Thought this was a key issue. Can't imagine it was in Powell's plans to sub Sneyd during the first half but he must've felt like he had to.

The nullifying of the Clark threat was probably the best planning for an individual opponent since what we did to Big Les in the 2004 GF. However you can still see he's going to go on to big things. Sneyd on the other hand, with a move to Hull next year.....will be interesting to see if he's going to be just a one year hit.

Would agree with all that, including the bit on Sneyd. Could well be that he found his niche with Cas, but may not be able to replicate it with the Airlie Birds.

Yes good post Zimmerman and some good points put in there.
As I said previously maybe it was OTT to say people should be ashamed of themselves for touting Clark as MOS.
I was eluding to the fact that for me JP should walk it this year with no real opposition to take it away from him this time like they did before.
I also stated that Clark is the best hooker in SL which should go some way into proving I have every respect for the player and would be the icing on the cake if we had him.
Maybe your coach got his tactics wrong on Saturday and should have spared Clark so he could get the impact he needs.
I was amazed he took Sneyd off but must have had his reasons for that too.
So to recap Clark is pure class and is a joy to watch, And JP for MOS
Friends now?

Happy to congratulate the best team on the day. That's what it's all about. Sticking to the game plan, defending like your life depends on it, supporting your mates, being composed and ruthless in attack. I just wish Hull FC could do that more than once in a blue moon.

Well done Leeds

Bit late I know but congratulations on defeating us on Saturday afternoon. A deserved victory.

Thanks.

You should be proud of you're team also, hung in there right till the end when others may have folded.

Very proud o fthem definately. I'm glad we didn't fold too.

anyone know why carvell didn''t play/ big loss imo for cas. his know how and experience would have been crucial

Castleford are looking the real deal at the moment. They made a good account of themselves at Wembley and are currently title contenders. To say they were no-hopers last season, this is a real achievement.

I really like the way that Powell has them playing and with the exception of Dorn (he's just a toss-pot) I like the Cas players.

I think he was 18th man and would have got a run out if Huby had been declared unfit. A mistake IMO, Carvell would have offered more than an obviously well below par Huby did.

Of course friends. As already said JP should be a shoo in. Another of your players who I honestly think would have been in with a real shout, had he not missed half of the season is Robbie Burrow. I have not seen as much of him as you lot, but what I have he has looked excellent. I too was surprised Sneyd was taken off early. I did hear yesterday though that the big match had got to him, and that he had not slept all week and that he was sick before the game. Don't know how true this is, but if it is so, it may explain the decision to remove him.

Burrow for me blows hot and cold.
Inspirational at times but too many times too predictable.
Tends to run sideways and sniffles the centre or winger.
Sometimes it looks like the rest of the team have no idea if he is going to pass the ball or go himself.
For me Hardaker has stood out and would be in with a shout for young player of the year but his discipline has let him down.
I'm sure Sneyd will learn from the experience unfortunately that's going to be with Hull.

Also think like what's been said previously that Carvell should have got the nod over Hubby. But can understand Huby's desire to play.
See you in the GF hopefully mate.

Burrow in many ways is criminally underrated. Arguably, he's the most dangerous player in the league, and has always seemed to perform when it truely matters. Also, in many ways he'll be the most difficult player to replace of the 'holy trinity'. The speed, footwork, skill, toughness and unpredictability he posses is so rair that it'll probably be years before we produce another player like him.

He's also developed into a fine hooker since he's moved to that position after receiving a lot of stick from fans who assummed because he didn't look like a hooker he couldn't be successful there.

He's a Leeds and British RL legend whom will be sorely missed when he retire.

I'm sure that I'm not alone in thinking when I first saw him & DM together in the academy that he just wouldn't be big enough to withstand the rigours of superleague.
Boy, how wrong was I?
It's incredible how he gets whacked time & time again but just bounces back up like a rubber ball to tackle virtually anything that runs at him.
He is a legend.
One of the many in our current team.
Such a treat & a privilege to have been there to watch them & revel in their success over the past 10/12 years or so.

Charlie Sheen says "He's also developed into a fine hooker since he's moved to that position after receiving a lot of stick from fans who assummed because he didn't look like a hooker he couldn't be successful there."

Could someone tell me why the player in the middle of the front row is called a HOOKER??? and what a HOOKER should look like??? and what they actually 'hook?'

And I'm not talking about a lady of the night!!!

When he didn't last long in the 2003 CC Final after taking a blow to the head I was thinking it was going to be a common theme for him but barring one or two moments (Anthony Watmough running over him like a train) it's incredible how little time he's missed throughout his career up until the collarbone injury this year. Considering his size arguably the toughest guy in the squad. For all the great tries he's scored and created, my favourite Burrow moment has to be when he squared up to Lauaki, brilliant bottle from the guy.

The issue with him playing "hooker" has been that he doesn't defend in the hooking channel and we effectively sacrifice a tough forward presence which generally is made up for by Sinfield. His play from dummy half suffers because his pass is less than ideal and he has not the stregth to force his way over from dummy half near the line (at least twice on Saturday someone like McShane could have been over from dummy half where Burrow was clobbered and made zero inches). In those respects he dosen't fit the role. The bonus is his ability to brilliantly exploit a retreating defence or poor effort at marker and to play the full 80 minutes by simply switching to a half back role when a reserve hooker like Aiton comes on. When that happens he can roam the field and cause problems anywhere. BMD originally used him off the bench in the dummy half role to exploit tired big forwards at critical moments in the game. I guess with Aiton missing so much time recently he decided to start with Burrow and it was the right choice IMO. We won a lot of collisions and Rob showed how easy he can make the game look when the forwards are on the front foot at the PTB.

As a player over the years he has done it all. MOS in a test series against NZ must be one of the highlights for him, but I will simply never forget the try he scored against Saints in the 2011GF. Unbelievable.

x2 DHM.
Printer-RE squaring up to Luaki did you not see him put Thackery on his arris then deliver a few haymakers when we played Hull?
It was brilliant JT was totally stunned a moment never to forget and imo he is THE TOUGHEST player in the SL era.