I think most of the views after the CCF were quite reasonable. On the way back from London i was expecting meltdown on this board but barring the odd one here and there most people have just described it as it was, we were outplayed by Warrington (granted not as much as some have made it out to be) and some of the flaws in our performance were ones that have been a common theme in Leeds games (forwards getting beaten, dealing with dummy runners in defence, not getting Watkins the ball enough etc.) that we do need to fix before catching up to Warrington and Wigan in the league.

I think we're about 3rd/4th best ATM with Saints even though the table has us at 5th. We have had to play 3 extra massive games than both the 2 teams just above us (WCC, CC semi & final) as well as not getting a weekend off after the first Exiles game. We also have played some of our toughest fixtures at awkward times,
- Wigan away a week before the WCC.
- Catalans away a week before the CC Final.
- Saints away the 1st game after they replaced their coach.
- Bradford away with all the stuff about it possibly being their last game.

Who knows with the present Rhinos team,could well be some twists and turns before the seasons over. To win another grand final is a massive task,never the less there will be several teams who will not relish the thought of playing us in a sudden death match. Even if we dont get to old trafford I can see us turning over a top side.

The 17 points in 12 minutes referred to was in large part caused by the fact we were struggling to keep up until that point - and exactly the sort of thing we have seen do to 'lesser' teams through the years when we finally crack them and the floodgates open. The truth is Wire were miles ahead of us for almost the whole game. I'm sure we can do better in the Play offs, but dressing up the CC as anything other than a poor performance is taking rose tinted perspectives to extremes IMO.

Have you ever watched RL before the CC final? I seem to remember a Graham Murray interview once where he said (and I don't recall the exact words) that you win big matches in the first 60 minutes and score your points in the last 20.

The most you could say about the match before that 12 minute period was that we had somehow clung on on the scoreboard, so we had a puncher's chance if we could somehow lift oursleves. That was the period at which our ruck defence, over-stretched all afternoon, finally reached breaking point. Penalties, field position and points followed. We were second best throughout, possibly apart form a short spell during the rain.

You want perspective on this season: We haven't been great, but we have a bit of silverware, we've reached Wembley again, the league, while a big ask, isn't over yet, and we have some very encouraging signs of future life in our back division. Lots of clubs would swap places with us right now. Wire aren't one of them and we need to correct far more than that 12 minutes to compete with them.

Spot on.

My perspective on the season.

Massively dissapointed that the coach failed to improve the team's weekly consitency.

Massively dissapointed that the coach failed to improve our showing against the better opposition.

Pleased we reached the cup final.

Came away from the majority of games feeling they were lacking in intensity and quality. Felt very bored Friday and it's not the first time this year.

The lad is off to uni and I'm not certain at this stage I will be renewing my season ticket. May just pick and choose my games next year.

Yes

Shut up.

The OP has clearly based his opinion on Mr Hetherington who said the exact same thing in the programme notes at the Salford game.

But he's the CEO and he's obviously going to put a positive spin on things (he even said our CC reecord was "magnificent" - talk about OTT).

To every other person who watched the game though, Leeds were dominated throughout, the second best team by a distance and were well beaten.

Think that was the general feeling.

There so much general chit chat in the stands, the game seemed to be in the background. I think alot of people were there out of habit rather than a desire to see the game. I was.

It would have been impossible for anyone to enjoy that game on Friday.

Indeed, there was more excitement when a group of 4 adults and 8 kids on freebies rolled in nearly 20mins into the game and decided that standing directly infront of us in the Carnegie terrace disabled pen was the way to go.

So your view was blocked? Lucky-.

Considering only two teams have done better in the CC over the last three years, it's a fair comment.

clearly some of the 'Leeds are awful' ingrates need to check the record books for the last few seasons. Taking seasons 2010, 2011 and 2012 (so far)

Trophies:

Wigan: 4 (LLS 2010, 2012, SL 2010, CC 2011)
Warrington: 3 (LLS 2011, CC 2010, 2012)
Leeds: 2 (SL 2011, WCC 2012)
St Helens: 0

Losing Finals

Leeds: 3 (CC 2010, 2011, 2012)
St Helens: 2 (GF 2010, 2011)
Wigan: 1 (WCC 2011)
Warrington: 0

Total of Finals & Trophies:

Wigan: 5
Leeds: 5
Warrington: 3
St Helens: 2

I would hope Mr Hetherington based his assessment of our CC record on success rather than just making up the numbers.

Going by success our record is behind Wigan, Warrington, Saints and Bradford.

Inaccurate figures. What a surprise.

Shut up numpty.

Over the last three years.

Surely you have to regard getting to the final as a greater level of success than going out in your first round?
Winning still means more - hence my pointing out that both Warrington and Wigan can be regarded to have been more successful in the CC despite have made only two and one finals respectively, rather than three.

So you must rate Saints as having a better record than us in grand finals over the last five seasons?

I wouldn't have thought so. He'd give them five "points" for attending five finals. We'd have eight "points" for attending four and winning four.

Let me get this right... you're saying that getting to a final means greater success than winning a final?

Many might disagree with your philosophy.

No, I'm saying that for all those moaning about how bad we've been in the last three seasons, we've been more consistently successful than some of the sides people on here wax lyrical about, and complain about us being 'miles behind'.

But clearly that didn't get through the lead-lined skull containing your double-digit IQ.

There's no such scoring system in the post I quoted.

Although we had a decent dig last year the other 2 CC finals we have been second best by far and the score reflected as such.
It's time to freshen things up imo mainly the pack and IF remain as inconsistent next year during the regular SL season then questions need to be asked re-the coaching it may seem harsh but the discipline and consistency have been poor we've been found wanting defensively far too many times and the old guard need moving on OR rotated and used less more often.
Its great to make the CC final but pi'd personally prefer not to get there rather than get there and get hammered no matter what spin some fans or GH put on it we were outclassed.
I also hope GH doesn't go back on his promise of a cull within the 1st team squad but i do disagree with him that the Coaches aren't accountable for some sh## performances this year.

That's why I put "points" in "quotes"

Is that what he/she is saying?

Really, is it? I have absolutely no idea.

It seems to include figures for 2010 and 2011, which is an odd way to evaluate this season. Once the actual numbers started appearing I glazed over.

Fair enough. The OP's argument would have been strengthened had they awarded "points" in the manner you suggested. Unless, that is, they were actually claiming that a final appearance was as important as a victory. Which may be the case, as the final table they posted gives both final victories and defeats identical weighting.