WHo will play hooker then?

By far the biggest offender penalty wise - who is also the captain so presumably plays a part in setting the example for his team mates - didn't play last week. Coincidence?

Is sinfield really top penalty conceder. I'd have had it as JJB or ABlett, with Senior not far behind

I'd have guessed similarly but I was bored enough to look them up yesterday. Have a look on the 'discipline' thread for the top 10.

Just seen it. In his defence he ususally plays 80 mins, and is top tackler or therabouts, compared to JJB, and other forwards who probably do more like 60mins.

Looked back a bit further at his year on year stats:

2006 0.38 penalties per game
2007 0.48 penalties per game
2008 0.52 penalties per game
2009 0.98 penalties per game

Getting worse year on year but a massive decline in discipline this year.

Add that to his recent televised response to a high penalty count that boiled down to 'the referees are picking on Leeds' and [imaybe[/i he is the biggest problem - the worst offender, who seemingly wont accept responsibility and who, as Captain, sets the lead for his team mates on field conduct?

THat is very interesting. He does seem to have become a different person this year. Seems to be more arrogant, and lippy to the refs, which I don't like to see. he used to be such a nice boy.

Any statistics on other players? Is Sinfield the only player whose discipline has gotten much worse under Mclennan's guidance or have the whole team declined under his coaching?

While I am not sticking up for Sinni and the apparent lack of discipline in the team, remember that Sinni is the one player wh is allowed to talk to the ref if he feels that something has happened that is unjust or if he wants clarity.

Now I am not close enough to be able to hear what Sinni says to the ref, but it could be that he is asking for clarity a lot of the times.

I could be completely wrong as well mind!

The games I have seen on sky this year, Sinfields attitude has at times been Cheeky bordering on insolent. I think Cas away was one such instance

I could be wrong but I'm sure Tony Smith used to fine his players if he thought it was a needless penalty.I wonder if the same rule applies now?

Very true. He used to be a model professional in his polite dealings with the referee whereas now he reminds me of Iestyn Harris's whining ongoing battles with Russell Smith.

The team's relative discipline has been worsening since 2006 so I suspect most individuals would have got worse over this time - mirroring or led by the captain.

One wonders when the coach will address this slide or, indeed, if he is capable of so doing.

If it was a contractual clause then yes, if not who knows. Neither coach appear to go in for public negative comments regarding individual performances from players.

If I were Worrall I'd hardly construe Mclennan's comments this week as positive or a glowing endorsement.

While you may well be the chap at the front in the fancy nightgown I don't see myself as one of the curly haired followers.

He implied he didn't see Worrall as a game breaker with Leeds needing one to come from behind.

Is that a "positive" from Worrall's point of view?

You raise a valid point about how far backwards Sinfield has gone under Mclennan's stewardship in terms of discipline.

Its' not just there though is it. Remember, our captain was shorlisted for Man of Steel at least twice under Smith's guidance.

Since McLenann's arrival he's looked a shadow of that player, albiet still a very important one in terms of our team.

Why would you not want to further discussion the regression Mclennan is instilling in our better players? It's an important issue.

It's probably a sincere appraisal although I've no idea if Worrall would agree or see it that way.

McClennan still wasn't commenting on an individual player's performance as he didn't once mention Worrall's ability or lack of to warm the bench.

I hope the Chief exec sits down privately with the coach and gives an honest assessment of his performance last weekend.

And I hope the coach does likewise with the CEO's performance in the off season when replacing Toopi, Scruton, Tansey and Ellis with Buderus.

By accident you've prompted an interesting point.

I've just looked up 8 other players to see if their discipline has got better or worse, or, more to the point, I was looking to see how much worse.

Danny McGuire & Rob Burrow are far less likely to give away penalties this year than last year.

Ali & JJB are also improved under Mclennan (despite JJB being singled out unfairly as some sort of penalty machine this year) with JJB markedly better this year.

Lee Smith is worse this year, but last year stayed at the same level as under Tony Smith - mirroring the team.

Keith Senior and Jamie Peacock were terrible last year - far, far worse than 2007 but both have turned that round completely this year.

For the team to have changed so radically this year (from 9th worst to 2nd worst) there must be others, beyond Smith & Sinfield who have got far worse in 2009 if players like Peacock, Senior, JJB, Burrow & McGuire are actually conceding far less. Also suggests that something is being done to curb indiscipline but that some players are responding well, but others are not.

what about Ablett? he seems to have given away his fair share this year