If you didn't know the SL table you would think we were the relegated team it was that sh##!
They wanted it more simple as that if we win the semi next week then it will quickly be forgotten but lose and questions need asking throughout from top to bottom.
As a side McGuire will never be a Captain and he was woeful tonight by far the worse player on the pitch.
Achurch would have been better staying on the bench rather than coming back on he was just sh##.
Kirke again offered nothing for a senior player & the youngsters struggled.
I thought Hardaker was decent but as long as Roby and Child were involved it was a clear free for all with the high shots and grapples on him.
Our worse performance at Headingley in years imo this was against a team already relegated but they showed up we didn't.

Leeds were rubbish. I don't think that has anything to do with tactics or coaches. The players didn't play well enough. There were far too many dropped passes, often coming from poor passes. Those poor passes often coming from senior players and it's those senior players that let the side down tonight, maybe Delaney & Hardaker apart.

I'm constantly frustrated by McGuire & Burrow. If they were inexperienced halves I could understand their lack of structure and composure. It's as if they can't function without Sinfield to do the leadership part.
They should have led the team tonight and didn't.

I thought Singleton was superb early on but didn't notice him after that. Did he come back on?
Thought Aiton looked good running from dummy half.

Kirke was very poor. I've often defended him as he's been playing a certain role in the side. But he was a senior member of that pack tonight and he provided nothing other than errors.

Having said all that, I think the refereeing was appalling. Allowed constant offsides and holding down. Numerous dodgy decisions. And got "done" by Bradford's tactics to slow the game at every opportunity, both at the tackle and by constantly kicking the ball away. He spoke to Bradford about it when they kicked the ball away at a drop out early in the first half, then did nothing about the next 6 times they did it.
Weak and poor refereeing that turned what would have been a below average game into a rubbish one.

Disgraceful performance. We were that bad I'm pretty confident that London would have beaten us tonight.

I was worried when the 19 was announced but more so when the 17 was announced and saw who our coach had selected in the centres.

There will be plenty not that bothered about the loss of 2 points and come out with the usual stuff about we can win the GF from anywhere and next week is more important but I completely disagree with the thinking from our coach tonight.

We have been poor and either losing or just just scraping wins for a while now.

With only a maximum of 7 games left before the playoffs then tonight should have been the start of trying to build some momentum for next week and the run in to the playoffs.

Bradford were always going to be competitive tonight after the Wigan win, the last Bulls v Leeds derby for a while and the weather conditions so we should have played a stronger team and used it to build for next week with an intense battle to get us ready for the semi

Fair do's rest someone with an injury worry but we rested too many tonight. Lots of players have had 'rests' this season already with injuries or being rotated/rested so there was simply no need.

Despite what the coach came out with midweek we all know that even the ones out tonight with so called niggles (moon, peacock & Ablett) would have played tonight had that been a GF eliminator) and even if they were definitely injured, resting Hall and Watkins was a step too far.

I don't understand this mentality of resting players for a CC semi anyway as we don't rest players for a GF eliminator with the hope of certain key players being fresh should we get through to the GF the following week.

We've proved before with the playoff runs to GF victory from 5th that this group seem to prefer and do better with the intense battles week on week to make them battle hardened and ready for the 'war' ahead.

This philosophy should have been shown again tonight IMO

Tonight and the next league game against London should have given us the springboard to have the Hub Cap in our own destiny but we blew it.

IF and its a big IF, we do beat Warrington, what's the betting London get their first win of the season against us the week before Wembley.

Truly shocking tonight and we got what we deserved....nothing

It's performances like this and others in the league in recent seasons that make me think the new structure is a good idea as from next season when you carry your points tally over into the final 8's , teams are simply not going to be able to risk dropping off in intensity and losing points with the attitude of ' it doesn't really matter, nothing is won until October' etc

Very, very few half-backs keep playing to top level into their mid-30s. Lockyer and, to an extent, Langer are the only exceptions I can think of in the modern game. Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Stacey Jones, Sean Long, and before that Schofield, Gregory, Edwards, Lewis, Sterling (ok, Cliff Lyons is another exception) were all finished or as good as finished by the time they were 32. No shame in Danny stepping down.

There was a game against Barrow in the mid-80s that probably pipped it. Cost less to get in to that one, mind.

Of course I saw it live. Wish I hadn't though.

I've been a huge fan of McGuire for years and he'll always be a Leeds legend, more so than the likes of Schofield even, but it's time to step down before he ends up being remembered for the wrong reasons. Tonight wasn't even his worst game this year.

Kirke seemed to want the ball more this week. Shame he dropped it at least twice. Then again who didn't.
Plenty of work in the forwards but no shape or cutting edge.

Robbie Ward definitely got on as he had at least one dart and was part of the ineffectual three man Leeds tackle that failed to prevent the offload to Gaskell for the winning Bradford score. Not sure Minichella made an appearance but it's not always easy to spot the difference when he does.

The highlight was probably Jones-Buchanan aiming a 'slap' at Hardaker (I think it was) after giving away yet another all too typical Jones-Buchanan needless, pointless penalty. Needs to work on his petulant back elbow technique and how to identify the opposition - over to Brian.

Totally agree.

As I've had several double vodkas and cokes pre match I can't really recall much of the action but I'm sure Tvoc has crawled out from under his shell to call for McDermott's head again.

Whilst as I admit I can't recall the game pre-semi final too great, I do recall Tony Smith leading us into a semi against a very average Hudds team and losing quite easily.

( I await the angry retorts claiming that was different.....although I pointed it out it might stop them

)

Sure the usual suspects are claiming defeat tonight as proof of what they've claimed for ages....... The demise of Leeds.

Given Sinfield is even older you will be suggesting he is also to be moved on?

How convenient!!

And he found last nights performance, like the last 8 weeks, acceptable obviously

My take on the game. it was always going to be a struggle given the side McDermott selected. we struggle to score even with regular centres but without any where were the points going to come from? Centre is also a skilled defensive position to play Walters and Sutcliffe together was folly on McDermott's part.

Tom Briscoe has struggled for form for since April tonight was typical of the garbage he has put out on the field. Two of Bradford's tries were down to basic errors of his - shame BJB was injured I would not play Briscoe next week he was truly abysmal

The halves were poor but we have struggled here all year and that includes when Sinfield has played. Finding new half backs should be a priority our options are no longer appropriate if we want to remain a top 4 side beyond this year.

Aiton for me was a poor signing and nothing he has shown on the field has convinced me otherwise. McDermott's desire to move McShane out clouded his judgement. The same can be said of McDermott's non selection of Bailey and Clarkson

Much has been said of how good Achurch has been - maybe it is due to injuries but his form has been poor and last night was his worst game of the season.

On a positive Hardaker played well in a dreadful team performance

Why is it that coaches will never admit they have got it wrong - just for once McDermott stand up and be counted

I thought Briscoe was one of the better players until his slip for the kick on try. The first one he can hardly be blamed for, he had the ball and the bulls player knocked it out in a knock on.

McGuire and Burrow without a doubt for me have excelled in this team with the benefit of Sinfield. Never have they shown anything without Sinfield in the side, throughout their time at Leeds. They are strike players, although one has no strike left, whilst Sinfield controls the shots. There is a reason those two have never being given the controlling role.

To turn that performance round will take some effort. Luckily they have Sinfield back, but even he has a shelf life.

Not necessarily. He'll be one of the exceptions mainly because he brings so much more to the team than just his play. His actual play hasn't been that great this year though.

We must have been at different games Briscoe showed nothing last night - his perceived ability to make ground in collision was just that a perception. Far too much running sideways IMO.

The whole structure of Leeds play since 2003 has been around Sinfield controlling the plays both Burrow and McGuire have been support elements in that structure. it is no surprise that neither are capable of filling the role Sinfield does as they seldom get the opportunity to do it. Could Sinfield provide the support play to the break that McGuire has over the years not a chance - he isn't quick enough nor is his reading of the break alert enough. Could Sinfield break the line as Burrow does again not a chance his lack of pace would put paid to that. In this team different skills have been developed over the years why do many on here think these skills are easily interchangable?

The idea that both these players have ridden on the back of Sinfield's coat tail is - in my opinion - a disgraceful suggestion that I would have expected from you. Both these players have contributed hugely to the success of this team over the years. Without either of these two player perhaps Sinfield wouldn't have won as many medals and as a result nor would he be held in such high esteem by the likes of you.

Are you seriously suggesting he brings more to a team than Andrew Johns - seriously?

In certain areas (leadership, kicking), and compared to what's around him, he kind of does. That's not the same as saying he's a better player than Andrew Johns, and if we had a 32 year-old Johns then I'd want him to go round a few extra years too

I think your desire to defend McGuire there has got the benefit of you Sal. Maybe I didn't word it correctly. I agree with you on the support role, and the line breaking. The point was that neither of these players can control a game, can take a hold of it, which you agree with. So the point that a coach names a team with this in mind for them to do that shows how out of touch he was.

Without that controlling influence, neither of these players could have shown their own qualities, that was the point.

JJB, hardaker and BJB who was injured early, who did play well? bradford ran at walters all night and while i rate the boy, he is just that. a boy. they threw him around like a doll. i would have thought any coach would have seen the same as us and switched him with delaney or JJB even

Actually agree with you both - but can't really blame McD for this issue. Sinfield is banned and we simply do not have another organiser within the club. For all their promise, Stevie Ward or Sutcliffe are not the long term answer to Leeds 'game management' issues. Burrow and McGuire have been terrific for this team with their individual skills, and have been the perfect pairing to partner Sinfield over the years as the 'spine' of this team.

However, we're now desperately in need of 2 new halfs, and I just don't see them coming from within.

We may still do the double this year - I'd not put anything past this group, but time is ticking, and I just feel we need some new blood and thinking to get the best out of the likes of Sutliffe, Ward, Watkins, Hardacre, Moon etc in the coming years.

So I'm guessing none of your are going to congratulate the bulls on outplaying you ??

Re-The H/B issue I know its still only U19's but Jordan Lilley is turning into a very good organising 7 he has the kicking game ,Good passing range and is Leading the team around the pitch.
Far too many players didn't "turn up" last night but at the same time I think the Coach also got it wrong with too many changes and a very lightweight bench.
Hopefully we can turn it around next week the team are certainly capable but fail and we have very few games to recover before the play offs start.

It's been mentioned you were the better team what else do you want more bottles to throw at the players?