Whilst delighted to attend yet another cup final, I find myself in two minds, especially since I was such a critic of him and the team just a short time ago because of the on-field performances ....

- Is he just a 'big game' coach ?

- Do the team really just cruise through certain blocks of fixtures in order to give themselves a run at games like the Semi ?

- Shouldn't we have better squad rotation to ensure that we win the games we otherwise didn't win this season (a la 2004) ?

- Why can't we play like that for most of the season ?

- Why I am still skeptical over our coach when he's already taken us to four major finals and, at the moment, as only lost one of them ....

Because he isn't an Aussie?

Being an Aussie doesn't have anything to do with it ...

- Cr*p home performances against the likes of Wigan and Saints

- Going to Bradford and looking ordinary

- Half the squad playing like they've never seen each other for half a season

- Unfathomable substitutional policy, including not playing players when we're behind on the scoreboard or bringing someone on for three minutes at the end of a half.

My own guess - based purely on results and performances since BM took over, so no inside evidence at all - is that the team more and more often pick and choose when to turn it on. BM himself couldn't afford many bad performances like wigan at home, but a lot of the team could. I suspect the team are more than happy with BM as coach, as he simply doesn't have the authority to challenge their power.

The best players in the team are in the twilight of their careers, so they don't have it in them to play 100% week in week out anymore, so they fire up for certain periods and games.

I don't know. Maybe they are trying to go full throttle every week, it's just other teams are better....but then they somehow manage to turn it for the big games, and periods of the season.

It's weird. I can't remember a team looking so pedestrian so often during the season, whilst still winning trophies and making finals on a regular basis.

Maybe it is the team that is effectively running itself .... I recall a quote from Lee Jackson, who was at Newcastle Knights during the ARL War and the time that Malcolm Reilly was there as coach ... During that time Newcastle won the Grand Final and the words Jacko used were "We won it inspite of Malcolm, not because of ..."

I find it difficult to grasp the idea that you can turn on or off the brain farts that lead to penalties, dropped balls, missed passes, positional confusion etc at the flick of a switch.

I could be persuaded to believe that the training regime and preparation throughout the week might have a bearing on the mental attitude with which a player approaches each game, which would surely influence the standard at which they play the game.

Apart from a few missed tackles most of the team played clinically, with intensity and composure in the semi-final. Something they've pretty much failed to achieve collectively all season, apart from maybe the WCC.

I'd imagine such planning is the work of both the players and coaches working collaboratively. Being able to make such plans work is probably down to experience in those kind of matches as much as anything else - something the current Rhinos squad has plenty more of than any other playing squad in SL.

I would say the answers to your questions are

- No

- No

- Possibly

- and...Because it is sport and runs of good form and bad form are part of the game as are getting on the wrong/right side of officials decisions and the effects of injuries to key players.

I guess too much is expected of coaches and in these days of blame culture it seems, for many, it always has to be someone's fault. So they quickly blame the coach when the team plays badly or is in a run of poor form. At Leeds we have a nucleus of key players that have been around for a long time and perhaps are mentally jaded particularly after last season and getting up for the WCC this year. However they do need to play regularly to keep physically match fit so resting them all is not a realistic option although I would have given a bit more game time to a few of the youngsters.

After last year I would have thought the "taxi for McD" brigade would have kept their heads down but too many have rather shamefully repeated the impatience of last season.

I fear we have become a casualty of our teams consistent success in the silverware department. We are demanding permanent success as of right. It seems our aging stars now cannot produce the goods week in week out when the opposition provides a stiff challenge as perhaps they get mentally fatigued but still have what is needed to win the key matches. If so it says a lot of the coaching staff abilities to get them to peak at the right time.

Most teams fans suffer defeats and are outplayed on a regular basis as there are few winners in sport as any Leeds fans with long memories will testify. If I had to make a choice I would pick seeing quality and entertaining rugby on a regular basis over frequent crap rugby but winning the trophies. But life does not provide these choices and we just have accept the sport or walk away!

I fear we have become a casualty of our teams consistent success in the silverware department. We are demanding permanent success as of right.

So who has said this JC??
Once again you take the completely wrong end of what most have said this year and each performance has been discussed on it's own merits and rightly so.
The rotation policy has been questioned which again was the right call imo given what we were witnessing from some.
The structure was questioned which again after a few games that was also warranted.
We have those who questioned whether the coach was up to it and each to their own.
However not once has ANYONE posted we have any divine right to win RL matches and the expectancy has never gone beyond that of wanting us to be competitive given how well we know this lot can play as shown v Manly and yesterday.
There's nothing wrong with discussing and offering opinions when the performances have been dire just as there's nothing wrong with offering due credit when we've been good.

I really don't need to contribute on this forum.....99% of the time I think I must wholeheartedly agree with what you have to say.



I've said elsewhere the criticism made all season after the WCC match is still valid; it does appear to me that Leeds are player-power-led.

Once again rhinoms you get the wrong end of the stick. I was expressing an opinion not making a quote.

The OTT comments made against the coach once again this year appear to be based on a lack of patience for proven players who were out of form and therefore in your opinion it was all BM's fault.

You question the structure and the abilities of the coach as though you attend the coaching and planning sessions as a qualified observer. I question the judgements of those who rush to critical comment as back seat drivers. Brian Mac has coached us to Wembley two years on the trot, Won the Grand Final and the WCC all in his first season and a half yet you are persistently dissatisfied. Therefore I have reason to assume you have a very low tollerance of any lack in performance.

Rugby players cannot train and play at their highest intensity all season, coaches cannot big up every match as a must win match.

Leeds players will not go out to make errors etc. but they won't be as pumped up for every match and thus intensity is lost, that with the bounce of the ball going the wrong way and decisions going against you can get you off to a bad start in a game.

Leeds will up there intensity for a few weeks and then reduce it again. Obviously victories breed confidence and losses bring negativity. When Leeds are upping their intensity they will come in on a Monday and be focused for long hours throughout the week and keep upping that intensity for a few weeks till the big game, they will then calm it down and have more relaxed weeks.

The key to been consistent through the season is to have a large squad, so that squad rotation and competition is high and also to have a good team structure in place so that any one of the squad can come in and run the same lines and defend the right channels ala Wigan.

So yes the players intensity would drop which I would expect, we just need a larger squad, with more rotation and better structure throughout the year.

"Low tolerance" ?

It is indeed fabulous that Leeds are again at Wembley and indeed when it "matters" the team again has succeeded. However, for most of this season (and indeed las)t those performances have been rare in regular league games.....is this really what the [upaying[/u spectators deserve ? Are you saying they should put up/shut up with that majority low intensity 'commitment' from the players and coaching staff, knowing that Leeds will 'turn it on' for the big ones ? I'll save my money thanks.

Firstly i never said it was all BM's fault but he had to shoulder some blame through selection ,lack of rotation and some more than questionable substitutions ALL of which were pointed out by many others.
As for low tollerance is it ok to get pasted more than once perform WAY BELOW their obvious talents and continue to make the SAME errors week after week?
Like i said each game was treated and commented on it's own individual merits not just by me either.
I'm also very aware of the Teams record since BM arrived but does that make some of the performances OK then?
You can sit there and "ASSUME" all you want EVEN the playing and coaching staff have 99% agreed with those of us about standards of performances at certain times and openly admitted their errors.
My opinion is no less rellevant than yours and whilst i continue to pay the money i do then i will continue to offer opinions on each individual performance whether you consider them "back seat driving" or not it doesn't make the 50-8 at home defeat any more acceptable at that time.
RL88 All fair points but even with a lower intensity surely with the calibre of the team we could/should be still competing in most games?

Is it just me or does anyone else think Nat is a d!ck ??

You know very well what I am saying. My comments have never objected to constructive criticism. What I argue against is the ill-judged conclusions.

Let me ask you a question. If you have to choose between regular exciting risk taking rugby that entertains but doesn't win any trophies or or regular Champions and big game winners but some poor stuff in between.....which would you choose?

Think you know the answer to that one

People have tried to make out that we were losing games this season because the team weren't trying because they knew it didn't matter.......no we lost games because we played poor and the oppostion usually played very good. I 'd love to make a sports team up out of some of the guys on here because they must perform at their very best every single week, makes you wonder why they aren't professional sportsmen themselves.

Leeds still made some mistakes yesterday and defence still has some issues on the fringes (that word now trademarked by Jonathan Davies), we let them come back at us twice in the first half alone, but the oppostion didn't execute as well as possible and made sloppy errors and Tomkins never really fully got his focus back from the missed catch 3 mins in and seemed rattled for the rest of the game even though he did manage to produce some good stuff later. JJB in particular didn't cover himself in glory yesterday at times.

However a big difference just like Hull last week we had subs coming on getting decent game time and allowed to make an impact instead of just covering for the starters whilst they have a breather (2-3 months ago Griffin & Kirke would of barely got 20 mins, Lunt none at all). A few months back McDermott's poor use of his bench against Saints at Headingley and subsequent defending of his actions (when you could tell he knew he'd dropped a clanger, but was too stubborn to admit it) pretty much set up the really poor run that followed as he chose to publicly question the players attitude instead, even leading to GH's threatened end of season axing for under-performers. Its taken a few weeks and a couple of wins against lower placed teams to build a bit of confidence but the team actually looks like its enjoying being out on a rugby pitch again.

Several weeks back i described McDermott's coaching being similar to Webb's playing, you get some good stuff but their is a lot of head stratching frustrating moments that go with it too. I still doubt whether or not he can produce a team that can be consistent enough to finish in the top 2 in the regular season (it will eventually matter because you won't win it from 4th/5th/6th everytime). As for the players, i've said i was pretty much happy with the squad we have, would of liked to of seen JUST 1 or 2 young players get a game recently against the lower teams for experience/resting overworked first teamers. McDermott deserves credit for putting Bailey at Loose, it's worked well when if you said at the beginning of the season he would play there most would of laughed/despaired at BMcD. I think he got a stroke of luck with Webb getting injured otherwise i think he would of persisted with Webb at 1 with Hardaker continuing to not being the right fit at centre. Not only do we escape Webb's brainfarts that usually cost a try or 2 but Ablett over at centre has seen us get arguably are most dangerous weapon in Hall more into games. I've thought the pieces of the puzzle were always there at the club already, it was/still is a question whether McDermott completes the jigsaw, he's getting closer.

.......

Webb would not have made those try saving tackles on Tomkins (twice) ....as well as others.

There's a lovely pattern emerging on this board over the course of the year.

Leeds play well, players get all the credit

Leeds play poorly, coach gets all the blame.

Everybody needs a scapegoat. It's the way of the world

Both last year and this year BM has been your main target in the blame game. But the need for blame is only in your opinion (and those "others"icon_wink.gif as your conclusion "ASSUMES" that selection, rotation and substitutions would have rectified the problems. Had your suggestions happened with still no improvement would you still blame BM?

Taking over an existing very successful side with many stars and internationals is no easy task for a coach. Add to the equation several stars who are beginning to fade and lack some of their former pace and stamina yet on their day can still be up there with the best poses really difficult management challenges. All in all I believe BMac has risen to these challenges and has managed to motivate these stars (who have been there and got many T-shirts) for the big games. This doesn't mean he has been perfect or not made errors but I believe he has earned some respect and time so please cut him some slack.



No it is not ok to get pasted. But would you never allow proven top players that chance to play themselves back into form? (including MOM Sinfield) Are you suggesting that 75% of the team should have been dropped into the academy side to regain form. Or are you saying the players are deliberately taking it easy?



So? This doesn't make your negative comments any easier on the ear.



The poor level of form for much of the season is not being contested or defended nor am I saying the performances of the coaches and players should not be examined. It is your continual apportioning of blame and your simplistic solutions that I disagree with.

Your solution to all the problems is to drop out of form players (75% of the team) rotate the squad and make different substitutions. The fellow member of your mutual back slapping club from nantwich would play the under 12's and if that failed play every one in a new position.



Here you go again rhinoms (cue the violins) When have I said your opinion is less rellevant than mine? (or anyone else) When have I said you should not make all those critical postings?. What seems to upset you is that I do not agree with your problem solving conclusions and your lack of patience with proven players (and coaches)

Question for you rhinoms: Would you sooner have regular entertaining rugby played with flare and risk which perhaps often meant losing and rarely winning silverware or would you accept some dross during the season in exchange for winning some trophies?

For me it's quite simply player motivation. It's got to be hard for such a successful set of players to motivate themselves for the bread and butter of another 27 regular season games, knowing the highs they have at the END of so many seasons.

We were excellent at the back end of last season, including the CC final, and we're showing signs that we may do a similar thing this season, now that the big games are coming thick and fast. We've already won the WCC this season. This for me is where McDermott deserves credit. However good this set of players is and however much they've won, they simply can't go into a big game poorly coached and with a poor game plan and still win. So when the players are up for it, the coaching team, for me, certainly has the ability.

Incorrect. A combination of the two would be more accurate I think

McDermott is in charge of subsitutions, so that's credit there.






Ok didn't use the words 'The coach deserves credit' because i'd use that line for the Bailey point early so didn't want repetition, but he put Hardaker there, he could've of gone for Smith or BJB instead, so again credit.

''he's getting closer'', credit again that's he's moving in the right direction.