McD sees a bigger, long-term advantage for the team in players working through adversity on the field - rather than seeking short-term advantage through regular rotation. This might be a counter-intuitive policy for some fans but it's justified until such time as we stop winning the comp: the teams that follow the ideas you're espousing generally don't...

Wigan have been forced to rotate due injuries & players leaving. look how they are doing. Let's see how we match up on Sunday. And fyi I can't stand the pie eaters

Wake me up when they win something not pointless.

I tend to see it differently and think the McDermott approach is very short term not long term. Trying to milk the cash cow that is a once in a generation team of local lads. That's only my opinion.
FWI I think McDermott has it harder than any of the pervious 3 managers as he is supposed to be managing the transition of losing some of these great players not an easy job at all. But if we carry on like we are then POTENTIALLY we could be faced with a situation where our best younsters have either moved on or have little or no first team action trying to replace some of our greats like sinfield.

And that's a very arrogant attitude. Wigan as much as I dislike them are a very good team

Priority number one is [iesprit de corps[/i. That magic ingredient is what takes a team through a play-off series and I'm guessing that's why McD sticks with an elite group of players through thick and thin. Any young player not prepared to take the setbacks of trying to get into that team hasn't got the right stuff and might as well leave. The example of Stevie Ward shows what is possible.

I'd see it as a matter of fact: a very good team with silverware or a very good team without. That's the difference McDermott has brought.

Heard you could bring lee Gaskell in for next season but don't no how true it is

You've lost me there.
Unless you mean McD was instrumental in Leeds' success when he wasn't even on the staff.

100% false

They have won something 'not pointless' in each of the last three seasons, IMO.

2010 - League Leaders Shield, SL GF - Winners
2011 - CC - Winners
2012 - League Leaders Shield

The Wigan club and fans have probably been comfortable with their week to week form and coaches who operate a no excuses policy - which has continued in 2013 and done so while their team regenerates with seemingly minimal disruption despite the loss of key individuals.

Wigan's last three season League table finishes - 1, 2, 1 currently 1st in 2013

Leeds' last three season League table finishes - 4, 5, 5 currently 4th (prior to Sunday, 6 points behind with two games in hand)

I'm of the opinion that our young lads need to see that there is a way to progress into the first team. Not necessarily dropping our legends just for the sake, but certainly when we have injuries/suspensions, the young lads should be given a go. like we've seen at Saints, Wigan, Warrington, pretty much most of the other teams.

The perfect example was when hardaker was injured. I understood moving Watkins to FB for the WCC because it would have been tough putting a youngster in to make his debut in that environment. But following that game, Watson should have been given his chance. Then we have the Burrow and McShane debate. Burrow isn't a hooker and we can all see it, whereas McShane makes things happen when he's there, but his only reward is to be in the small group of players who are rotated.

The opinon that as long as we're winning, it doesn't matter is shortsighted to the extreme. In a time when there's little money in our game, and a real threat of losing players, we need to be promoting our young talent and getting them exposed to the step up. If we keep going as we are, we're going to lose most of our team within the space of a few years and be well and truly up the creek.

completely agree. McD just doesnt know how to rotate the squad. The guy is ruining our future prospects. With JP out this should be the prefect time to blood singleton. that way, if he plays well JP will have to play really great to justify his place in the team. As it is, you know JP could walk back in to the team, yet in the last few games he has looked jaded to say the least!

We have struggled in attack all year especially on the opposition line. I have said this now for nearly three years we are picking a team around sinfield at stand off and this is all because Burrow was not cutting it as scrum half and the burrow mcquire combo not quite right. So we move burrow to hooker to allow our stand off mcquire to move to scrum half. If our coach has no confidence in mcshane as starting hooker I would put sinfield at hooker next year and move mcquire to stand off and sign a quality scrum half like Dobson to move the team around the field and give our three quarters some quality ball. Most teams I have seen this year in superleague are far better and structured with the ball in hand than leeds are. We have been masking over this problem since buderus left and Lunt managed to fill the void at the end of last year. Sinfield has always looked good at hooker for gb and his distribution and speed around the ruck are excellent. Burrow to play as impact off the bench and after we have raidered hull kr for Dobson at the end of the season why not sign mickey pea also. We need to get a good rumbing prop that can take the weight off peacock and Kyle and putt fear in the opposition. Moore needs to be released he is not good enough for Leeds IMO. When bailey went off on Monday we fell apart !!

Over reactions galore..

ok, ill bite.

So its all fine at leeds? being dross in the last 2 regualr seasons is ok, as long as we win the GF? happy with the squad? no issues with the age of our props? no? good. wont hear you moaning in 2-3 years when leeds are utter e for not having blooded the youngsters sooner.

1. I wasn't happy with our regular season performances last year, and clearly the team wasn't judging by how we have played so far this year (bar the last 2 games), so far this year we have beaten; Wigan, St's, Warrington, Catalan, all teams who will be challenging for the league this year.

2. Yes I am happy with the squad.

3. By age of our props i'm assuming you mean JP and Kylie who have both been playing exceptionally so far this year. In relation to younger props we have Singleton, who contrary to the belief of some, will get his chance this year, due to Moore playing for Hunslet yesterday Singleton will likely play on sunday against probably our biggest rivals this year. In addition to Singo we have Jordan Baldy (who is currently captaining England U18's in France), Brian Mc has said in recent interviews that Baldwinson could very well get game time in the coming weeks.

4. RE Blooding youngsters - I have already mentioned Singleton and Baldwinson, last week we saw Liam Sutcliffe's Debut (I see him as our future Stand Off), In addition last year we saw Stevie Ward earn himself a starting spot, another played with bags of potential who could play 13,12,6 or even 7. Also Jimmy Keinhorst made 6 appearances last year including a bench spot for the CC final, I personally don't know where he will fit into the team due to our very young backline which includes 3 academy graduates. Furthermore Liam Hood played well in the limited game time that he had and according to other posters he is doing well at Hunslet.

Overall we have a very young and talented back line, with plenty of good outside backs also coming through the U19's at the moment, we also have good prospects for both 6 and 13, in the future we will have a strong younger forward pack with, Singleton, Baldwinson, Achurch, Ablett(Only 2icon_cool.gif, Clarkson and more such as Elliot Minchella, plus we have plently of options at hooker with McShane, Hood and from what i've seen of the U19's this year Vila Halafihi could be a good prospect at. The only position I could see us having an issue at is Scrum Half however if we keep the U19 partnership of Sutcliffe and White together then we will flourish for years to come.

Hope I have explained my views clearly.

Wish the big dumb prop that is our coach had your vision .

Some good points Matty but from my own pov as good as JP and kylie have been and now that we've retained kirke on a 2 yr deal do expect the good young talenty to just wait till the other 3 keel over?
Lets not forget Bailey and Moore who are still here aswell.
I honestly think Moore and Kirke should be gone and at the very least Singleton in the starting 17 every other week with the likes of Baldwinson ,Minchella ,Sutcliffe and Foster/Tonks given the odd game here and there to at least get some experience and scope into theri careers.
I agree Mc has done well with the back line getting them into regular spots and Stevie Ward but to me he seems to rely on the oldies the pack far too often for far too long irrespective of form.
The same could be said of the HB's and 9 i just hope it doesn't bite when we either get 3/4 injuries or again we have 3/4 departures/retirements at once.
I won't go as far as saying "we're all doomed" nor asking for 8/9 changes at once but i do think we should be upping the rotation and getting more games for the younger lads.

So let's be clear rhinoms. Are you saying we should have rotated our 2 best and in form props (JP & Kylie) ? And are you now saying we should rest both Sinfield and McGuire?

During a full season opportunities will arise for the young reserves as injuries occur. JP's injury will now give him an unforced rest so earlier rotation would have been a waste. Singleton will get his chances but the coaches have a big responsibility when selecting a young player to be sure they are ready mentally and physically particularly a young prop. Losing Ablett and Ward means others will also get a chance in the coming weeks.

Rotation can be used for 2 different reason. One reason is simply to rest a key players while the other is to allow a reserve some game time. If a player is fit and in form I do not favour rotating them unless the replacement is of the same standard. However I would consider giving game time to a youngster, who is ready, in place of a less effective player.

Out of form key players will best regain their form by playing.

Mac will never rest the likes of Sinfield,Burrow etc.. it just is never going to happen.He has had many chances to rest his senior pro's during his time in charge and i can hardly think of any instance in which he has taken advantage.

I even expect the players that play for England vs Exiles on the Saturday will back up on the Monday night for us against Widnes in June.

So if you are unfortunate enough to share the same position as a "key" player you have to wait until they are injured before you get a chance .Brilliant!!!! That lets the key players know that no matter how bad they play they still get a game and the younger players know no matter how well they train they have next to no chance of playing. Great for morale that

How well are those young players training?

Rightly or wrongly that is Mcdermott's way.We have played far worse than this, and for longer periods over the last two years and the coach has stood by his players.Its hard to argue against it really when the net result is 2 super league wins.

I personally do get the impression that the likes of Singleton and Sutcliffe are thought of very highly by the coaching team simply by the fact that they are continualy picked in the matchday squad even if they havnt had much game time yet.They will get their chance IMO, but it is not going to be on the back of squad rotation.