Just seen some highlights from 2004.

It's quite a while ago you forget, but holy sh*t how good was our squad and our play?

Bloody marcus bai on kick returns, this guy was like a world class prop forward for making yards, and his finishing ability was just awesome.

mcguire, senior and lauititi in their pomp down the left combining with bai, damn we tore teams to shreds with that combination.

Dave furner! Mcdermotts 10 minute stints off the bench..... the way used to be in a constant mode of attack. Mcguires pace!!!

Man it's depressing looking at our players now and the way we play now. We have declined a long way.

& others have caught up & even overtaken us.

Well warrington are up there instead of bradford.

wigan are obviously better, but saints are worse (yes i know they had a disaster 2nd half of the season that year).

Hull were loads better in 2004 then they are now.

I would argue that Saints are team of the year when you consider the number & length of injuries that they have suffered to key personnel.

I would argue that Warrington are team of the year playing the most entertaining rugby.

I still don't think we got the credit we deserved for the 2004 season. We were outstanding. It's ridiculous that a team that won 4 titles (including the first coach to ever win two in a row, and being the first team to ever win 3 in a row) never received a 'coach of the year' award or a 'Man Of Steel' gong.

......over my shoulder.....

The 2005 season, despite nothing to show for it other than the WCC, was even leagues above the 2004. That team was simply amazing, and better than any side I have seen in the super league era, or infact before that.

Tony Smith.

That is all.

Watching Warrington this year is like watching a 2004 and 2005 Leeds highlight video. Why could that be?

Tony Smith is good, but I'm reliably informed that his coaching record pales when compared to that Garry Schofield.

SL Era (Regular Round) stats:

Highest Aggregate Game Total - 56 - 1996
Lowest Aggregate Game Total - 44 - 1998

Most Points in a season - 1152 - Leeds - 2005
Least Points in a season - 288 - Huddersfield - 1998

Least Points Conceded in a season - 222 - Wigan - 1998
Most Points Conceded in a season - 1227 - Halifax - 2003

Highest Positive Points Difference in a season - 671 - Warrington - 2011
Highest Negative Points Difference in a season - 855 - Halifax - 2003

Highest Avg Points For Per Game in a season - 43.18 - St Helens - 1996
Lowest Avg Points For Per Game in a season - 12.52 - Huddersfield - 1998

Lowest Avg Points Against Per Game in a season - 9.65 - Wigan - 1998
Highest Avg Points Against Per Game in a season - 46.41 - Workington - 1996

Highest Avg Positive Points Difference Per Game in a season - 26.18 - Wigan - 1996
Highest Avg Negative Points Difference Per Game in a season - 31.64 - Workington - 1996

Simple really the best squad with the greatest depth plays the best rugby!!

[iYear - Man Of Steel - League Position of Club[/i
1996 - Farrel - Wigan finished 2nd
1997 - Lowes - Bradford finished 1st
1998 - Harris - Leeds finished 2nd
1999 - Vowles - Cas finished 5th
2000 - Long - Saints finished 2nd
2001 - Sculthorpe - Saints finished 4th
2002 - Sculthorpe - Saints finished 1st
2003 - Peacock - Bradford finished 1st
2004 - Farrell - Wigan finished 4th
2005 - Lyon - Saints finished 1st
2006 - Wellens - Saints finished 1st
2007 - Roby - Saints finished 1st
2008 - Graham - Saints finished 1st
2009 - Hodgson - Huddersfield finished 3rd
2010 - Richards - Wigan finished 1st

Given that the Mos is announced BEFORE the Grand Final (and thus before we know who the "Champions" are) perhaps it's not that shocking to see that over half the time (8 from 15) it goes to the team that finished top.

I've often wondered what the impact on the MoS list would be if it were announced when all was properly said and done. Perhaps Leeds would've faired better. From '02-'08 the award went to the team finishing top of the league, except rather conveniently for 2004 when not only did Leeds finish top of the league by 9 clear points, we also had a 200+ better points difference than our nearest AND went on to win the GF too. For some reason, the trend was bucked that year. Conspiracy theorists eat your heart out.

MOS is nothing more than a player's popularity contest amongst their peer group.

Leeds players should wear that failure as a badge of honour.