...is that merely papering over the cracks again?

There can be no doubt that winning the Grand Final last year well and truly papered over a rumber of cracks in the squad/tactics that had been exposed in a number of poor performances throughout the regular season. Having said that - I was more than happy to see those cracks papered over to bask in the glory of victory once again!

If we do the same again this year is it simply a matter of papering over cracks again or the best proof that, at the end of the day, cracks dont need to be papered over because you can still win the league with them firmly on show?

If so, what does that say about the standard of the competition in general OR is this simply the excitement and unpredictability that knock out rugby brings and for the good of the game?

Apologies if the Catalans render this whole topic academic tonight...

If we win the Grand Final, the team would have achieved their primary aim for the season. An aim that is significantly ahead of any other aim. We would also have come closer than all but one team in the secondary aim. If that was the case, could you be sure you really saw any cracks?

Cannot see it happening again. Yes it would paper over the cracks but last year we came into the playoffs with some momentum and motivation, not seen much of either this year.
Hope we get past Catalan first, which is going to be a issue. After that anyone can win it, but Wigan, wire and st's are all better than us and would be a big ask.

No, because you will have won the sodding competition. Again.

Win or lose it's too late to fix some of the cracks we have in time for the start of the 2013 season in terms of recruitment. Others issues like poorly structured defence, under usage of Watkins, relying on individual skill in attack, poor use of the subs bench etc. will all still rear their ugly heads again next year even if these issues temporarily disappear over the next game or three. McDermott hasn't been able to sort these problems out ON A CONSISTANT BASIS even after 2 seasons in the job and i can't see how 1 defeat in France will change that.

My thoughts exactly



I'd be calling for the coach to get the sack. How dare he win the GF again. Rubbish.

Pffft.

That'd be a huge blessing in defence

If we do win the GF, whilst we will of played good, their'll be an element that Wigan, Wire and Saints will not of played at their best and that's a dodgy way to go into next season. That if we are to win the big ones we need the opposition to under perform on the day and that won't always happen, the last 3 CC Finals show that.

Back in the period of 2000-2003 we were around 4th favourites for the big trophies and when we came up against the likes of Saints, Bradford and Wigan they performed in the big games to show us that we needed to go up a level to match and then beat them, the only difference i see in 2012 is that the top teams are less guaranteed to produce their best in the Playoffs. Those years at the turn of the millenium when we suffered many a playoff and cup disappointment with no success laid the platform for the 8 successful years that have followed.

I'm not sure there are any major cracks as I'm not sure the league is any good. Sure Warrington and Wigan have finished top these last few years but they are just two out of a quartet of average sides

Leeds are the best of the 4 and have the "know-how" to win in the final, Wigan probably next best with Warrington and Saints making up the numbers

Catalans and Hull don't even register when you're talking about GF winners (sorry to any Dragons or FC fans)

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Terribly sorry Sir, you're correct (had to happen eventually I suppose).

If we do, which this year I want us to do (as always) but feel we won't, then we will have again proven the saying we have been fond of posting when we lose to a big name during the regular season & fans coming trolling. They don't give out any trophies in (insert any month bar October & off season).

The competition is structured how it is structured, and whether you agree with that structure or not, it has been like that from the start of the season and every club competing in the competition knew that from the start of the season! The league finishing positions shows the consistently best to worse sides in the comp, and the higher up you finish the greater benefit you gain to carry that consistency into the play-offs, book a place in the grand final and have the right to play the final game, win, and then be called champions! You can earn that right and then title from any spot, 1 to 8!

If we do it we will be Champions, again, and we have earned that right and that is all that matters!

I am a big fan of the Play-Offs and GF

But I would much rather win the GF from fishing 1st or 2nd in the League which is also important to me

And winning the GF last year although great....did paper over the cracks and is a reason we have had another abject season in the regular rounds.

Whatever happens this year...we do need some investment in quality proven players this year

I am sure every fan would.... but it doesn't actual matter if you still win!



Did it, if they do it again are you and others guilty of not seeing the reality that what matters if playing at your peak and the right point of the season?



Of course, but doesn't that also apply to every other club in the comp, more so if the Rhinos win again?

Leeds' squad is the 5th best in the competition with a combination of ageing forwards and some relatively inexperienced backs (though with plenty of promise), why's it such a surprise that they should therefore finish 5th, only 4 points off 3rd place?!

The argument of someone being judged a bad coach must beg the question have you seen them coach? Also decisions made by the coach can be influenced by many other factors that fans are not privy to.

Except last year they finished 1st Seth.

Finishing places have yet to be determined for this year as well.

Also, as a Leeds fan I'd be delighted if we won it again from 5th (though doubt we will) because the supporters at every other club would self com-bust. Furthermore, and more amusing, some of our own fekkwitts would also do likewise at the prospect of yet another year of "papering over the cracks" also known is the sane universe as winning a championship.

I wouldn't, some would though. If you win it again it's because you're the best team in the comp

Everyone knows the method used to decide the champions at the start of the year

Good call Gareth! Point being that they cannot maintain a challenge over the weekly rounds due to the deficiencies mainly in the forwards but still have enough class to win a few when it counts.

We won't cross that bridge because they won't win it this year.

No, it won't be 'papering over the cracks' because not finishing high up the league won't be a crack.

If we do it again, we will have proven the 27 rounds of SL matches are meaningless, as long as you make the eight, and can produce better performances in 4 games consecutively than other sides.

Which, in fact, would suggest that a tactic of allowing 'up for it' teams that can win a one-off game but not perform regularly (e.g. Wakefield) can blow themselves out while we have plenty in the tank for the P/O's.

That said, if we do win, I fully expect the RFL to overhaul the playoffs.

Why? Has anyone won it from eighth? Seventh? Sixth? How many have won from fifth? How many from fourth or indeed third? There is clear advantage to be earned from winning regular season rounds, but like everything, key actions at key times are what really matters.

If Leeds do it again from 5th then it still doesn't prove that the playoffs are massively flawed IMO. Not until we see other teams do it from the 5th-8th positions with squads that don't have a quarter of the playoff experience that Leeds' team contains will i think that. The SL has just reached a strange period where the previous top team (Leeds) have slipped but still have enough on the day to win big ones thanks hugely to having over half a team with 3, 4, 5 GF winners rings. Whilst the top teams weekly, struggle to get over that final hurdle. It will soon change as the number of GF winners in Leeds' squad decreases and other teams finally nail more Playoff success.

If Leeds did win, people would still say McDermott is clueless and it was the team that did it..

Maybe papering over the cracks is the wrong phrase

Dont get me wrong - I love winning the Grand Final and the novelty still hasnt worn off for me

This season more than any though my mind cant help but stray back to 2004 and the way we played all year and really long for that again...