All focus must now shift to the Challenge Cup. Like all inferior teams, a couple of good home draws and some luck will see us to the semi final,and before you know it, we're back at Wembley to make it 3 on the bounce. Just like 2014, a poor season will soon be forgotten if we lift the most famous piece of silverware in rugby League.

2014 was not a poor season, we were in the top 2 for 90% of the season and just threw it away in the last few league games

I think there were periods during the late 70's and early 80's when a similar level of crap was served up. I'm thinking of the Robin Dewhurst era with a squad containing players who were well past their best like Atkinson, Alan Smith, Eccles, Dickinson, etc... and some of the other players were pretty ordinary... Mackintosh's, Binder, Massa, Andrew Smith, Conway.

Some fans raved over the likes of Ian Wilkinson and Dave Heselwood. I wasn't one of them. Apart from Holmes and Heron they were pretty rubbish most of the time. Still managed a Yorkshire Cup win and a John Player Final at Elland Rd. I won't mention that CC Semi Final at Swinton and the crossbar!

Not sure even that lot played as badly and served up quite as much clueless crap for as long as the current lot though

All this doom and gloom! We have had a poor (read terrible) start to the season I doubt even the most rose tinted amongst us would dispute that. I honestly didn't expect much this year as I saw it as a year of transition. But even measured against my low expectations, it has been a dreadful start. But the season is still not a write off, not yet anyway. If we can avoid the mid 8's and put together a decent run in the CC then it could even be a mediocre year. I won't revisit all of the factors that MIGHT be contributing to our slump in form. But for mine if we can get more of our first choice players fit and back on the park, I don't see any reason why we can't be competitive enough to avoid the middle 8's and put together a decent CC run. As Rhinos fans we will all I am sure, be taking stick from RL supporting friends, acquaintances and colleagues. Shrug it off as the price we pay for all of the success we have enjoyed over the last decade and more. Keep the faith

Those calling the season a right off may be right in one respect but don't assume the middle 8s will be easy.

You don't sit on the fence, do you?

Leeds are either so fantastic they'll go whole seasons unbeaten, or they'll struggle in the Middle 8's.

What planet do you live on, we finished 6th. I suppose you would consider this a pretty good season so far considering we're not bottom. As for "throwing it away", would Usain Bolt consider it a good race if he was in front for 90 yards before 5 people overtook him in the last ten yards? The League season consists of 27 league games, that is what you are judged on and that is what defines you as a team. You finish 6th in such a mediocre competition and it's a poor season, simple as that.

Right now I'd settle for 7 days unbeaten.

"The Big Fellas Stadium". Be afraid!!

Of course, I suppose that could still be named after a group of fat radio DJ's!

Headingley B. They wear your old kits too.

McCain Stadium B. The only thing missing is the turf. Plus Savile's huge headstone!

Those who quote the current crop as a nadir in terms of international achievement might want to remember that Ian Wilkinson was touted as a potential GB tourist in 1984

never mind Wilkinson, Ray Ashton was a tourist.

At the start of the season I said I would take a trophy and top 4, I guess now I would still be pretty happy with a CC and top 8

Reference to a player who never played international RL (just touted as opposed to being selected) as evidence of the lowest point in our game is an interesting example of agenda-driven historical revisionism on your part.

My personal view is that in more recent times (1988 to 1994) is the only period when we were genuinely competitive at international level.

As for the nadir? It's a toss-up between (1978 to 198icon_cool.gif... AND... (2006 to 2016).

In terms of results against Australia, (1978 to 198icon_cool.gif represented a period of 3,534 days between victories against them. An 18-14 win at Odsal on 05/11/1978 - then 15 successive defeats - followed by the famous 26-12 win in Sydney on 09/07/1988.

(2006 to 2016) currently represents a period of 3,446 days since our last victory, a 23-12 scoreline against Australia in Sydney on 04/11/2006. The next time we play Australia will be late-October or early-November by which time the number of days since a victory against them will have surpassed the 3,534 days without a win circa (1978 to 198icon_cool.gif.

In terms of losing streaks V Australia...

[u(1978 to 198icon_cool.gif[/u
15 successive defeats
Points scored 118
Points conceded 419
Average Scoreline: 8-28
Average margin of defeat: 20 points

[u(2006 to 2016)[/u
9 successive defeats
Points scored 120
Points conceded 301
Average Scoreline: 13-33
Average margin of defeat: 20 points

[uInteresting selections (1978 to 198icon_cool.gif[/u
John Dalgreen, Dave Heron, David Barends, Peter Smith, Neil Courtney, Les Gorley, Keith Mumby, Des Foy, Mick Worrall, David Hobbs, Chris Burton, Keith Rayne, Neil Holding, Tony Marchant, Barrie Ledger, Kevin Rayne, Paul Medley, Kevin Dick, Chris Camilleri, Roy Holdstock, Eddie Szymala, Ronnie Duane, Alan Rathbone, Dick Jaziewicz, Stuart Donlan, Mick Flanagan, Andy Dannatt, Neil James, David Creasser.

[uInteresting selections (2006 to 2016)[/u
Gareth Raynor, Richard Horne, Lee Gilmour, Rob Burrow, Jon Wilkin, Lee Smith, Mark Calderwood, Ade Gardner, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Kevin Sinfield, Paul Sykes, Mickey Higham, Jamie Langley, Kirk Yeaman, Tony Clubb, Darrell Griffin, Kevin Brown, Ryan Atkins, Ryan Bailey, Carl Ablett, Chris Heighington, Matty Smith, Danny McGuire, Liam Farrell, Joe Westerman, Leroy Cudjoe, Andy Coley, Ben Jones-Bishop, Martin Aspinwall.

I remain in the undecided camp. Two forgetful era's of undistinguished and embarrassing international performances and results.

Surely the main factor is the amount of times the teams have faced each other. 15 against 9 is quite a difference. What classifies as an interesting selection?

Completely agree. I work in Bradford. They are loving it!



Went to Salford on Sat, stayed til the end and when the players came up to the stand you could tell they were hurting but you almost got this feeling that we're all in it together. Top of the table, middle or bottom.

Definition of support;

To keep from weakening or failing; give confidence or comfort to.

To have an enthusiastic interest in (a sports team).

To endure; tolerate:

The act of supporting:

There's some cause for cringe in that list from the last decade. But there are some who rightly got selected on form, some who never should have been picked. It really highlights to me how far we've come in everywhere but the halves. Remember Smith, Calderwood and Gardner and compare to Watkins,Hall, Manfredi, Burgess et al.

Also could be my mistake, I can't recall BJB playing for England.

I would argue the main factor is the trend of losses throughout along with the average 20 point margin of those defeats during both era's surely? We also faced Australia away from home on more occasions than we did at home during that (1978-198icon_cool.gif period.

Count the converted try differences between the scores, not the points difference. At least half your first period was the era of three point tries.

If the points difference is the same in the four point era then it's better now than it was.

BJB was among the 24 players selected for the England squad in the 2011 Four Nations.

Watkins, Hall, Manfredi and Burgess are a step up from Gardner, Calderwood and Smith but they lag considerably behind the likes of Robinson, Offiah, Newlove, Connolly, Davies, etc, who were around during the pre-SL competitive era (1988-1994).

Halves remain a problem throughout but definitely worse than they've ever been right now IMO. Worse than (1978 to 198icon_cool.gif era. T. Myler, Holmes, Millward, Topliss, Woods, etc, were better than we've got now.

Schofield, Edwards, Gregory, Fox, Hulme (1988 to 1994) was about as good as it got for us in the halves.

Calderwood was a necessity rather than a 'first chioce'. IIRC he was in the Scotland team and dropped them like a sh[size=100i[/sizetty stick as soon as he got the England call up.

As far as I am concerned the season is a write off. I always thought the season would be a rebuilding exercise , so never envisaged winning anything.
My main concern is that we may not have the foundation in the squad to build on for next season.
Any hasty and wrong decisions embarked upon this season may set us back years. So the club and Brian Mac has to be very wary indeed.
The transition can be achieved. Tony Smith looks like he has assembled a trophy winning squad over at warrington.
A large section of the wire support had been calling for his head over the last few seasons.
Obviously the same section of supporter have shut up now that he looks to have a decent team.

Not quite a write off but I feel that now we have no chance of getting in the top 4 then we would benefit from been in the middle 8's as it would be a less strenuous end to the season in terms of intensity and that may give us a chance of defending the C Cup and ending the season as soon as possible so we can start afresh and get a good pre-season in.

Less than half actually.

7 out of 15 tests (1978 to 198icon_cool.gif were played under 3 point try rules.

The margin difference becomes 22 points.

Prior to the last fixture in 2014 when we only lost 12-16, the average score was 13-36 and an average points difference of 23. Prior to the RLWC2013 fixture when we lost 20-28, the average score was 13-37 and an average points difference of 24. Perhaps the recent increase in the number of our players competing in the NRL is responsible for that more competitive trend of late?

[u(1978 to 198icon_cool.gif[/u
15 successive defeats
Points scored 123
Points conceded 453
Average Scoreline: 8-30
Average margin of defeat: 22 points
Tries scored: 17 (Avg: 1.13 per game)
Tries conceded: 71 (Avg: 4.73 per game)

[u(2006 to 2016)[/u
9 successive defeats
Points scored 120
Points conceded 301
Average Scoreline: 13-33
Average margin of defeat: 20 points
Tries scored: 22 (Avg: 2.44 per game)
Tries conceded: 53 (Avg: 5.89 per game)

[u(GOLDEN ERA 1988 to 1995)[/u
5 wins, 8 defeats
Points scored 158
Points conceded 207
Average Scoreline: 12-16
Average margin of defeat: 4 points
Tries scored: 24 (Avg: 1.85 per game)
Tries conceded: 34 (Avg: 2.62 per game)

[uV Australia (SL-era 1997-2015)[/u
Played 27, 20 at home, 7 away
4 wins, 23 defeats
Points scored 361
Points conceded 785
Average Scoreline: 13-29
Average margin of defeat: 16 points

[uV Australia (Pre-SL-era 1979-1995)[/u
Played 27, 15 at home, 12 away
5 wins, 22 defeats
Points scored 273
Points conceded 633
Average Scoreline: 10-23
Average margin of defeat: 13 points