The lack of opportunity for the quick fix is now structural and policy driven throughout SL. Just ask Koukash for his opinion. Much of this structure and policy is a consequence of CEO's like GH who has argued frequently in favour of the salary cap level, and on occasions even the lowering of it! These conditions worked for the club while ever they remained beneficiaries of their long-term academy products.

Other SL clubs have been roundly criticised over the years for not investing in and getting their academies into shape, instead taking the route of attempting to buy success with signings. Leeds and their fans often being at the forefront of such directed criticism as they paraded their [i'Best run club, academy and world class sports science facilities in SL'[/i mantra.

It'll be interesting to see how GH modifies his previous policy stance, should those structural policy conditions alluded to above make the path back to the top of SL too difficult to navigate within a reasonably short time frame.

There may not be a quick fix but IF done correctly it shouldn't take too long i.e 2/3yrs before we are challanging again.
That HAS to start with the Coaching set up & also a fresh approach to our conditioning i dont think we look as fit as in previous years.

That's why I said we're a year behind where we should be and I think that's GH's fault more than the coach's but there's clearly lots more happening in the squad this year in preparation for the future, which is good, and hopefully after the next 4 weeks we'll see that activity increased.

And this year's not a write off, yet. Not saying we're going to win anything but there's lots to look forward to.

Your last sentence is exactly how I feel. We are only 4 games in and we've won 2, would I have taken that at the beginning of the seaso? Probably , yes. Cas could easily lose momentum, weren't everyone raving about Widnes this time last season and on the flip side weren't both Wigan and Hull getting slated bu their fans calling for the coaches head?

I am OK with all your points except that last statement. When were Leeds "at the top" before 1997? Surely the "climb back to the top" started some twenty-odd years prior to 1997.

Fair point, if you are talking purely on silverware, but the Laughton era Leeds that went before 1996 provided some great entertainment sadly couldn't quite scale the mountain which was the Awesome Wigan team, but i would still say we were competing at the top table if nothing else.

Quite correct. I was, perhaps, being a little pedantic. In fact, on reflection, that Schofield/Hanley period was so much more exciting. We may not have been able to scale the heights of Wigan, but the pure excitement of speculation on which (genuine, most of the time) world class Aussie would be joining us, whether we could THIS TIME beat the mighty Wigan, waiting for Iro's one superhuman game per year, kept the blood pressure high and the nerves jangling. Even during this unprecedented & brilliant run of twelve years I never quite got that "buzz" (perhaps other than the 2004 GF). Maybe it's the measure of success that breeds complacency, maybe it's the level of lacklustre imports compared to yesteryear, maybe it's the fact that you need to be also-rans to feel that excitement and anticipation. Or maybe it's just me!!!

Not just you mate, that's exactly my take on it.

At this moment in time i look forward with dread rather than anything else the only way that changes is IF we start playing some good RL whilst actually looking we know what we're doing on & off the pitch.
Now to avoid any kind of of negative/positive tit for tat im very optimistic about our current Acadamy players & seeing what impact Morley can have but at the same time i think for them to reach their 1st team potential its still time for McDermott & co to leave & some serious signings to be made.

Looking on the bright side ,wire last night very poor indeed, so we are not alone in our potential downfall. Wigan last night played the same style rugby as cas. When the opportunity arose get quick ball out wide and eventually gaps will appear.
I am positive both cas and Wigan have not obtained copyright on this style of play. If we have any chance tonight let's get moon and Watkins some space and see what they can achieve.

Important point.


Hopefully all sides will try to be more expansive and ditch "the grind".

Of course you have to go forward down the middle before you can throw it about but for many teams the style of RL now is utterly predictable.

It was only a couple of years ago that Leeds were playing this way, offloading at will and tearing teams apart.

So what happened?

SPOTY, Kiwis and Floods changed everything.

The early 90's pre super league was my favorite era full stop for the game, whist i enjoyed as a club our 10-12 years dominance and success the most from a purely Leeds fan point of view, the whole game across the board was a better spectical to watch back then. most clubs were going full time (Mainly) the start of massive improvements to fitness and player preparation, combined with natural flare and skill still being allowed to flourish. still had kangaroo tours and the 1990 side and 1994 sides where full of players equal to the 82 and 86 teams but we could match them and nearly win the series and have not been anywhere near being close to beating them since 1994. Leeds did play some cracking rugby under laughton, but just could not get past Wigan. but ultimately cost Wigan their ground and nearly cost us ours trying to catch them.
i certainly hope this trend for open attacking flair starting to creep in is going to be the future again not just nostalgia.

No the only enjoyment is in winning trophies - Loiner81 say so!!

Agree 100%.

I agree i thought RL as a whole was great to watch in that early 90's period and it truly felt like we were an equal to the Aussies on the international stage.

On this season so far, early but i have enjoyed watching the Rugby so far (us aside

) and the more expansive play, hopefully it continues and it always helps to force the issue when that is the brand being played by the top sides others usually follow.

I'm guessing that most of the fans who loved the early 90s were probably between 18 and 25 at the time. I bet most people's favourite era would be the period when RL was probably one of the most important things in their lives.

I feel the game is in transition a little at the moment. Once the 'scooting' style of play wad exposed in the 2008 world cup, and with the likes of Anderson, Brown, and Maguire coming over and putting a greater emphasis on 'the wrestle' coaches and players have struggled to adapt, but Robinson, McDermott (2015) and Powell have found ways to negate that and bring back attractive rugby in spite of the slow ptb. Hopefully this trend is a sign of things to come.

Knowing a few on here I'd say you're not too far off there with some notable exceptions.

It's a mere coincidence though as it's obvious it was better then

I was 25 in 1990, I was in Sydney. I loved that time for a many reasons, RL was probably not one of them but it was nice to spend a Sunday afternoon at a game.

Think that's spot on and something I've commented on before. People will have different decades as their favourites but I'd guess that whatever decade that was the age range was quite similar.

I bet when those people who were going in and enjoying the 80's & early 90's they had older fans telling them how much better the 50's/60's/70's were etc.

That's a fair comment. I don't think it can be argued SL has been on the slide over the last few years, certainly as a spectacle.

Again, hopefully things have bottomed out already and the product is on the up entertainment wise as current early season evidence suggests.

Super League, as a product, for me has had it's day.

To me, we're either Rugby League or we're not.

Not true. Loiner81 no say so!!

Loiner81 say Sal Paradise is silly old man.
Loiner81 say Sal Paradise need take nap and rethink life.

Loiner81 did say that - and my life is pretty good thank you