It was on a bit I saw (I am recording it for later viewing). He basically highlights this Leuaki character as the reason for Hulls defeat. Does a real hatchet job on him.

That was all I saw. I hope but don't expect, Eddie to ask him about the RFLs response to his rambling rant.

Just watching it now, Cullen hatchet job is right. From that I'd say Lauaki just needs to reign it in slightly otherwise an excellent example of the type of niggling away that ruffles the opposition set.

Some might say reminiscent of what Ryan Bailey does so effectively for Leeds when he's on his game.

Effective being the key word. That didn't look effective.

McClennan himself and Sinfield have said things along the lines Eastwood has about the whole team being focussed on the WCC. Lets hope if they lose they don't go and lose a bunch more games afterwards in another WCC hangover.

TBH if that's been the attitude its no surprise at all if we've struggled to date. Personally I think its the wrong way to warm up for a big game - I think the old Wigan approach of playing harder if anything in the run up to a cup final is the way to go. It's also a red rag - if any were needed - for our opponents to be effectively treated as pre-season games.

Who would you drop and who would you bring in?
For mine the only player who seems to have had a raw deal is Burgess.

It's all in the editing. Three penalties in three games is an acceptable price to pay if getting under the skin of the opposition is part of carrying out your coach's game plan.

Just as the Headingley highlights appeared to concentrate on Leeds targeting one of the Salford wingers with considerable success. Though Cullen still managed to describe the Salford number 5 (Gibson is it?) as the centre caught out of position when to everyone else he played on the right wing all night.

Then it could be argued that you pay a big chunk of your cap on this one game - thereby creating significant space under your cap for the rest of the season?

Isn't that what Sinfield alluded to in his post match interview after the WCC

The prize money is £50,000 shared. That is what is been talked about. If the players were getting £100k each for this one game and £2 a week for the rest of the season, then I understand the argument.

But what we are talking about there is one exceptional game, that only one team in Super League can compete in, with it been clear and upfront what they are doing.

You are stating the obvious - so Sinfield had a poor game on Friday, Peacock was so so - you would not drop Sinfield if he had 10 bad games on the trot - experienced players have earned the latitude that McClennan gives them.

Again I come back to a point I have consistently made - why do we as fans expect the players to have the same priorities as us. The WCC is the least important of the so-called major games, so important to Melbourne that they have left half a side in Australia targeted with being fit for round 1 of the NRL. Maybe the players also have a similar view - it is a nice to win but pales into insignificance compared to the CC final, GF or even a win away at Saints.

Which is completely the oppossite to what the players have said yesterday, and what the thread is all about.

The players have said they have been offered to share this prize money, and their mindset has been on this game. Eastwood said that all McClennan has gone on about since he arrived, is Melbourne, Melbourne, Melbourne. A little bit dissapointed in that from McClennan if true to be honest.

Furthermore stated that this is perhaps the reason why they have not been fully focussed on the last 4 games.

My point was that if this game was so important then you would have expected the players to be on top of their game in order to get the chance to play in it. I have not seen that from any player but JJB, and therefore I questioned whether the players are in a comfort zone of having their places guaranteed. By the responses of some on here, I would argue that is pretty much the case.

By the way who is this half a side left by Melbourne. By all accounts it is 3 players, and one of those would have been unlikely to have got in the side.

Just so we can validate this point at a later date, which are the players Melbourne have left behind in order for them to be fit for Round 1 in the NRL?

More to the point they are missing 5 players from their GF winning side. 4 of which have left the club.

Quinn is now available who would have been in the GF side had he been fit.

Now they have added new players including this over hyped future star of Widdup, who is here for Sunday.

Where is the half of team missing?

Starter for one Cooper Cronk

Yes, I knew about Cronk being unavailable for the WCC. We'll have to wait and see if he's back on the paddock in Round 1 also at this point.

Next?

Brett White - this could go on a while

You would be making players up if it did.

Quote ="Serge A. Storms"Brett White - this could go on a while'" Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss

Quote ="Serge A. Storms"Brett White - this could go on a while'" Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss

If Eastwood is only bothered about the money then his attitude is wrong. Back to the attitude of the 80s.

The more I hear the more disillusioned I get with the current state of the club.

Quote ="tvoc"Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss'" Sika Manu? Hopefully the "big three" will all play, all great players to watch.

Quote ="tvoc"Why are we drip feeding the names one by one? Just name them alltogether. It'll be easier that way. Brett White doesn't sound hopeful of making Round 1 of the NRL season here: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/m ... public_rss'" Sika Manu? Hopefully the "big three" will all play, all great players to watch.

Another player who didn't play in last years GF team.

Quinn is another and he isn't the last - so that's 4

The real test not be who isn't here but of those that are who gets selected - if they field their strongest possible side i.e. close to side they field for round 1 of the NRL you know they are taking seriously.

However if the team they field differs by 6/7 players especially on the bench then that is an indication as to how seriously they have taken the game

Time will tell - as long as they play Slater, Inglis and Smith I will be happy - that is the only reason I am going to the game.

David, excuse me, but that is rubbish.

The strongest hint is if they play as close =#FF0080as available to their GF winning side, which is of course the reason they got to play this game. As 4 players have left the Melbourne storm since then, Turner, Chambers, Johnsson, and Anderson it is quite obvious that 4 changes would need to be made straight away. Nobody on this forum is knowledgebable enough to know who the 4 players the club have chosen to replace those 4.

We also know that Quinn is here and he would have been playing in that GF team had he been fit.

The only thing for certain is that from that GF winning side, only Cronk and White are still at the club who have not made the trip. That is a million miles away from half the side been left back home. And 2 players missing is a regular occurance in any match including finals.

There is no getting away from the fact that from last years two respective finals teams that are still at the club, that Leeds are missing 2 players and Storm are missing 2 players. What's fairer than that?

Leeds will be missing Ablett, Donald and Lee Smith from last years' GF winning team.

Are we not taking this game seriously?

As I said earlier time will tell how seriously they are taking it when you compare the side that plays on Sunday to the side that plays round 1 of the NRL season. Comparing grand final teams is a red herring as well you know - are they fielding the strongest side available that is the question. Manley fielded an almost full strength side and we all saw what happened.

Just because they say how important the game is doesn't automatically mean that is the case. McClennan may be genuinely mistified as to poor form on the field and is pinning his hopes on this being the reason. Bellamy has been uncommitted as to the importance - only he would like to win.