Alternatively he watched the game & thought WTAF have they been doing since they came back?
As for the "non-comment" there is more concern over the "non-performance" & blatant "non improvement" despite the previous build up he & in particular his Head Coach gave the game.

I think that sums it up pretty well for me. The only thing I'd say in defence of BM and the coaching squad is that they should know where the squad are in terms of being ready and maybe they didn't want to risk some of the older players in a meaningless game. That said they should have sent a squad out who at least gave it a good go and looked like they had a collective clue.

Why would he even be bothered what a few grown men think? especially to the point of any PR firefighting?

It's the kind of comment made by someone beset by delusions of grandeur, imagining what he'd do if he was CEO instead

if its a non comment don't make it in the first place. keep it to yourself.

He was answering questions honestly, probably didn't stop to think that a bunch of fans would misquote it just to have a pop at him.

misquoted? really?

Yes seen as a number of people seem to think he called it "an opposed training session"

and didn't he? what did he say?

No he didn't say that, previously mentioned what he said, go back and watch the video.

can't be bothered, just wondered what he said but there you go. misquoted or not it was the same cr-p as last year. no change there no matter how he spins it

What are your thoughts on Leigh putting 50 past Wigan today, Mark?

Mine are that the Leigh branch of Boots has probably sold out of Kleenex.

By the sounds of it it was an ok Wigan side for the 1st half and then a load of kids for the 2nd.

Hull had their strong 1-7 out, a decent but not strongest set of forwards starting and only just beat Toronto 26-20.

A strong looking Wakey lost to Fev with Ormondroyd perhaps setting a record for scoring against the same team in one preseason for two different clubs.

Bradford able to get out on the pitch again went down 28-10 to Hudds.

No Houghton,Ellis,Taylor,manu,mini,Connor for fc today. Toronto look far too strong for the Championship 1 and could easily finish top 2 in the Championship

2nd half fc played fringe squad players and a few U19s with 3 or 4 first choice players guiding them

A very entertaining friendly game for a change

My thoughts are i don't give a flying one what either team do im a Leeds Rhinos fan.
Is there a point to the ?
Either way it has no effect whatsoever on my thinking as a Leeds fan nor what i thought after last season or the Boxing Day farce.
H-T-H

A very well thought out and considered response, well done.



I look forward to you not comparing Leeds to any other club (win or lose) all season. Same goes for comparing our coach and players to any other club's.

They didn't just have their worse Season in nearly 20yrs nor did i see Wane talking up the game & going out of his way to mark it down as a game that "set the tone".




As for comparing it's rellevant & easy to do when the excuses are flying around & some seem happy to accept the sh#* sarnie being fed.
Did Wigan have multiple injuries last year? =Yes
Were they at the very least competitive in most of their games?=Yes

True and I did point out that it wasn't your strongest pack, but still an interesting score line regardless from Toronto's POV. Would be good to see them draw a SL in the Cup.



See I find this worse than any comment McDermott made. Saints and Wigan did similar and I'd rather see a team picked and played for the match, not 1 half each. Saints for example had 12 subs, that's just taking the mick and they'd be better of just organising two separate games imo.

Entirely at the coach's discretion, as indeed is attendance on the part of fans. I can see why a 40 min session for most of the first 17 would appeal at this stage of the campaign.

What do folk expect from friendly, warm-up games except exactly that?
The opportunity to give all your fit players some time on the pitch.

He did mentioned beforehand that the kids would play the 2nd half so fans did know beforehand......but considering it was Michael McIlorum's testimonial game i find it a bit poor that they wouldn't host a game and have their best team out to get as good an attendance as possible for the guy.

Never saw that so fair to point it out.
Totally agree re-2nd part of your point.

why is it taking the mick? most fans knew before the game this would be the case! we played cas and kr with the majority of u19s/fringe squad players and radford picked the ones the he felt could cut it against the wolfpack!