Just thought it worth mentioning that the Leeds fans over on SS are showing real class over on their forum tonight regarding the Wigan performance. There is so much unnecesary backbiting and negativity on these boards at times between fans of our great game that it's refreshing to see. They're even vociferous in their praise of Sam, which can't be easy for them tonight. Fair play to them.

you should try the leeds united forum waccoe, priceless

Thanks for the heads up, I'll have a look later.

Leeds fans were all saying how good we were walking away from the ground. They just had to accept that we were sensational.

I'm going to be honest, I came on here when I got home looking forward to just watching the Leeds forum melt down, but I haven't, very very gracious, not what I expected.

I've never had any problems with fans at Headingley nor even at Knowsley Road.

Wilderspool however was a different 'kettle of fish'.

There's some surprisingly sensible stuff from Leeds fans on their board regarding Tomkins.

And then there's this comment from a Wire fan:



You couldn't make it up.

Wirethunder is not handling the pressure very well. All the posts I've seen from him since last night have been petulant and juvenile. Whereas the Leeds faithful are generally behaving like sensible fans who realise they have problems their club needs to address.

Spoke to a couple of Leeds fans outside the ground after, who were extremely gracious,knowledgable and full of admiration for what was a stunning Wigan display, truly breathtaking.

how can the leeds fans be calling for the coach to be sacked,short memories -last season, grand final winners and no shame losing at wembley either.

There is no disputing the fact that, We are the current superleague and world club champs, And to come to our ground and play the way you did with a very understrength side deserves so much credit, we dont have to like each other in this sport, but when credit is due then that is something very different,

Well done wigan for teaching us a real rugby league lesson

Papered over the cracks IMO. Even McDermot gets impatient with such talk, but I honestly believe that he is the problem. Leeds don't seem to be playing with any motivation at present.

One of the poorest trolls on RLFans, ever!

I agree. I believe Leeds got to both finals and winning one in spite of McDermott as opposed to because of him.

I agree

Still never prevented him from launching a stomach churning "i have been vilified" post grand final speech.

There was no humility that night, from the head coach of the flukiest team to ever win the GF. As far as he was concerned he had proved all his doubters wrong.

Think he might have jumped the gun a little personally

Haha. Made me laugh that. If ever there was an example of the difference between class and the lack of it, that post was it!

On the McDermott points, I read some stats (from Bilko, I think) just prior to this match that his win rate was barely over 50%. They won the title last year with their worst season's performance in years and have carried that form into this season. They've just suffered their worst home defeat in SL from a massively depleated Wigan side. The title win was testament to the team on the one hand but I also truly believe that they benefitted enormously from Wigan running out of steam after the CC win. Mcdermott, in my opinion, is a poor coach who has shown his true standing during the weekly rounds of the 2 seasons he's been in charge and, were it not for good fortune and a team able to step up when it mattered, would have been shown the door by now.

It's the first time in my memory that I didn't get a single comment from a Leeds fan when walking back to the car last night. If we win in a close match then we're 'cheats' and Leeds 'wuz robbed' and if we get beat well every Tom, Dick and Harry in a Leeds shirt has something to say but last night you could hear a pin drop!

It was a priceless 10 minute walk that I rather enjoyed.

Leeds fans have always been gracious in defeat. Unbearable when they win though

Two very interesting points from the TV coverage yesterday.

Firsly, when Charnley brought the ball in from the wing to touchdown under the posts, no Leeds player was rushing back to head him off. Okay, they possibly felt they were well-beaten by then. But there didn't seem to be any motivation to try and keep Wigan's score down. Totally reminded me of us under Millward.

Secondly, at half-time - the Leeds dressing room looked inert. McDermot was barely speaking, and afterwards I'm sure I heard one of the summarisers say something like "a very disappointing half-time team talk in the Leeds dressing room - most of it came from the senior players". Dare I say it, but that reminded me of the John Dorahy era, when Wigan's senior players took him to one side and told him to keep quiet as from that point on they were coaching the team - the only difference is that those players were the likes of Shaun Edwards, Dean Bell and Andy Platt, not the likes of Kevin Sinfield, Danny Maguire and Ryan Bailey.

Leeds really reminded me of us when we were on the decline in the early 2000s. Establised players still playing when past it (when they should really be shown the door) and players that do leave not being replaced by anyone of any where near the same quality. This season and next will be pivotal for Leeds and the direction they take going forward. Do they take prompt action and make the changes needed or do they pretend everything is okay and continue their descent to mediocrity.

In a weird way it has almost hindered them by winning the SL from 5th last year. It meant they have rested on the laurels and didn't make too many changes in personnel, either playing or coaching.

They might throw back at me "yes but we're champions" "we won it from 5th" "it's not how you're playing in June it's September that counts" etc etc. They did fantastically well to beat Wire away and Saints in the GF but for me it should be much more difficult to win it from outside the top 2. By splitting the top 8 in to a top and bottom 4 you are automatically giving 5th an easier game than 1st or 2nd, who have to play 3rd and 4th. I know most people don't like a top 8 system in a 14 team league (myself included) but if the RFL/Sky want to continue with it they have to look at a format that rewards form throughout the 27 weekly rounds, not just the last month.

Personally I would like a top 5 or at a push top 7 where the top placed team get week one off and you simply play knockout top v bottom. That's too simple for our sport though.

Fans are turning up week in, week out being subjected to inept performances. Wigan are playing outstanding RL at the moment as your coaching staff are clearly getting the best out of the squad. Can this be said of the Rhinos? We are talking about virtually the same players that pushed you close at Wembley then knocked Wire out of the playoffs.

They ARE a good squad as they have proved by putting trophies in the cabinet, but they are conning loyal supporters by waving the white flag too many times this season (again, no disrespect to the opposition).

Respect

We did win the league under Dorahy though!

...and we won the Championship under Mcdermott!



Unfortunately a lot of our players are getting on and are unable to be as effective as they once were, but thats the cyclical nature of sport.

It would have been great if last nights game had been between your current team and ours from 2005. Now thats one match that would have been phenominal!