How do you know that is the reason - you don't.

Your idea that the club is doing everything to turn this around is a mute point - I think they are saving players for the middle 8's to try and avoid the £1m game.

On Baldwinson he has been in the McDermott system too long and needs a fresh challenge to kick start his career - clearly it isn't working for either party. It worked for Amor so no reason it cannot work for him

Mullally is dreadfully ordinary. Dismal signing.

Lancaster is a well qualified coach and was the successful England RU Elite Rugby Director and England Saxons coach from 2008 where he brought on so many young players and won the Churchill Cup. He also was in charge of an impressive period for the England U20's side. This led to his appointment as full England from 2011 to 2015 and as I said did a good job in transforming the national side too the majority of whom are his prodigies.




You know very well that for most weeks of the season we have had around half the squad or more missing. Perhaps rather than quote other peoples useless comments at me your could tell us which players were missing from each match so far this season. Then we can all form a view as to the importance of those missing and perhaps compare with other sides whom we are told have been equally hit by injuries. Now that would be useful.




Well I have on several occasions since last season pointed out the need to replace these two special players - did you? Again I have pointed out how we have missed their presence on the field this season which is an equally important factor as the severe injury list.

Come on Sal. You do not have any evidence that the non selection of Baldwinson is due to the coach being spiteful. It is difficult to take your comments seriously when you bring in emotive stuff like this.

As has been explained to you many times we have not had the same injuries to our first choice props and whist I agree Singleton has been disappointing I think Mullally has added energy and it is unfair of you to describe his performances as abysmal just to try and justify your critical point of Baldwinson's non selection. Did you see him play in the recent Summer bash? or any other matches this season that have led you to think he is ready for SL or to replace others higher up the pecking order?

Express reporting Hardaker deal to Canberra is almost complete.

You mean the article that states this?



Not sure that means the deal is almost complete... The sooner we get rid the better though, we shouldn't be playing him again if he wants out.

Good. Get it tied up quickly.

You're right. Under close scrutiny he's terrible.

I presume Leeds signed him as a squad player, they probably didn't expect to play him as much as he has.

Excellent news if true.

The sooner he buggers off the better.

Though given his current form, I doubt he'd make their feeder club squad, the Mounties.

Just like you asked me whether I would retain McDermott I ask you again - for the third time:

Do you think despite everything the current league position is the best that McDermott could have achieved given the circumstances?

Don't suggest others have agenda's when you cannot answer a simple question as it might compromise yours

There are others on here who see Mullally as a dreadful signing - his defence is appalling - take a look at the Catalan's third try and ask yourself where was he?

Baldwinson is a squad player in what is currently the worst side in the competition by whatever criteria you choose to use. Every prop in the squad has not performed anywhere near their potential. Surely just to freshen things up it would be a good idea to give him a go - as I said it is not as if the current selection policy is delivering. If he isn't good enough that is OK.

Well you sort of sat on the fence regarding Mac ....couldn't quite bring yourself to sack him but want a new coach!

With regard to McDermott I would have thought that you had understood my position. I cannot hold the Mac responsible without knowing all the facts. I like you do not know all the circumstances, however there are sufficient serious and crucial external factors which would explain the decline in performance. For you and others to arrogantly apportion the main blame onto the Coach of the Year by dismissing these serious external factors shows a complete lack of balance. Maybe the coach has made errors but I do not believe he is responsible every time a player drops the ball or misses a tackle especially when most weeks he cannot pick a fit 13 until just before kick off. I do suggest others have an agenda and the proof can be found in their comments over the last few years.....take a read of the Allah thread.




We all have our opinions but remember he was signed as a squad player. He has shown plenty of enthusiasm and promise in taking the ball up and has not been bad in most outings. In normal times he would have had a rest by now and he is not alone in making defensive errors is he? In fact I think he may have a better missed tackle ratio than all but Ferres in the forwards and almost 3 times better than some of the backs like Hardaker.




But you fail to acknowledge that the reason he is not getting selected is that the coaches believe he is not ready yet.

You supported Stuart Lancaster's appointment as full time England head coach in 2012. What was his record as a head coach with Leeds Tykes/Carnegie when they were in the Premiership? Two wins from twenty-two was it? Even McDermott in 2016 has that one beat.

Why overlook the most important event of his time in charge - namely the 2015 Rugby World Cup - where (according to Wikipedia) [iLancaster led England to their worst ever performance at a World Cup. England became the first host nation, the first English team, and the first former World Champions to be knocked out in the group stages of the tournament.... The 33–13 loss against Australia was England's largest ever defeat to Australia at Twickenham. A week after being knocked out of their own World Cup, England faced Uruguay at the City of Manchester Stadium, winning 60–3. The match saw Lancaster select his 20th mid-field (Fly-half and centre combination) in his 4 years in charge. Inconsistent mid-field selection was one of the main issues on which England's early departure from the World Cup was blamed.

Following the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Lancaster, along with his assistant coaches and the RFU, were particularly severely criticised for their handling of Rugby League convert, Sam Burgess. Lancaster had selected Burgess to play for England as a centre, despite Burgess being developed as a flanker by his club Bath, and despite Burgess's relative inexperience, having only played 17 games for his club. Lancaster's selection appeared to be inconsistent with some of his previously stated principles, that he would select players based on form, and that he would not select outsiders ..... in part because it might unsettle players who had been in the England squad for a number of seasons.

On 11 November 2015, Lancaster announced his resignation as England Head Coach, taking full "responsibility for the team's performance during the tournament".[/i

Sounds like you sold them a pup there although I appreciate Lancaster's honesty and integrity with the final quote.
Could do with some of that up at Headingley right now.

And how did England do in 2016 - still coming 2nd every year in the 6 Nations probably just as they did under the rookie?

I fail to acknowledge it because neither you or I know the truth - I personally don't think it is

Talk about sitting on the fence - nobody is apportioning all the blame on to the coach - but unlike you we are suggesting McDermott has take his share of responsibility for the debarcle that is the Rhinos at the moment

I will tell you what I really think - Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock made a lot of people at the Rhinos look better than they really are, that includes the CEO, a number of players and without a doubt the coach.

Yet you ripped Golding getting a gig at FB as having no desire. Baldwinson may well have gotten Hallas' bench spots in those two games had he not asked to leave.

I don't claim to know McDermott particularly well but having listened to him and the other coaching staff at Leeds a few times, it's obvious that they value the right attitude extremely highly.
Whether that plays a part in this case I have no idea.

True. Maybe the attitude of the player should be questioned instead of just the coach.

We've seen the coach stick with Keinhorst who we've seen to be always full of effort and not go with Robbie Ward who was slated by Hunslet players for not trying when he was on DR there.

Maybe Baldwinson hasn't exactly got a great attitude. He/his camp weren't shy about coming out at the time of his move to NZ criticising the Leeds club for a derisory and insulting offer, yet was quite happy to come back here with his tail between his legs several months later.

So looking at those two players one has significantly more talent than the other - which do you think will make the most of their talent?

So to paraphrase, if I were to turn up to training and give it everything I have at 43, I would get selected above the young player of the year in the championship because he had the wrong attitude? Give it a rest... Baldwinson's face hasn't fit with McDermott since he decided to go to New Zealand and anyone who suggests otherwise is either stupid or bull ting.

He showed his commitment during his DR at Featherstone and there has never been any question as to his attitude in training so I would suggest that is a red herring. If he had an attitude problem why did Leeds re-sign him, they were offered Ward on his return but turned him down.

Let's face it McDermott doesn't appear to have an issue with serial wrong doer Hardaker?

Of course - obvious to some.

The one who works hardest and has the right attitude. Were Sinfield or Peacock the most talented?

Sinfield was the best youngster of his peer group by a mile - he was always destined for stardom. A bit before your time I know but he was cut above any youngster playing for any of the top sides in the academy as they called in those days.

Sinfield was the classic example of an old head on young shoulders. Dougie got a lot wrong at Leeds, but he was more excited about signing the 13 year old Kevin Sinfield than many more well established 'stars'.

People thinking we re-signed him just to spite him and not play him are the ones full of bat-sh*t thinking. Wasn't part of the reason Mulhern left because he was going to fall further behind the pecking order with Baldwinson returning?

He had to show patience for his chance, he's sulked so it looks like he's leaving. People just obsessed with daft theories that everything issue is McDermott's fault.

Yes but was that because he was the fastest, or strongest, or best HB, or best loose forward, or even at that time a great goal kicker. Just like his senior career I'm sure their was a number of players who had more natural talent in certain attributes than him.