I miss watching you play for our reserves Ian.

and comparing sizes in the loo

Yes Leeds did literally demolished Wigan with their gang tackles and were worthy winners.

You have been proven to be wrong two years running in your "assessment" of Brian Mac our Champion coach. Your attempts now to try and wriggle out of your poor judgement and to avoid admitting that you got it wrong is sad for all to see. Best stick to bean counting....eh!

I've seen you use that term after the QSF - did you also use it after the CC - SF.

And which term would you use for the final defeat again?



My assessment is and remains that Leeds are blessed with a Champion group of players. I also saw what McDermott was like without such a talented group to work with.

I hope you're not propositioning me.

But I hope you are.

Nobody disputes that we have a Champion group of players several of whom have been brought into the team and developed by Brain Mac. He also played a part in the more established players early success when playing a key role as assistant coach. It is kind of you to share both your intimate knowledge of his time in London and your renowned coaching assessment...... but on second thoughts I prefer to stick to those that know about these things eg: our captain Kevin .

PS Why do you find it more important to dwell on Cup final defeats than another famous Championship victory?

I'm not dwelling, I'm questioning their validity for inclusion by those who choose to do so as evidence towards a record of achievement. Well done to whoever made the draw but I don't recall competing coaches doing the honour.

While you appear to believe beating Celtic, London, Hull and Castleford (but losing in the final to the first team of any note faced that year in that comp) is of some merit I think Leeds have had a virtually free ride to Wembley and done nothing any self-respecting club wouldn't also have done let alone one crammed full with Champion players.

__________

And you've still to offer a suitable adjective for Leeds' performances in the Challenge Cup final this year after terming their semi-final win a demolishing of Wigan.

Maybe reaching the Challenge Cup final can be a bit of a lottery, but that being the case it's a frankly unbelievable run of good fortune that leads to you winning that lottery 3 times in a row.

It's a pretty raw deal being a coach isn't it? If you finish lower in the league table than expected, that's down to poor coaching. So surely if you reach EVERY final and pick up silverware in 3 out of 5 (I'm including the WCC as a final, which you can disagree with, but it's a single match with a trophy at the end of it) that must be down to poor coaching. Seems fair. But no, failure is down to the coach, success is down to "champion players."

Im a big fan of our champion players, but Brian Mac would (if he could be d reading this stuff) be wondering what more he has to do. I'm glad you lot don't do my annual appraisal...

I've doubted the guy a few times, but I believe that competitive, professional sport is a results business. His results are, in terms of trophies, better than any other coach over the last 2 years.

So he didn't win stuff with London. Jesus wouldn't have won anything with London.

Nope

It was purely after the Huddersfield game I had doubts

Watching his post match interview on Sky he seemed very emotional out there, almost verging on sad. I wonder if the rumours on him moving on regardless of season result are true. If so, then its sad, but as Leeds coaches go, his record is probably the best with 3 trophies in 2 seasons.

Should have been manager of the year
Congratulations
Those who knocked you must have egg of their faces
Rhinos conquer all! With Hetherington having no boundaries to the use of his cheque book things can only get better for you guys

I don't believe this (first sentence that is; his record in trophies is unparalleled, at least for us). The main reason for my disbelief is that I don't think the team would've cast aside such an obvious motivational opportunity. Had McDermott been on his way out I think it would've been very public knowledge.

Unparalleled? Is that within SL over the last two seasons - it's the at least for us bit that's confusing.

McDermott has achieved less in terms of trophies won than his immediate predecessor did during his first two years in the Headingley hot seat. They also played more consistently when assessed over the season, IMO.

____________

I don't recall McClennan ever using the phrase "not just the play-offs =#0000BFbut once again we've had some games where you can't work out what we're trying to achieve."

If the head-coach can't understand what's going on out on the paddock at times (and the once again sounds to me like a reference to last season as well) is it any wonder when some of the fans can't either ?

I also admire McDermott's honesty at times: "to lose at Wembley and didn't really have a crack at Wembley" pretty much sums up my feelings at that time also.

So while some like to get off on giving 100% unwavering support no matter what is being served up, others (McDermott, Sinfield and Hetherington included) appear prepared to ask the legitimate questions and make comments on where we appear to be now and where we appear to be heading next - even after Saturday night.

I'd take McDermott over the b[ii[/itching and whining tart currently in control over in Pieland.
From League Weekly
"I know I'm a bit biased but I think we deserved to be in the Grand Final"
"It was like a rugby union game. Kevin Sinfield kicked us to death with a field goal and penalties. It's a game we could easily have won on another day and if a few decisions had been different, like if we had got that penalty at the end."

This is true. McDermott wasn't afforded the chance to win a trophy in his first game in charge

Would have liked to see Leeds V St George in a final - damn those rugby gods. Leeds have a good recent record in those V the Saints.

That was a little uncalled for, Sir!

I wouldn't want you to feel left out this week. It must be a strange feeling not having a final defeat to get over.

Perhaps not making the final (for once) is what you need to get back in the winner's circle. Leeds tried it in 2010 and it's worked out OK so far.

BMcD on 5Live now

Standing in for Richard Bacon?

mmm .... bacon.

Has Richard got his certificates?

Many saints fans didn't want to get to OT again this year. Having sat at home and watched the final between two other teams, I cannot agree. Even getting another routine stuffing by Leeds has to be better than the season ending a week early. But yes, you are right, winning things is far more enjoyable after a period in the wilderness. Not sure is losing 5 finals on the trot bounty as wilderness, but it certainly feels like it!

who was the saints poster who came on year after year making a right bellend of himself?

stirlingshire saint maybe?

he was funny, get him back

I'd still call that a wilderness when you're good enough to be always up there amongst the contenders.

It's nowt compared to Leeds' own Challenge Cup wilderness mind, stretching back to the previous millenium. Won it just the once in over thirty years. Wilderness hardly seems adequate to describe that.