Another GF maybe? One where McGuire and Burrow aren't coaching the team?

I think it’s time to consign this thread to the archive and give Brian McDermott his due!

Brian has had high quality players around him during his tenure. Would he have had such success without them?

I think he should step down now. The only way IS down from here.

The performance from Cas was utter rubbish by the way.

The only way is down? They've been saying that for the last 8 seasons

Leeds rhinos , papering over the cracks since 2006 !

So is Powell up for the rhinos job

Just been at a game this morning,nand the stories I have heard within the club are frightening, and far worse than envisaged. And I am talking about from someone within the club. Ridiculous how we have got to this.

The usual suspects have been very quiet this week.

They'll be back soon enough, to spread their words of wisdom, unfortunately.



Fab 5 Freddie or whatever he's calling himself this month will no doubt be back around October 23rd, unless England do the unimaginable and actually win.
In which case you can expect him to be back after one or 2 Leeds defeats next season, with a whole new agenda based around Richie Myler or one of the kids.

Genuine question, did you enjoy most of last season? (not just the last 2 weeks)

I said that Mac should go if we didnt get top 4 (or a CC) and obviously we exceeded this, but a lot of our play was uninspired and boring, so I dont blame posters who wanted a new coach

Imo Mac should leave now a club legend, as I dont think we have much a chance of winning things for the next couple of years and by then Mac would have been 10 years with the same club, things are bound to get stale no matter how good you are

I think we would be better off with giving a new coach (possibly an NRL number 2 looking to prove himself like Holbrook, if we couldnt get someone like Hasler) a few years to build a GF winning team under his own image

I believe pre (or maybe post) the GF Mac said that he barley coached the team this week and left it all to the senior players, only a matter of time before that is thrown back into his face



In all seriousness (assuming he stays on) it will be a big test for him to get other spine players (and especially halves) to replicate the performances in big games of McGuire, Burrow and Sinfield

Funnily enough, after 2015 I wasnt that worried because our best performer in the GF was McGuire who was still going to be there, but now McGuire is leaving and after putting in one of the best Grand Final performances of all time (second time ever that someone has received every single MotM vote after Burrow in 2011)

If Mac wins another GF without those 3, he will not only go down as the best Leeds coach ever, but he will promote himself along side Jack Gibson as one of the 'supercoaches' of RL

Your last paragraph is probably one of the main reasons he would stay. To prove that he can do it again without Burrow and Mcguire. He has said proving people wrong is one of the things he enjoys the most. Hope he reads Southstander, there is enough material on here to motivate him for the rest of his career.

Amen.

My sentiments too - McDermott is unsurpassed at getting the team firing at the business end of the season but the quality/style of the rugby under his coaching is turgid/boring.

Yes he has a great record but in all his time in charge Leeds have only headed the regular season table once - which suggests the quality of the play is inconsistent at best.

The finals series is about no-risk grinding it out rugby which Leeds do better than anyone else - teams seem to change their approach e.g. Cas. when they get to the finals which also works in Leeds' favour.

Leeds have some great players I just want to see them play to their potential on a more regular basis

Generally yes, some highs and lows and some mediocre thrown in.
But that's the life if an RL fan at least we got the trophy at the end of it. You can't expect to sweep all. Who're you every year, cas may have looked invincible must of the year, but it will be tougher next year.

Mac won't be going anywhere for a few more years, and we will win more trophies under him, I honestly think the squad is stronger next year overall, and we will be there abouts again.

Plus 90% certain is successor in head coach will come from within burrow Jjb, or another.

I've been one of the many saying he should go & certainly questioned his selections tactics & post/pre match comments on a regulsr basis.
Having said that with this GF win he's more than answered those questions & doubts.
It can't & shouldn't be understated how this achievement came on the back of 2016 losing Sinny JP Kylie & not least some of the awful hidings we've taken this year.
I do stand by my opinion wrt using 15/16 players picking lads injured & how he selects his teams wrt form but if he decides to stay he deserves to simple as.
It will be interesting to see what impact Burrow & Chev Walker have wrt Coaching & id hope we get 1 or 2 fresh voices on the staff.
Onto the Squad i still think we're carrying 2/3 high earners too many who have too many injuries & not enough gametime for the money.

Granted there has been turgid and boring performances in the year but I think you need to look at it in context. After 2016 getting back up the right end of the table was very important and grinding out wins (which we did enough times) had to be a priority. More exciting play but well off the playoffs won't have cut it at a club like Leeds.

Add in a spine that wasn't exactly familiar with each other. A new young FB followed by another newer younger FB. Moon shifted to HB after the season had started. A new hooker and in McGuire a guy who whilst still producing in the first half of the season also had dodgy moments but then again he will have had a huge decision about leaving Leeds on his mind, when it was announced it seems to lift a weight off his shoulders.

Think we can get back closer to our 2015 style and there were glimpses with the home wins over Wigan and Wire but it'll take time. What Cas achieved this year was 4 years in the making, arguably the same as us in 2015, we had to start again from scratch almost this year after last years mess.

What we'll also have next year is virtually a full squad from day 1 in pre-season training or working on their fitness in Australia since only Hall & Watkins are away with England. I don't think having players away with the other nations will have much impact.

Agree with this, I think the turgid/boring comments are also way off the mark, we have played some great rugby this year and our defence has improved out of all sight.

I don't think the achievement of this team this year can be underestimated, we were a total mess last year and with minimal changes we have won the grand final, which is surely what the whole season is about, would I have liked us to have played like Cas all season, probably yes, would I have liked to have played like that all season then come up short when it mattered, not in the slightest I admire grit and determination and utilising a winning game plan as much as throwing around and playing the fancy stuff.

I think the league will be much tougher next year, Warrington will be far far better, Wigan may not have as many injuries, Saints look to be a force again, Hull will want to go that step further and Cas will want to put this years wrongs right ( I actually think Cas will not be as good next year though) but I think we will actually be better too next year

Warrington will be better next year but I'm not sure by how much yet, could do with more recruits. Saints look promising but we'll have to see if Barba does 'a Segeyaro' if an NRL team come calling.
Wigan will be back up near the top if they keep the injuries down. Hull might drop a little because Ellis was that important to them. As for Cas who they have playing FB next year is massive, it's an important position for any team but especially for them and their attack.

It will be interesting to see who is next years Leeds/Catalans/Warrington, i.e big team that gets dragged into the middle 8s, I think there will be one, it could be Cas if they get off to a bad start and doubt creeps in!

Edited to add, if there is a Middle 8s next year that is!

I wonder if Cas had any forewarning about the Hardaker affair? Hence why they recruited Lo from Sheffield so they can move Eden permanently to full back.
On the surface the Wolves look to have greatly refreshed their coaching staff, I think Henderson is a great appointment for them. Wigan need to find a replacement for O'Loughlin. Saints will be better for a full pre-season under Holbrook.

I cannot believe there are still some calling for Mac to go!

He has consistently produced the goods when it mattered and for most of his time has had an aging squad deteriorating physically year on year. With very limited recruitment he has managed to squeeze the best out of the squad and at the same time integrate some of the younger players and improve others (eg Mullally). He favours an off the cuff attacking style which is dependent on the players match day form and when it clicks is very attractive.

So Brian has earned the right to leave the club when it suits him and I am sure he will win us more trophies over the next years playing attractive rugby. So you knockers why not get behind him for change.

Excellent post

In the past, I have not been the biggest fan of Mac's coaching or style of play. We have been inconsistent, rarely look fluent in attack, struggle to create chances in the opposition 20 and some of the tactics have been bewildering (I don't by this "scenario preparation BS).

Regardless of the foregoing, he is in a results driven business and, despite my strong desire to provide testimony to the contrary, I would much rather win a trophy after a questionable season, than play like demigods without winning anything of note. On that basis, I will be his biggest cheerleader from now on.