I've just been thinking that after the final and the performance we put in, whether those that have called for him to go, are now rethinking. It's quite ironic that a lot of success came with Bluey but under him last year at the CC final we didn't turn up. This years final for me was a brilliant game and we did turn up.

For me, the jury is still out but I certainly liked the game plan on Saturday. I also liked McDermott's appraisal of the game and the way he criticised the media and stood up for the players.

Any comments ?

Liked his appraisal of the game and the way he stood up for the team. Couldn't understand our half back formation which resulted in so many confused sets with frequent poor final kicking positions. Loved the impact players coming on and making a difference and in comparison to last year we turned up and gave everything. Need to wait to see if this results in improved consistency from here on in! If this was a one off it's what we have been doing all season. Jury out at present!

Fickle fans indeed.....See Rhinoms's post/poll elsewhere. Again, do [iyou[/i not think the players had enough personal incentive for this one ? Look instead to just the previous week...still think the same ?

But one could argue that at Quins we only had one recognised prop in the team and a way too weak replacements bench that had a definite effect on the outcome. I still feel that we should have gone full strength at Quins and kept the momentum going, so that defeat was for me due to team selection rather than lack of motivation or tactics.

McDermott should never have got the stick he had done,simple as that.

I have said it all season that no coach would have done better with this set of players, and what he has achieved is a credit to him IMO.

I doubt very much that he will ever have the pedigree to deliver a chamionship side, but he should be judged fairly and with a squad of players that he builds, rather than past it players that he has had to do.

However, if he had any influence in the handing of new contracts to Webb and Kylie, then that alone should see any coach shot.

But who was responsible for only 'one recognised prop in the team' ?

Can't agree more with this.....(not forgetting Kirke too).

Richard Moore further begs the question as to who exactly is responsible for the continued projected demise of the club ?

Point taken there, McDermott took a risk to rest some players a week before the cup final, and it was a risk that didnt pay off. But a lot of the blame has to lie with the players too, the ones that did play didnt perform to their potential and I'm not sure Mac can be blamed for that aspect of that particular defeat.

everyone went mental after the Quins debacle. But thinking on it, before that it'd been a long while since we put in a bad display, even if the results didn't go our way, for me back to the Bradford game in mid june (i.e. 2 months).

and thinking on it, we've seen some pretty big improvements from several players, notably Burrow, Delaney, Hauraki, Ablett, Pitts & Bailey.

Therefore, I'm supporting him for a second season. The young talent coming through is very good, and recruitment will be key. But a side that should be starting with Hardaker, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Hall & McShane in the backs, and Bailey, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett & Delaney in the forwards will do well.

Recruitment is key. McGuire looks shot right now, and if the coaching staff reckon he'll not get back to full fitness then we should be looking to replace (where the Rangi Chase rumour has been coming from). McShane I think is a decent shout for the 7 shirt, and Burrow as interchange hooker to run at the tired defences (something that has been working very well recently). Left centre obviously a problem, either Smith (if he too can find form & fitness), or a new signing. That said, Hauraki's pace and recently much improved defence make him as good a shout as Ablett imo.

His after match words impressed me, he stuck up for his players and let the media know what he thought of them after some of the things they had printed about the Leeds team in the past.

I thought he was very dignified and showed a lot of composure considering some of the things that went against Leeds during the final.

No doubt he will get next year to improve but tacticaly I personaly don,t think he's got it. The continued use of an unfit D Mags over R Burrow is still my biggest worry, when will robbie have done anough to proof he his the best 7, second in the vote for Lance todd on top of his previous mom performances. For those who think its a good tactic bringing him of the bench, he his doing no more than he has ever done. We have played of the cuff for a long while and with afuully fit DMc we got away with it. Please tell me were the tactics were in the first 20 minutes it was a response from the players who dug deep and gave us a great game.

Absolutely not!

I've mentioned in other threads my reasons why. Performance in 1 game shouldnt define whether he stays or not - and anyway, the performance on Saturday still lacked structure and a game plan, that's what cost us victory. Poor last tackle options gifting field position, poor defensive structure and technique. Off the cuff rugby that luckily came off kept us in it, not coaching methods or a methodical tactical approach.

McD has brought zero improvement in the way this team consistantly performs, no structure, no tactical awareness, no individual improvement.

So when the players decide to show up and put in some effort its the players that deserve the praise and not the coach. But when the players decide to not show up its all the coaches fault!

And because its Wembley they are self motivated but for normal SL games they lack motivation.

Yet you still blame the coach and not the players?

Come on now. Surely this argument would rather imply that we have a set of ageing players who having got most of the medals are now taking it easy when its suits them and think they are bulletproof because of past feats.

Top professional players do not forget how to tackle or where to position themselves in defence. They know very well the formations and what is required of them. What does happen is they lose that vital yard of speed and that vital bit of fitness and stamina. It happens to all players in time - great or otherwise. So you get more missed tackles and more dropped passes and you lose the 50:50 collisions and you are slower to get to your feet and PTB. The result is that you start to lose more games.

All this has been apparent for the last two years and will keep getting a little bit worse as old father time marches on.

I do not blame the coach and I do not blame the players. I blame the lack of recuitment which has failed to keep the squad fresh. The buck stops with GH who has chosen to renew contracts on several players who should have moved on to lesser clubs a couple of years ago where they could to pass on their knowledge eg Webb, Senior, Ali, Kylie, Kirke & Bailey. Had these players been replaced with quality we would still have a top 4 side.

With our current squad and injury record this season it is difficult to believe that any of the top coaches would have faired any better.

Where I do criticise BM is on some of his team selections. I do not think McGuire is fit enough to keep the likes of Hardaker out of the side. But as Danny is always capable to turning a game and he will only get match fit by playing I can understand why he has been kept in. Because of DM's lack of fitness Sinfield currently is our best 6 which means Burrow is the best impact player off the bench. So I can go along with BM's logic.

Sorry, I've seen nothing in BMD this year to convince me that he has what it takes to put the Rhinos back to the top again. I also don't buy the line of "it's not his team" either. A large part of this squad won the GF only a couple of years ago, and under his stewardship we've gone backward quicker than Damo after he's been offered a job!

New season....new broom for me.

Absolutely not. The players too have to shoulder some blame - but they showed on Saturday they still have the individual skill to compete, so even though they are past their best, they are still good enough to win things. What they are lacking is a clear structure.
And when they dont perform consitantly, yes I hold the coach responsible - because it's his job to ensure that they do perform well consistantly, and if they dont, it's his job to make the relevant changes.

You still havent answered the question about what improvements have you seen in the way the team perform since McD took over?

And a few other things to think about; What individuals have improved their game under McD? What strategy are the team sent out to follow? Why are we still so poor in the collision? Why are we still indisciplined (in terms of both giving away penalties and having brain fart moments)? Why are our last tackle options so poor? Why do we play so much 1 man up rugby with no support or dummy runners?

The coach doesnt appear to have the tactical awareness and attention to detail associated with the better coaches, and he doesnt appear to have the man management skills or respect of the players to be able to deal with ill discipline and repeated poor performances by the senior established players within the team.