Maybe the form you showed in last years playoffs came more down to player power rather than the coach's ability? It seemed to me that your senior players stepped up and dug in more, whereas this season when you needed to kick on it hasnt happened. Its got to be down to your coach to keep the momentum of last season up, but McDounut doesnt seem to have a clue at the moment. His body language after Fridays game was shocking as a head coach and even though you got hammered, he should have been appearing to be possitive and just put it down to a bad night at the races. Take a look at Nathan Brown at the post match interview after the Wigan game. Even though his side were on the end of a hiding, he stayed possitive and showed the media and other teams that they arnt beaten yet and the season isnt over by one defeat.

Off the field, I'd rather the club lost than overtly cheat to win or to avoid relegation if P & R was still around.

IIRC, Wigan brought in two players (Fielden and Dobson) and Noble turned their season around as they climbed off the bottom and finished 8th of twelve - five (nett three) points clear of the relegated Castleford. Opening eight rounds under Millward - one win, two Rounds under Wilkinson and Farrar - two losses, remaining eighteen rounds under Noble - eleven wins.

What saved Wigan's season was a new head coach who got his players to buckle down and follow his instructions. Not sure in there is a lesson in this or not.

Not necessarily disagree with you but playing devils advocate the end of last year could have had not a lot to do with McDermott and maybe some experienced pros motivating themselves for one last big game before the rot. I have no inside information just a thought.
Personally the rugby in general that I have watched in the last 2 seasons has been pretty dire the last part of the season excluding and the first part of this year up to WCC. u also have to bear in mind he has taken charge in a difficult period

Personally there must be and are alot better managers out there but I imagine he is fairly cheap option as appose to others. It's not my decision and I will support them whoever is in charge.

Agree with most of this but the players themselves attributed much of that extra motivation to BMD.

You do however highlight the problem in discussing this. If as you say last year's success was motivate by the players putting in a great swansong, then how would you expect any coach to motivate them after. If it wasn't, then BMD did a pretty amazing job at the end of last season.
None of us can gauge from the outside how much of the last couple of seasons' lack of consistency is down to an ageing and increasingly complacent set of players, and how much is down to the coach.

Only the older players like him cos he keeps playing them regardless the younger players dont because he does not trust them .this is not a coach building for future but one trying to save his job.

I'm not surprised by his current popularity amongst SL supporters. He'd get my vote on here as well if I weren't a Leeds fan.

It's either that or the Leeds CEO has multiple user accounts at RLFans.