I think we're all being a tad too critical. Yes, it was a game we should have won. Yes, our attack needed a boost. But really, the game would have been won had we had Sinfield kicking. I know it's easy to see a loss and panic, but we lost by 2 points - 2-4 points Sinfield would have kicked. Let's remember we're relying on our FOURTH choice kicker.

And we're saying we can't blame our injuries, but why not? When we were at basically full strength we were Top of the Table with the best defence in the competition. Our players are going to start coming back and with them, our level of skill and ideas will increase.

That's not to say there aren't changes McDermott could make, or that those first-team players we have had playing have played to their best, because there are always improvements to be made, but I'm certainly not worrying about the rest of the season. And I'd rather this 'slump' happen against teams such as Wakefield who a) Are not challenging us for high spots on the table, b) we use frequently to give younger players SL experience, and C) As a team I don't want to see them relegated.

Reading this it's evident the majority chose to stay at home and watch the game on TV. True supporters! Sure you will all be out in force for the cup final/ grand final though.

Are you one of the bunch of idiots that used to sing "loyal supporters" at fans who left early when Leeds were getting hammered?

Nope. Just a very poor turnout last night, smallest leeds following I have seen in years at Belle Vue.

Doesn't say much for the home "following" for Wakefield's cup final either, does it?

As poor as it was we were we should still have held on to take the points. Truly awful defending for the final try, especially as Wakey had telegraphed that switch move several times in the lead up to it. It was ridiculously laborious and predictable yet still enough to fool the Leeds team.

Still, how Ryan Hall was judged to have deliberately played for the ball and knocked on and Mathers didn't a couple of plays later is another mystery.

This is a really bad result. Those points will matter at the end of the season and we should have done much better than that. Our attack down the right, which was so promising at the start of the season has disappeared with Zac Hardaker. Every game BJB plays at FB must be cementing his position on the wing at Salford.
Dare I say this, but we are really missing Rob Burrow.

Oh, and Sutcliffe will be a big loose forward with good hands, pace and a dangerous step. A busy half controlling a game he probably won't be.

I agree whilst having some sympathy for the team. IIRC Walters was defending at centre due to Moon's injury and it was he that went flying in field from the Wakey play the ball that Tim Smith spotted and sent the ball back the other way, leaving Hall 2-on-1.

Whilst we weren't good enough and some players need to pull their socks up, if Moon hadn't been injured we win that game.

I admire your optimism

I'm not really that optimistic, but it's highly unlikely that a centre the quality of Moon would have been dragged away from his position the same way Walters was. Our defence was pretty good at that point and I'm 90% that we'd have defended Wakey's last attack.

He's right. What makes Walters look so promising is his enthusiasm and determination to get in the face. In the forwards closer to the middle you can do this. As a centre you move up with your winger. Walters enthusiasm was his downfall there, shame for the lad. And Smith having a rugby brain probably spotted the fact it was him at centre and how he dad been defending.

Highly unlikely but not completely certain that Moon would not have been dragged away, and your only 90% and not 100% sure you'd have defended Wakey's last attack if Moon had not been injured your not very decisive, and had Moon not been injured you would have won the game I'd have been more inclined to agree with you if you had said you would have won the game if Sinfield had been playing due to the missed conversions'.