Agree BT.

Like with most things, the tightest of tight Yorkshiremen Mr GH has squeezed as much out of his coaching appointment as he can. The sponge is dry now, time for the piggy bank to open up and make a purchase.

This Thursdays SKY TV game is a massive one for the Rhinos IMO and one that they surely have to win

This game could almost be a season defining game for them as they certainly can't afford to lose too many more games and especially at home, before they will ultimately end up in the middle 8's

IMO that is due to the lesser lights of previous season amassing win's from each other and actually stacking winning points on the ladder when they weren't expected to against the more fancied sides

The Rhinos have the ability to make the safety zone of the top 8's IF they string some wins together and gain some much needed confidence, But something inside me thinks that there's something not quite right over there in their camp this season and that if they actually lose this week's game against the Tigers then they may have to go through the procedure of actually having to secure their Super League status for 2017 by winning a play off series containing the top 4 from the Championship along with the other lowest ranked Super League sides

Who would have thought that this was a possible outcome prior to the season, especially after winning the treble in 2015?

Are you really him? I can hear his voice saying this. Or a Sky script writer? ( I presume Eddie and steve don't need scripts). Don't think many thought it possible including you tipping us to win it again !

Well you have campaigned to have him replaced with a new head coach most years - so do you think McDermott has the right skill set to be moved upstairs then? and would you still blame him in the future for player errors?



My opinion is that McDermott has been the coach, team selector, game planner and motivator with help from his assistant coach and senior players as is the norm in sport and it was this team together that produced so much silverware for the club and supporters. As part of your agenda you tried to belittle his influence and achievements in our success last year.



That's true. But where were your calls for a new game manager and which position would he play if not at stand off? IMO Sutty never showed he had the skill set needed for a 6 and unfortunately has shown this year that he is not really comfortable at 6 particularly in a struggling side. I think he is a very useful utility player but not a regular 6 and it was very wrong not to recruit a play maker halfback.



Your main target for blame was and is always the coach and like your eggs you try to have him on toast each week





I have not exonerated Mac from poor recruitment but it is my understanding that GH likes to keep this area mainly to himself. Of course they must discuss things together but without being a fly on the wall I cannot apportion blame like you do. It would appear you are privy to the minutes of meetings.



I have already said I can see whats happening on the pitch but only guess what happens off it. Hence I find it difficult to blame the coach when he has been dealt such a lousy hand this year. I am sure he will be the first to admit he has made some mistakes but that does go with the job of coach.



No. and that is why I do not criticise him. If I had evidence then perhaps I would.



You are not fully aware of all the circumstances that lead to his decisions. He is the professional coach you are not. So by repeating the mantra of him making the same mistakes week in week out does not make it true.



I repeat you are not aware of the exact circumstances. I do not always agree with all his decisions or everything he says but in my experience of coaching and managing a team very often things are not what they appear to be from the view from the terraces..



There have been some positive signs recently but I too am not expecting the turnaround to happen until we get more of the experiences injured back and can field a settled team. As it would be a miracle for us to get into the top 4 this year I have mentally written it off to as a bad year at the office and think we should use the rest of the season to prepare for next year even if that means fighting our way back from the middle eights.



You do not have an exclusive on wanting better. I favour a pragmatic approach and I am not expecting many more wins just yet. But I don't believe it is a good idea to risk jumping from the frying pan into the fire. To keep punishing ourselves with constant talk of "must win" games only to be disappointed again will only send your blood pressure up when it doesn't happen.

Leeds are sitting bottom of the table, if the next game at home to a fellow top eight contender is not viewed as a must win game by everyone involved in the club, coaches, players and supporters alike then they might as well all join you with your feet up by the pool.

Given that we play Wigan and Warrington in the following weeks, if we can't beat Cas at home we may as well turn it in with respect to the Super 8s regardless of whatever mathematical analysis suggest is possible.

Yes, the 8 that started the Grand final, plus Ward would all start. We both know it. Handley wouldn't start if Briscoe and Hall were fit. If you believe otherwise then you're deluded. If Ward and Ablett are fit, Delaney would probably start at loose, like he did many times last year. If not, he'd definitely have a place on the bench.

As for Falloon? Who knows, but he was signed as Aiton's replacement, and he's our only hooker.

So there you have it. 10 that would have played. Not really sure how you come to the conclusion of Cas having it worse because they had a prop at 6. Hitchcox was on the bench, so Hampshire could have slotted in at 6 anytime

You simply don't get it do you - it isn't about replacing players it is about whether those replacements would actually improve the team?

Would Hall or Briscoe be an improvement on how Handley is playing? Yes they probably would be selected ahead of him doesn't mean they will perform any better.

Delaney has struggled to play more 20 effective minutes in any game this year so his inclusion would be a detriment to the side - Keinhorst offers far more.

Falloon has shown he isn't good enough at this level, his inclusion will weaken the side

So we are now down to 7 - I would agree Hardaker, a winger, Moon, McGuire and Ward would make a difference. So would Roberts, Shenton, Gale and Mariano for Cas - so have Leeds really got it that much worse than other sides - compare it Wigan I would say not.

Some on here after the League loss at Huddersfield said if Leeds get McGuire, Hardaker and Cuthbertson back they win that game easily.

The following week they got two thirds of those mentioned back and it was Huddersfield not Leeds that won with ease. As Sal just pointed out Leeds are not the only team that will improve - if there was an improvement at all.

GH isn't used to spending on coaches.

He got Graham Murray and Dean Lance for nothing. Their salaries were bankrolled by Rupert.

Daryl Powell will have come cheap.

I'm guessing Tony Smith and Brian McClennan (though not overly expensive) would have hurt to a degree.

McDermott = another cheap as chips coaching option.

Yet incredibly successful.

GH by plenty.

He could have achieved that without McDermott - unnecessary expense

maybe not GH by plenty

I see Dorn, Gale, Maher and Flynn of their "missing" players in their 19 then!

Yes they are, in comparison of course to Leeds 7, which still makes the same scenario. Lets see if the four play for Cas though, because Gale is certainly touch and go.

Flynns only just joined & Maher is a back up player HTH.

But they were both on the missing list which was the point being made.

Still got 4 or 5 of our first 13 out though.
Shenton
Lynch
Olli Holmes
Ben Roberts
Natahan Massey possibly.

Not as bad as a few week ago though.

Cas by plenty....with post exclamations that the next match is a "must win" game and we need McGuire, Moon and Hall to turn the season around.

How many must win games have Leeds played (AND LOST) already?

This discussion of who has most men out is meaningless - what counts is what the men on the field actually produce and how they carryout the coach`s tactics / game plan.
We have just demonstrated against a poor Huddersfield team that we can"t execute 5 hit ups & a kick on a consistent basis , the coach can`t pick 17 triers,refuses to give young forwards a chance, we have no plan to stop the opposition star player etc - this is down to one person - the Coach.
If you want further proof - look at the Cas performance with a prop at halfback - they still had dummy runners / planned moves & a reliable kicking game - we have none of these.

Cas All the Way just said they have 4 maybe 5 out injured whereas didn't you just say we have 7? Remind me of the scenario again.

Learn to read a post properly and you might finally be able to make points on here. He actually said out of their first choice thirteen, not out of their squad. You are still clutching at straws on a pointless excuse. And you are still doing it by assuming Massey and Gale are playing.

What don't I get?
T.Briscoe and Hall or Handley and L.Briscoe?
Hardaker or Golding?
Moon or Keinhorst?
McGuire or Sutcliffe?
Ablett or Achurch?
Ward or JJB?
Cuthbertson or Smith?
Delaney or Walters?
Falloon or Burrow?

All of the above would be an improvement, although I'd keep Keinhorst in the side ahead of Ferres or Singleton.

You can't have most of those above because apparently it's a 100% guarantee that they'll still be in poor form when they return.