Hi there. This is my first post on this forum, been reading for a while but after Saturday's win and all the recent negative rubbish that's been spouted on the other boards (particularly by Wigan fans) i felt compelled to say something.

Been watching Leeds since i was 9 years old ('83) so like many on here i remember all too well the years of being 'nearly men' and the many hidings the team took in big matches (especially a certain Premiership final against Wigan at OT i think that we lost something like 69-10?). Needless to say i'm delighted to be a Leeds fan in the current era but also, and perhaps more importantly i am delighted to be a rugby league fan. I just cannot understand all these comments from other fans about how Super League is a shambles, the play offs a joke and RL is in a general state of decline. Do they not remember how incredibly tedious it was watching Wigan win everything throughout the late 80's/early 90's (granted Wigan fans probably didn't find it tedious)? Do they seriously want a return to days when the season was over for the majority of clubs come late August, as Wigan were way ahead on points and teams below 3rd had absolutely nothing to play for? And they say the weekly rounds mean nothing now?? Even though Leeds are now the dominant force in terms of SL championships won we at least have Saints, Bradford and Wigan having won the title over the past 12 years not to mention the dominance of Wire in the Challenge Cup as well.

While the current play off system may not be perfect, having a top 8 play off position up for grabs as an incentive for clubs in the lower half of the table means that at least there is something to play for come season end. Not only that but the Grand Final is fast becoming a 'must see' event on the sporting calendar, not just for RL fans but for sports fans in general. I suppose what i'm trying to say in a roundabout way is that Rugby League is a fantastic product, Leeds Rhinos are a fantastic team, and the playoffs/Grand Final is a fantastic and compelling spectacle. I feel it is petty and churlish of those who fail to acknowledge these positives. I love this game and i love this team, it would do some people a lot of good to remember just how bleak RL was in the not too distant past.

I never realised Lewis Jones held the championship final record points scored,considering there have been some high points scoring finals

He held the LEEDS record. I don't know about any others.

I took my info from last season's handbook. Not always the most reliable tome.

Now the dust has settled on another GF victory, it allows you to think of what Leeds have achieved in the last nine years. First games i went to where CC finals in the 1970's being brought up down in London. Started watching Leeds properly since the mid 1980's and god there have been some deep lows with the odd high. One of the best was in i think 92 going to Central Park and i think we turned over Wigan 16-0, but so many defeats to Wigan the destruction of us by Charriots and the last ever Premier Ship final when Wigan and in particular Jason Robinson destroyed us. Semi final defeats in the mid 1990's to Bradford and then in the earl 2000's to Saint Helens. You started to believe that Leeds were never going to be the best, then going to Bradford year after to year to get hammered, only being brightened up by seeing Barry Mac hit Fielden. Buying so called super stars only to find out they were here for one more pay day.

But it changed with Tony Smith, remember saying after losing to Wigan in the play offs in 2003 that i cannot face getting so far and no further. But Tony Smith turned Leeds around he built a wining side, gone were the days of beating a side by 40 points one week and then losing the next week. He was lucky to have a group of young players to build the side around.

This side is on a par with the Wigan side of the late 80's if not a better side as it is a more level playing field with all sides full time and the cap. I think as Leeds supporters we don't actually see what these team has achieved, it has won the league 6 times out of 9 years. In the history of Rugby League not many sides have done that.

If you had said this to me in 2003 this was going to happen, i would have said you need a bed in High Royds.

WELL DONE LEEDS.

Well said.

I remember the Wigan game you mention well (though i think it was actually 19-0, sorry to be a pedant!) as it was the first time i'd been to Central park and seen Leeds win against them. Me and my dad used to go in the Swinley Labour Club near the ground before each game, my dad's mate was a member so we'd meet up and he'd take us in for the banter. They used to play re-runs of all the Challenge Cup wins in the backroom there on matchday so it was always agonising having to listen to their fans drone on and on about how amazing Wigan were and how Leeds would never achieve such greatness ( 4.07275390625:5