If Leeds beat us on Saturday they will have a very strong claim of being the best team of the Super League era.

I don't think they get the credit they deserve from some Saints fans but there is no doubt they are an excellent side with quality throughout.

There have been some other great sides such as the Bradford side that reached the final 5 years on the bounce and were within a couple of points of making it 3-in-a-row themselves. Also our all-conquering 2006 side that won everything on offer and who's biggest loss was by only 4 points.

So who do you think is the best during the SL era?

I was not very pretty but the Bradford team of 2003 had far too much muscle for anyone to stop, best to watch would probably be Saints early 2000s.

Depends on the length of time you want to look at:

for a 1 off season, the 2006 Saints team was the single best team. Only losing 4 games, by a total of 10 points all year will never be matched.

over a longer period the Bulls era of 5 GF's in a row will be difficult to match and if Leeds win on Saturday, 3 consecutive titles will make them the most succesful.

However, if we win - 2 titles in 4 years, with 2 GF losses is a great record too.

Leeds are a good side yes but Bradford 2003 and Saints 2006 won the lot



Leeds for the past 2 yrs have played well in the Grand Final were it matters and won but Saints were the best team all year and they know it



This year Leeds have been the best side and need to back it up by winning on Saturday or we'll be the second place Champions

The Leeds 04 team was pretty good!

And probably still not ...

Cant be best ever, they lost more games over the years than saints and not won as many trophies to. Saints, then dulls, then leeds, then wigoon, then hull is the way it goes.

how many trophies have leeds won in the SL era? the CC is their problem, just once in SL era, am i right? 1999 methinks

I'd agree with that. Over one year that side (much as it pained me to see it) was awesome. Bulls 2003 and Leeds 2004 (in that order) would follow for me as the best crops.

Over a longer period of time it comes down to how you want to judge it. Over the SL era as a whole I think Saints still lead the way, Leeds are now fairly close to Bradford for 2nd.

Yup.


Saints
Bulls
Whinos


Is how it goes for the SL era.

I think the OP is talking about the best individual team (Group of players).

You would be right.

Yes that's how I was thinking but I not precious about how people answer. The Leeds team they have now has largely been the same core of players for the last few years.

Personally I think the 2003 Bradford team was one of the best. You only need to consider their bench in the final to see how strong they were.

Let's not forget the current saints team, 4 grand finals on the trot.

For individual teams, I think this Leeds team is approaching greatness, three Grand Finals in a row and winning two is an amazing achievement, but I don't think they are [ithat[/i far ahead of us at the moment, bar 2007 it's been pretty even stevens between us.

If they win three in a row they will be talked about in the same way as Saints 06 and Bradford 03, as they should be really.

Correct, one of the all time great teams if they win and even if they don't they have still achieved what all other teams dream of.

If we win on Saturday the SL order would be IMHO

Saints
Leeds
Bulls

if we lose

Saints
Leeds/Bulls ( joint 2nd. )

Winning 3 back-to-back Grand Finals would be a fantastic, unprecedented achievement that would put Leeds up there as one of the best teams in the SL era.

I fancy them to do it, too.

I'd agree with that.

Coudl this be a beautifully timed thread resulting in an epic fail from Leeds?

In 2004 the Rhinos only lost 2 league games and drew a further 2, so we in fact only dropped 6 league points

IN the SL era, Wigan have finished top as many times as Leeds. MOTWYW.

Saints in the past 2 years have been 80's mins away from 3 consecutive trebles, that is fantastic. Leeds don't compare to Saints in the past 5 seasons. Cos they win the playoffs it clouds out judgement of great.

In terms of the 2 major titles - 'Champions' & 'Challenge Cup Winners', Saints are far and away the most successful club of the Super League era :


[uYear Champions Challenge Cup[/u
1996 Saints Saints
1997 Bradford Saints
1998 Wigan Sheffield
1999 Saints Leeds
2000 Saints Bradford
2001 Bradford Saints
2002 Saints Wigan
2003 Bradford Bradford
2004 Leeds Saints
2005 Bradford Hull
2006 Saints Saints
2007 Leeds Saints
2008 Leeds Saints
2009 ? Warrington

[uTOTAL 27 Trophies [/u
Saints 12
Bradford 6
Leeds 4
Wigan 2
Sheffield 1
Hull 1
Warrington 1

How?

2004 Leeds were dominant but they didn't win every trophy - we knocked them out of the cup

In 1997 Bradford only lost 2 matches in the league all year they could & maybe should have won them all - this is the best league record but they lost the cup final.

In 2006 Saints won the challenge cup as well as the league shield and the GF all while losing only 4 games by a total of just 10 points it is the best single season Super League record (for traditional fans) and they even won the WCC in their next match.

Regardless of Saturday this Leeds squad has to be up there with the very best, to get to 3 GF in a row is a special effort for any team.

Before the CC semi final this year they have singlehandedly stopped an outstanding St Helens squad from dominating the last 4 seasons.