It was the sort of game that shows the gulfs in ability within Super League. No real conclusions can be drawn from that win. Perhaps Newman’s petulance was because he could see the glaring opportunity to get his try scoring confidence back. He was right that Smith could/should have passed to him early on.
The forwards in particular cannot be judged from that game because the opposition seemed so lightweight.
Thought Miller had one of his best games, demonstrating some solidity and less liability to do daft things, but also showed up for some creative efforts.

Give him more time, Matt. He was a good player in the NRL and he's had a few false starts at Leeds thus far. If memory serves he's played both left and right centre and wing positions for us at various times this season. I've always thought he was a right centre and I hope he gets a run there. That said, I'd always thought Newman would be better down the left but he looked a fish out if water yesterday.

Think Newman would be atrocious on either side with the attitude he had on him yesterday, but he probably does lack in certain areas skill wise, even on his good days.

I will certainly be open and hopeful in Momerovski proving my opinion wrong, he's got the size for it, just think he needs to offer more punch in his running game to become more of a threat.

I’m just seeing a side which should finish top half this year, but lacks the quality to challenge for any trophies. It doesn’t really matter where we finish outside the top 4 or so sides, we are players and possibly a new coach short.

Next year we have to be contenders. The remainder of this season, and the incoming SD is pivotal, needs to be focused on that outcome.

We will want to finish in the play offs and have a dig but I want to see us make some significant steps forward for 2025. It’s within reach at least now.

I would say reasonable evidence of progress is to win (and improve) in each of the next three games, build from that with a top six finish and start notching wins against the better sides (KR, Catalans, Wire), and then give it a proper dig in the play offs. My worry would still be - where is the improvement coming from in 25? If Rhyse stays we'll likely only have one quota spot to play with. I'd say we are at least two props and probably a second row short of having a pack that can compete with the elite. The new DR is going to have to have a few tricks up his sleeve.

I’m not too fussed whether it’s 2 props or a prop and a back row, but we need at least 2 additional forwards who are able to dominate. I think the trickle-down effect is significant - we lose 2 lower impact forwards from the squad and replace with real high quality players.

I think we need a new 7, Frawley isn’t a title winning half for me and Sinfield is still undercooked as a starting 7 for Leeds.

Even then we would need the younger players to improve over the next 8 months to put some pressure on and provide effective cover.

Ultimately the problem remains the same though. Even if we release Frawley we still need a better half. That half is coming from the NRL so bang goes our quota spot. 2023 was our big year in the recruitment cycle with 24 being more a finishing touches exercise. As it stands we are not in that position. That's why, sadly, I keep coming back to a new coach being the most likely accelerator of significant progress on the field.

When does this get announced? is it the 7th?

So Fus probably gives us an NRL prop/second row.

Frawley out early would be likely another OS 7. I think we just got the wrong one.

Martin may well be tempted to NRL and he’s only worth so much to keep for Leeds. If he goes we can replace with a larger specimen.

It’s way more likely we’d have one of Bentley/McDonnell/Goudemand/ Gannon/ another academy lad plus a new high quality overseas second row to replace Martin.

Much will depend on who is available. I’m more bothered about the quality of the players than the quantity or whether it’s 2 props or a prop and a back row.

Martin is a very difficult player to replace. He can play two positions to a high standard and I would say he's the best goal kicker in the league. He's certainly our most consistent player. Replacing him would be a task in itself. I know we'll get another prop with the Fus spot, but I just don't think it's enough. Think we'll have to look to France to get another.

When is Lisone's deal up? We should get more for a quota player than 15-20 minutes of lottery every week. He's way behind the likes of Paasi for Saints, whereas players like Prior and Seumanufagai were much better value back in the Agar days.

The news of Rob makes things very insignificant tbh

But, it was nice to at least win last night. You can only beat what's in front of you A few lads stood around me were saying 'Yeh well it's Cas and we should be beating em' I sort of agree to some extent, plus it should have been a lot more comfortable. But in a way the lads cant win! You lose they get lambasted, you win, they get lambasted.

I thought the atmosphere was flat yesterday and not many chants about players. I dunno maybe I am looking into stuff too much.

Anyways we won, onwards.

We are looking to France aint we after that big lump from the dragons

Happy with the win, Cas weren’t very good ,nevertheless some good performances on view. Especially Martin, Croft and Miller, Cam Smith and Newman are going backwards. But that problem is fixable, the coaching staff can see what the issue is so they need to sort it out.

Probably as good a result as you could have expected given where Leeds are currently at, albeit still nowhere near where they should be. Hopefully, it helps them build some confidence.

The atmosphere was has flat as ive ever known it for a Cas game.

Lisone is the only forward we have that is capable of putting the opposition on their backside.
None of our other forwards, including Mik can do that.
He needs to get fitter and cut out mistakes at times.
But we need more of the type of impact he provides.
IMO of course....

I was just thinking that our overseas quota is very imbalanced - five backs and two forwards seems wrong. In addition, too few of them are better than domestic options in their positions. Its generally agreed that you want quota spots to go to outstanding players. Currently only Croft and Martin definitely fit that description for me, Miller's a probable if he gets his brain explosions sorted, and Momirovski has potential as well. But Fusitu'a just doesn't play enough to be worth a spot, Frawley looks beyond ordinary, and Lisone is way down the list of most effective overseas props in SL.

The kids coming through will hopefully displace some of the backs, but we really need to improve our hit rate of quota players, and focus on getting the biggest bang for our buck.

Hopefully Sinfield and one of Edgel or another academy lad ( after Halls 1 year) will replace Frawley and fusi.

Lisone had the best game I’ve seen him play. The trouble with him is that he doesn’t seem to do it against the better teams. Ultimately the stronger teams have bigger and better forwards and Lisone appears to have little or no impact most times against them. Calling him a bully would be going too far, but he certainly doesn’t seem to to have the appetite for taking the ball in against the better teams either. IMO of course…. D

Hard to tell if he's a flat track bully or if its because he's easy to target as he's the only forward we have who hits the line hard. That makes him pretty easy to defend against if you are organised and determined, and he's not a Walmsley who is big enough to flatten anybody regardless. If he was following up someone else who did the same the tackle before he'd be a lot more effective.

I ca't imagine any opposition pack being particularly worried about facing ours. We're the least physical outside the bottom three by some distance. That's why I think we need two power forwards to give us more of a chance. One isn't enough, you need a rotation that always has some bite on the field. Not to mention injuries.

The more I see Sangare the more it highlights the recruitment and retention disasters made by the club in recent years. Not only do we sign the least effective pound for pound prop forward in the world, we then compound the mistake by offering him a contract extension based on an injury riddled season and toothless displays. If you want to find out where it’s been going wrong for the Rhinos over the last few years Sangare is the best example.

I dont have an issue with Sangare in a rotation or "project" berth, but I do agree he isnt really pulling up any trees as stands or even stood.
For a bloke that size it is a little disappointing that he isnt tearing through the line and continually makes daft offloads. Did we recruit the best we could? or the best we could afford?

Too many projects.

Olpherts,Roberts, Hooley, Hudson, Sangare, McDonnell ( to a lesser degree).

Sangare isn't bad as the 5th or 6th prop in a season long rotation.
Same for Hudson and Goudemand.

The problem is we only three first grade props.
Holroyd seems to have injury lay offs, Oledski is a workhorse, lisone can bend the line on a good day.

I was going to say something similar but the news of Rob put things in perspective. I said to a mate at the start of the season it was the worst Cas team I can remember but had got a bit of enthusiasm after some signings & recent performances. I expected Cas to give you a run for your money but it felt completely flat; it didn't seem to matter which is inexcusable against your biggest rivals.