We sat in last place in the league with only 3 wins from 17

15 months on we're heading back to Old Trafford.

Regardless of the result next week, regardless of what you think about performances, excitement value, squad, coach, CEO, recruitment, quality of opposition......it's a bloody good comeback and show of character, character which was questioned extremely heavily last year and often this year too.

Yep it is / fair play/kudos to all involved plus throw in the CC semi rout it magnifies that character even more.

Couldn't agree more. Hats off to the whole staff. Superb stuff.

Throw in the hammering at Cas at the start of the year. They still believed they could reach the GF afterwards and McDermott even came out and said so and got monumentally ridiculed.

Yep he did & i was one of them questioning him lets hope we at the very least give them a game next week.

None of this is down to McDermott , it's only is fault when we get beat dont you know .

Yet another grand final will not silence the know nowt Mac hating gimps on here .

Grand Final his year and a place in the World Club Series next season. Not bad going.

I'm awaiting the inevitable rumour that Sinfield and Peacock came in and took training this week.

You only really find the true measure of people in adversity, and McDermott and his players have shown true character to get here. I'm pleased for McDermott especially, as he'll never win over a section of the fans, and he deserves this.

Champions to qualifiers to grand finalists is some rollercoaster ride.

McDermott has been at the helm for some unique Leeds club milestone moments - good and bad. I don't care for him but what I think doesn't matter one jot.

Isn*t that been already decided?Thought Hull FC and Wigan are playing down under next year.

that's a league game. madness. glad it's not us. stupid idea

No its only because Mags and Burrow are leaving

What an achievement to get to the grand final. Obviously hope we win but just getting there is huge after the roller coaster 2 seasons.

It certainly has been a roller coaster 18 months or so. As pleased as I am surprised with how the last month has gone. It's clear that there is a very special bond between the coach, players and club. I'm one of the doubters, perhaps because I don't always understand why some things are done, but what does that really matter.

Well done Brian, you've done it again!

It's fascinating I think.
We all appear to believe - there are some execeptions - that every other SL team is better coached, has more planned moves etc. etc. yet here we are in the GF.
Even last night Hull appeared to have more structure & a better kicking game yet we still won.
How do we do it?
Beggared if I know.

What I find hardest to believe are the rumours people put on here about how players don't get on with the coach. Especially after his post match interviews. And how players have said he's the best coach they've worked under (sinfield, JJB). I was speaking to JJB (granted this was 3 years ago) and he said McDermott is the best man managing coach he's ever had. Yet we're always hearing the like of "garbutts leaving Cos he's fallen out with McDermott" and how he's a bully. Maybe it's true, we'll never know. But I just find it hard to believe.

You only have to listen to what he says in his press conferences to know that he's not a bullter, that when he speaks to the players he's not ever going to blow smoke up their arris's and just tell them how it is. some people hate the truth being told about them either to their face individually or within a group/team context, however it garners respect and loyalty and a willingness to do the very best you can.
If you treat everyone the same no matter if you're the rookie whose mum still wipes his or a seasoned vet you gain massively, it's also easier to do things that way, it sets your stall out, if you don't like it, you'll likely get shipped out even if you are a massive talent. The best man managers understand people, aren't afraid to give it straight and make hard decisions but also treat people as human beings and are fair in all aspects.
I know Leeds have had some difficult times and expectations are always high but BM is a top coach and you're lucky to have him.

Apparently Sinfield and Peacock were the only two he really got on with and he had little to no communication with other players. Bloody nonsense.

a full season with a no9 makes a difference

They are playing fabricated friendlies in Australia aswell as their round of super league. The league leaders and grand final winners are in the world club series. Defaults to runners up if Castleford win on Saturday.

Who is coming over from the NRL? The two Grand Finalists ( Melbourne & NQC) or just the winner and whoever can be ar$ed?

Shame Cronulla failed in the first week of playoffs so we couldn't have a Segeyaro reunion. Parcell has had a dream team season over here and could still win a title whilst Segeyaro missed several months with a broken arm and then had to settle for a bench place on his return and out of the playoffs first week.....what a shame

That's just extra sweet.

Superb achievement.

But regardless of whether we win it or not - I'd still like to see McDermott leave.

After last year just getting into the top 4 would have been a success to me, so we've overachieved. However, now we're in the GF I want to win it. At the least we need to put up a good performance. If we do that and lose I'll be more than happy happy with the year. If we get mullered I'm not sure the current feel good factor will remain.

If we win then pretty much all credit would have to go to BM. I still think he struggles to coach a structure and some of our performances on his watch have been poor, but even if we do lose he will go down as the most successful coach in the club's history.