bradford have acheived if you want to look back over the years.

Impressive. Not every water-carrier can make such a claim, especially in such an important game.

I've already alluded to the likely reason Powell selected Burrow ahead of McGuire for the 2003 Challenge Cup final. When you then factor in Diskin leaving the Wheldon Road pitch with a knee injury making him an injury doubt for the final the following weekend and Leeds having started the season with only the one recognised hooker, Powell's hand was probably forced in favour of Burrow on the bench who had done well in that specific role after Diskin left the field at Castleford.



I realise I didn't have to remind you as clearly your recall of events around that time are above reproach but some others may appreciate a refresher.

Interchange hooker was a role Burrow was frequently used in for the remainder of the 2003 season by Powell. Some might argue it remains to this day his most effective position and it's a pity he didn't specialise in the role rather than wasting years trying to be a creative half-back.

Snore !

Exactly what relevance does Leeds having won 11 challenge cups have for tomorrow's final?

Nice posting skills.

Bradford have only won it 5 times

Wow do you think he could have improved his haul of 2 Harry Sunderland awards and an international player of the series?

Maybe McGuire should think of a change of position? If he'd stayed on the wing where Powell once selected him instead of trying to be a creative half back, he might have won a big award in a big game? You're onto something.

Remember McGuire At fullback but never on the wing

I'm sure although he was named on the wing Mcguire played FB that game and Mathers switched to the wing G.
Possibly against Wigan or Warrington iirc.

I think you could be on to something there, afterall one of those Harry Sunderland awards came about from a mixing and matching appearance in that alternative role off the bench - the one that resulted from a unanimous vote. What a waste of talent?



I know. Stand-Off's have had a notoriously difficult time (1 from 28 attempts) at winning the Harry Sunderland award during the SL Grand Final Era.

Although McGuire was named on the wing just the once by Powell he didn't spend any real game-time there as he played that night from the full-back position as I'm sure you'll recall with absolute clarity. I'd perhaps need slightly more evidence than that one appearance to form an opinion of McGuire in that role although I'm sure you're right to imply he'd successfully adapt given a week or two more.

Then again he may not have enjoyed such a remarkable (especially for a Leeds player) 2004 season that netted him the most tries by any single Leeds player in any single season over the SL Era so far, the first Leeds player to score five tries in a game for forty-six years, the clinching try in Leeds' 1st Championship triumph for 32 years, being awarded the Rugby League Writers Association Player of the Year, a place at stand-off in the Super League Dream team, a winning full International debut V New Zealand - followed a week later with a then home record victory score over Australia - and a third straight starting success the following week having been switched from stand-off to scum-half. McGuire's first three International starts had helped produce the first British win hat-trick for ten years.

So a case of swings and roundabouts.

He came off the bench and he went into dummy half but as Buderus remained on the field I duobt anyine would say he played hooker. Unless Ryan Hall played hooker because he went in to dummy half a few times.
One stand off stands head and shoulders above all others then. Who might that be?

All that and it was Matt Diskin that the Leeds players chose as the player of the year that golden season 8 years ago.

Henry Paul?


Must have got a round of drinks in for all the lads then, eh?

The same relevance that this comment has...



HENCE why posting it.





Did I say just Challenge Cup sucess? they have won the SL 4 times... and thats just the Super League Era, they have won the RL championship a couple of times too.

Agreed but having Burrow coming off the bench on 26 minutes, as he did at Old Trafford that night, allowed him an edge in energy to dart around, mixing and matching, looking to exploit gaps that are less likely to open up in the early exchanges. Burrow IMO has always been most effective when challenging the line with elusive, scampering runs in and around tiring defences rather than with a devastating passing game that you might traditionally expect from a starting half-back.

You are also correct to highlight that Danny Buderus played the full eighty minutes and was absolute world class quality just as he had been throughout and in particular during the play-off series of 2011 when finally unleased for the full match durations. He was at acting half for 69.53% of the Leeds total of play the balls plus he defended in the middle third throughout and was again superb defensively. Bar Burrow's eye-catching moments of genius (which will often sway the MOTM voting) Buderus was my pick as Leeds' star player.

Compare that to what we've had to endure in that crucial position this season and you have to question the sanity of releasing Buderus without first securing an adequate replacement? Some thought Hood would be ready to step up as 1st choice but it appears the coaching staff felt it was too soon.



I don't believe Ryan Hall went into dummy half at all during the 2011 Grand Final so I think it's safe to agree that he didn't play hooker that night. You could have had Webb (9), Sinfield (9), McGuire (icon_cool.gif, Ablett (3), Jones-Bishop (1), Hardaker (1), Jones-Buchanan (1) Buderus or Burrow but not Hall unfortunately.

Try looking up 'relevance' somewhere. The past record of each club ( especially the further back you go ) clearly has zero relevance in how this year's cup final would ( and did ) play out. The fact that Wire in the club's entire history have won less trophies than Wigan, Leeds or Saints does not diminish the quality of the current Warrington team. You sound like one of those Wiganers identified by NickyKiss as 'in denial' about Wire's quality. Try to remember that praising another side in no way implies a lack of faith in your own team. Give a bit of credit.

Absolutely AGREE ...



....a key factor throughout Buderus' tenure .... How often did Leeds look their best as a team coincide with Buderus playing the FULL 80 ??