When you say 'he' you mean McDermott alone yes? So I take it you are blaming him entirely for the loss yesterday because of his team selection?

You don't lay any of the blame at the feet of the players who had a healthy, and what should have been winning, lead and blew it??

Whether we are at home or away in the play-offs won't matter too much, especially this year with how little there are to choose between all the leading contenders. All I see is the coaching staff managing the squad the best they can to win BOTH trophies.

Really? I see them managing the squad the best they can to win the Challenge Cup.

And home/away *always* matters a lot in Rugby League, where there are huge swings on marginal referees' decisions and referees are influenced by vocal crowds. It matters *even more* if there is "little to choose between the leading contenders".

Yes, right now you do. That's because the final is on Saturday, in case you'd missed it.

And they shouldn't be doing this??

We did ok as the away team in 2011 and 2012 as I seem to recall. And went out in 2010 at home...

And weren't that far away last season, despite playing with a busted team. Which McDermott was roundly criticised for if I remember correctly.

This year, it seems as much as possible is being done to prevent that happening again. Result? People still not happy.

I don't think I've been petty about any point you made.
I don't see why losing against Bradford and London makes the "danger" of winning nothing this year particularly any more likely. In fact it's more than likely given us a better chance of winning the Cup this year.
Yes it's made it less likely that we'll win the league leaders shield but that would be the case had we lost to Wigan and Warrington instead of Bradford and London. In terms of the league I'd far rather we lose to the bottom 2 than any of the top 6.
We should have won both games. But had we won them the "danger" of winning nothing this year would still be just as present and just as likely to happen.
If we win the LLS this season and nothing else I'd still, despite having a slight smug feeling for a couple of weeks, feel like the season was a bit disappointing.

Leeds didn't lose to Bradford or London because of the above - they lost because players didn't do the basics like catch the ball and tackle opponents. That has nothing to do with off the cuff attacking style.

How many of the team spent the night before in the flesh pots of London........

If you win the CC next weekend losing to us on Sunday will be forgotten about, Brain Mac will be hailed a genius yada yada.....

not by everyone. there are some of us who can see past the trophies

It appears that Brian Mc and the Leeds management have learned a lot from Wigan's success last year and have take the decision to rest players for certain fixtures. This approach is clearly designed to keep the strongest side as fresh as possible going into the 'business end' of the season.

Ideally we would (and probably should) have beaten Bradford and London (the worst side I've ever seen in Super League) with weakened sides leaving us in a very, very strong position going into the playoffs. As it is we are still in a fairly strong position albeit we are unlikely now to win the LLS (a shame as winning it kills the League Leaders versus Champions debate we are subjected to every time the Champions come from a place other than top of the League)

Having said all that we will still have to play out of our skins to land the Challenge Cup and be in contention for GF winners rings...Exciting times ahead starting in 4 days!

COYR