I thought Smiths kicking was decent and it gave us the platform to keep the pressure on with regards to territory in terms first half outside of that Smith, Tommy and Powell created nothing really but even though it was frustrating to only be 2 ahead at half time i felt we had landed enough blows to soften Leeds up in the second half and wear them down but the 5/10 minutes of madness from us conceding 2 soft try’s and then the red card have ultimately cost us the game, it’s given Leeds the extra belief they needed and obviously the numerical advantage.
Fair play to Leeds that was amazing goal line defence but I do stand by my statement and I don’t think this Leeds side is great, I could see Saints putting a beating on them next week.

Smith's kicking game was superb, but he was dreadful with ball in hand.

We've not beat Salford yet

Agreed. I think if Cust was fit we go into the half time break 12 up at least.

Smith seemed very nervous. Played himself out of the England squad tonight for me.

True when you look that all the top teams have lost Catalan ,Huddersfield and Wigan who knows what the Saints result will bring.

Powell was terrible too.

It was a red all day long , but at the time Leeds were on top .

He was painfully slow and was for me, the reason we only scored 4 points after all that pressure. His ball handling from the ruck is awful.

Nah - injuries are just something to be dealt with apparently. They don’t have any genuine impact.

Just another game that glaringly shows the problems we’ve had in big games over the last however many years. We just don’t have it in us to win the big games consistently. A few more seasons of turning around the squad will help. No Tommy, Powell and Isa will be a start. Powell once again gets to fall over the line and massage his stats at the end. We really need a threat from 9 and centres that give us some form of threat. I don’t think I can cope with second rows filling half the side for another season.

That's what I thought, cos although we weren't great in the first half, we had the field position, and there's been plenty of games this season where we've held a narrow lead at half-time, and taken teams to the cleaners in the second half. At half-time, after Peet had had a word, I didn't see any reason why this game should be different. But with 20/20 hindsight...

We sure need better centres. Catch and pass from Bibby, and Marshy is in in the first half.

Forgot about that - painful wasn't it? You're simply not a centre if you're not inclined to pass to your winger. Or if you don't have the skill to execute the pass.

Dire that from Bibby. Hopefully King is the start of overhauling that area because it desperately needs it.

Wouldn't it be nice if Willie Isa was off contract so we had a nice shiny quota spot to play with?

Thought Isa was really good tonight but lacks the quality we need in a quota spot.

Same goes for Miski.

2 quota spots wasted.

I've been happy with Cust without thinking him as being brilliant but tonight we missed him big style. Him and Smith haven't played as right and left halves but instead combined to give width and create an extra man. Tonight it just never happened with Tommy unfortunately too slow. Result - nothing, zero creativity.

It must be the slowest we've played all season. But thanks Peet and guys we've had a lot of fun this year.

Last thought, come on Salford.

Yeah, we nearly threw away the cup semi and didn’t really turn up in the final either. Still a good season though and I would have taken it at the start, it’s also looking like we should be stronger next year if the rumours are true.

I am not convinced it was, the game has gone soft. Bateman was trying to change the game because you are right Leeds were on top. The best team won, full stop. Smith has transformed Leeds.

The game plan was pants.

It didn’t help that we switched Smith to our left flank, our combinations were not existent. The coaching staff need to shoulder most of the blame. Hopefully, they will learn from this experience.

You must be spot on, that’s why the Aussies want him. I look forward to your explanation.

A Challenge Cup win and second in the lead, how did you guys get on? Answers on a postage stamp please.

Exactly.

And Mago. They are not use to playing so many matches!

Playing on the wrong side of the field to accommodate Tommy. Would be a no no for me.