Nice to have you back Billy, we've really missed your optimistic slant on our players, results, performances, etc.

I hope you'll stick around when things start going well for us too but your previous suggests otherwise. Enjoy it while it lasts Bill.

RL is no longer a priority for me full stop. This has little to do with the Rhinos. I didn't watch any RL last season, and that includes the NRL and afterthought internationals (when the RFL eventually get around to organising dates and venues!) I grew tired of the game and tired of the unwelcoming nature of the RL community. The game demands national recognition but shuns anyone whom they view as outsiders. That's why RL will always be a small time sport run by those whose natural limitations restrict them to making big splashes in small puddles.

I'll stick around until I get bored, which should be up until the Cowboys game next week at least. This forum is tedious unless there are issues to discuss, like Leeds losing and/or playing like shiyte as has been pointed out by someone else on another thread.

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If it's a chore for you please don't suffer on our part. You would be missed but we'll pull through without you.
Don't worry about us, think of yourself for once.

Engage universal translator in Bullpoop to English Mode and you get:-

Just add him to your blocked list, you wont' be missing anything. He's like the Stevo of RLFans, only dumber and less relevant.

As an aside, I stumbled upon him on Facebook a while ago when he was trolling an RL page (yes he does it everywhere) and wasn't surprised to see he has one of those [idead cool[/i Anonymous / Guy Fawkes masks for a profile pic...

True story.

Block him and you miss one of the most intelligent posters on here. He has been sadly missed by those who don't tow the Loiner 81 "everything at Leeds is perfect" line.

Now is your time to put your money where you mouth is - a bet for £50 for the Leeds Foundation i.e. your prediction for 2016. So what is it to be?

Does anyone else think that Sutcliffe could player hooker? especially with falloon out and him lacking his full pace
He is about the same size as Cameron Smith and he used to be a half back
Hes also much better defensively than burrow (and probably Lilly)
Could also be a longer term solution to what to do about Lilley and Goulding as it would allow them to play in the halves

He's obviously intelligent, it's just a shame he's spent the last 15 years of his life trolling the internet.

Sal, i've been a Leeds fan for the last 4 decades, i've seen the best and worst of this club so after the last decade or so I think i'm allowed to be a bit optimistic and have some belief in the club and its management. It's just a shame others like yourself constantly look for the negative in everything.

But anyway, it's been done to death. What's the bet then this year? Let me guess, you're tipping Leeds for the middle 8s?

I agree, weve won 7 of the last 13 grand finals, meaning weve been champions more than 50% of the time, how could you not be optimistic?
Its like the second best period for any club in the history of english RL- only beaten by wigan in the late 80s earlry 90s
Given those facts, its embarrassing how many threads weve had on this board in recent years that are complaining about the slightest problem

I love William being back. I liked him as Agent Provocateur too. All his posts are a good old fashioned wind up and 90% of them have more than a grain of truth at the core.

If only he the balls to stick around when things go well for Leeds, no one for a minute believes he wasn't keeping up with and watching what went on last year despite his claim otherwise.

Spot on. No one has ever claimed things have ever been perfect as that's an impossible. But the way some carry on you'd think we were like Hudds choking ever year or Hull underperforming most years, I dread to think what some people on here would do if they were supporters of those clubs over the last several seasons.

Even when the other top clubs complain you can maybe see where there coming from more than us
Wigan only won the GF in 2013 because Ratchford and Monahan got injured, Saints only won in 2014 cos Flower got sent off, whilst Wire still haven't won one
Their complaints can come from a fear that unless something changes (ie their coach) they wont win a GF again
But we just won one 5 months ago with a load of injuries!
theres no reason to be pessimistic about this season, it will just take a couple of months to get up to speed imo

I think you're underestimating at 15. I remember Jeff from Usenet days and there's been no development since then, sadly.

Leeds is the biggest side in northern hemisphere RL in terms of catchment area, resources, finances, supporter base etc. Expectations should be higher than the likes of Huddersfield and Hull. When things aren't going well it is no wonder supporters take a different stand point to those of lesser sized clubs.

I agree with your second paragraph - it has been a unique era for the club - if everyone took your view it would be a very dull board with everyone slapping each other on the back. For the board to remain lively and viable you need the alternative view to encourage debate and guys like Jeff are needed he is simply prodding the fat belly of the contented.

What is really annoying are posters who always have an excuse as to why things aren't going well - usually after the event i.e. I knew this would happen but never mention it before!!

In terms of a bet I thought Leeds would be pretty close to winning the GF but the lack of depth in the halves and the fixtures coming up before McGuire returns i.e. the next 5 fixtures could see Leeds 0-7 I think it will be too much of gap to make up I just can't see them getting to the GF this year. My prediction - Leeds will not reach the GF.

It's almost as if the the RL loaded the early fixtures against us while Leeds would be inevitably going through an early season period of transition. It's no good of course to see one team to consistently dominate.
For what it's worth I too think Leeds will have too much ground to make up for winning the LLS, but the CC will be feasible depending on the draw. It's too early to say what will happen with regards to the GF campaign. Injuries from now until then will have a major impact on the outcome here. Already H'field, Cas and Saints have had season finishing? injuries for key players: Robinson (career), Shenton and Percival.

I think people have the right to have a few beers on a Friday night and let off both barrels after a $h1t performance from the team. That's understandable, it's frustration, it's Stella Artois, it's passion. We've all done it.
Predicting disaster ever f******g year on the off chance that you'll be right at least once, well that's a bit different. Still, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Made me think, I've been posting for nearly 15 years in one form or another, and I've never physically met anyone on this board. I view all of you simply based on what you post and what I can see on here (which isn't much). I don't know any personal details either. Jeff/AP is a particular example, no idea what the guy is like in real life. Also worth noting that we here are a very small fraction of the people who actually go to watch the team play.
Bizarre little world we inhabit.

Exactly

...... and others have said, what a boring bloody forum it would be if we all felt the coaches/managment/players could do no wrong. The forum would whither and die zzzzzzz

Having met Jeff numerous times I have always found him to be very personable, passionate about the international game, very knowledge about the nuances of the game and a solid supporter of the amateur game. If you can engage him he is significant plus to this site IMO

The assumption there David, is that he wants to engage beyond his comedic creations. That might be the case off the board, but I think it's fairly clear over a number of years that he's given up attempting to do so online.

Andy you may well be correct, which is a real shame as Jeff has much to offer on the debating front. As I said he needs to engaged not derided.

So you want me to bet you £50 that Leeds reach the GF? That's quite a change from last season's wager!
I'm not even sure we'll make the semis this year TBH but i'd be willing to take a chance on it. That's as good as you'll get from me i'm afraid.

So.. Top 4 is my very optimistic prediction for this year.