Splitting hairs. If players are not fully fit they cannot train effectively and the whole session is diminished and they cannot be overworked either.

Can't say I've heard him name certain players. He's been saying recently that he's got several players who haven't trained during the week but have played on game day.

Excellent news.

Lui's inclusion definitely changes the dynamics and the odds.

Losing 14-0 certainly SLWBR now!!

I don`t care if we win tonight or not - if a team do not know what to do on the 5th tackle, as we don`t once again - it is the COACH who is at fault - he has to go - NOW.

Ah...but....maybe McDermott does coach them and then on match day they simply do not implement his ideas.



You would think that maybe seasoned professionals might know what to do themselves though on 5th tackles: not as though it's a new concept for this season...is it?

To be fair we forced plenty of repeat sets tonight, it was what was happening on tackles 1-5 that was the problem

Oh dear

You do realise he prefers it when Leeds lose?

That's just it, we didn't exactly force repeat sets, it appeared that Salford were perfectly comfortable defending their line, and took the easy option a few times. At one stage I think we had four sets on the trot, and you never thought here's s try. The main reason is that every time the shape wax set up, Burrow took a different option to his team mates.

Burrow is far better miles away from the oppossition line than he is within range. He needs to be told to stay out of it, once within range.

There were some positives last night, work rate for one. Some of them worked their balls off for one, even including Achurch. But the options always seemed to fall on Garbutt or Ablett running it in. Garbutt must have made loads of metres, as he seemed to be carrying the ball continuously. Sutcliffe looked very comfortable at centre, far better than in the halfs.

That's it for me though, will refrain from away games until the middle eights now. Just too much money for what they are serving up. It was certainly better than Wakefield and Hull KR though.

That didn't quite work out as you expected.

You would also expect seasoned professionals to understand that a body moving towards a target will have the momentum to stop the attacker. But no, JJB, would rather wait on the try line until the attacking player meets the static defensive player.
A second rate media future lies in waiting for a player past his average best.

Whilst I agree with you on the basic mistakes he makes, come on, he absolutely ran his blood to water last night. However, I have said for last few years, that it is his work rate that causes his errors so can't be too contradictory.

Effort with no quality is just that, effort and at this level it isn't enough

100% correct.

I see the stars are now out. 58 tackles and 2 misses. He has his faults, but those sort of stats are irreplaceable, and certainly not for a player you would pick out to critisize.

Well you were spot on there Wm. Lui vital for Salford - as important as Cuthbertson's omission for the Rhinos.

Leeds played great Rugby in the last 6 minutes - the type we are all accustomed to seeing - but Reds are far better this year and didnt need a team talk after BMcD;s spat last yr.

Time for Leeds to omit Maguire, Burrow & JJB & sell Hardaker to Huddersfield plus cash for Brough who will take your team around the park & see players running onto the ball instead of walking.

Did Baldwinson get any game time yesterday?

Yes Ferdy - about 15 mins - steady effort - Golding was elusive and wasted on the wing & Hardaker hates the high ball doesnt he?

I do not think this is a fair assessment of what happened. We had two men in the final tackle before the try (Ablett & Garbutt?) then Singleton comes in late (3rd tackler) to put the man down but not on his back. JJB having made the previous tackle where he was 2nd marker gets back into line to mark the expected next wave of runners lined up towards the posts.

As Ablett releases the attacker Hardaker moves from square behind the PTB towards the blind side thereby opening up the gap between him and JJB. Then Hardaker directs Ablett also to the blind side and then directs Singleton to fill the gap as JJB is signalling the danger. Singleton was last into the tackle and now should be second marker but he now has his back to the acting half back as he follows Hardaker's direction. The acting halfback is then able to play the ball quickly and run to takes advantage of the retreating defender and the gap so Garbutt and Singleton are too late to stop him.

IMO Hardaker seeing the danger should have moved to fill the gap himself as he could see Singleton had his back to the acting half back try scorer. Had JJB moved to fill the gap he would just have left another gap with 4 attackers lined up

Look at the VT highlights.

Ironic that JJB is usually accused of coming out of the line too fast. He made 58 tackles 16 carries, 113 metres and 2 offloads the last one giving Handley a chance to win the game. So a bit odd that you pick him the one for blame.

Could not go last night so cannot comment on game but those JJB stats are amazing for a guy at his stage of career. He has another priceless quality, as Bill shankly once said, " natural enthusiasm, it's the greatest thing in the world". Cherish the man whilst here because like david ward, graham Eccles and JP you don't get many like him and my god you miss em when gone.

I didn't expect Lui to play but he did and he's the key to Salford's improvement this season. Long overdue that result.

I'm trying to imagine the meltdown here and elsewhere if Hardaker and Brough exchanged clubs. Now that would be amusing

On that Watkins no try. Appears the in-goal judge was happy to give it (he backs away to the edge of the in-goal) but the touch judge - who had absolutely no view whatsoever due to the bodies piling on top of the ball - stood his ground at the corner flag indicating he thought it was held up. Is that how it looked on the day?

It looked a try at the game, and we all thought was given. However, the Singleton one also looked a try at the game, and having seen the highlights since, I can see why dissallowed. Still not sure how they say Watkins held up though, as he dived and slid over before the line.

I thought your first try was held up, O'Brien was adamant after the game that Galloway never got it down. Also what about Watkins pass for Goldings try? 5 yards forward. Swings and roundabouts.