The best coach Leeds have ever had by a country mile.

The very same coach who was suggested only by [i'The Great And All Knowing AP'[/i in the immediate aftermath of Tony Smith's departure announcement on this forum.

The very same suggestion of [i'Bluey'[/i which emitted sundry substandard responses on here such as.....

Who is Bluey? (G1)
Is it Wayne Pearce? (Oldham Rhino)
He's got no credible club coaching experience (G1, fanstanningley, Chrislongun, etc)

AP has never ever uttered a single criticism or offered a single opinion of doubt over Bluey's credentials (tactical or otherwise) as the Leeds coach and AP challenges anyone to find any post where he has done just that.

It's just a shame that all those sundry ts in here (you know who you are!) have doubted his ability as the Leeds coach all along.

And if anyone is in any doubt as to the identity of most of those who have over-indulged on this forum in casting aspersions over Bluey's credentials and abilities... I'll give you a clue.

Their contempt for Bluey as Leeds coach (in comparison to Tony Smith) is often evidenced by their consistency in not even bothering to learn how to spell his surname properly over a period of 18 months.

But doesn't he need to win [iat least[/i 2 more titles to be entitled to such a crown?

did you enjoy the performance tonight?

I'm a Cas fan and I love this guy.

I shout for Saints tonight but Leeds totally desevred the win. Congratulations.

McClennan tells it as it is. Legend.

Still hate you lot but like your coach.

I’ve never doubted Blueys credentials and it didn’t help my cause for not been called AP..

He was employed to make us back to back champions. The guys done it and is a legend!!

But on some things you are just plain wrong are you not?

[i"Back in 'LOSER CITY'... home of ..................... the most underachieving RL club ever!"[/i

Leeds would need to become champions at least 20 times to rid themselves of that worthy tag, given the size of the club and it's infrastructure.

HTH

Was it not Anal Probe who tipped Saints to win by 18 pts - KNOBSTER !!!

Hi there loiner81

Brian McClennan (200icon_cool.gif V Tony Smith (2007)

[iBLUEY[/i - SL Champions, SL regular season finished 2nd, won 21 lost 6, scored 863pts, conceded 413pts, lost in semi final of MM Cup.

[iSMITH[/i - SL Champions, SL regular season finished 2nd, won 18, drew 1, lost 8, scored 747pts, conceded 487pts. lost in last 16 of MM Cup.



AP declares BRIAN MCCLENNAN THE GREAT as the winner!

Nice try but you showed you know f*** all when you predicted the score...now go and watch some pub team!

Even the Great AP was momentarily taken in by all the negative outpourings on this forum WRT McClennan.

He ought to have known better and taken no notice of all the ts who are and were still pining for Tony Smith.

Brian McLennan got the tactics spot-on tonight. But I have to say that the Rhinos consistently seemed to played with more passion under Tony Smith.

Leeds can beat [ianyone[/i when they play to their best, but when they don't it's woeful.

Brian Mclennan has the ability to motivate the Rhinos to be even better than they were under Tony Smith, and that will come with time, I'm sure.

The one advantage ol' Cone Head has over Donk (see the movies "Cone Heads" and "Crocodile Dundee" and disagree with my nicknames if you dare!) is that he actually publicly acknowledges the achievements of his team. Tony Smith always seemed to be (and I stress "seemed"icon_wink.gif to value the achievements of the opposing side over his own team.

Privately he may have been different (and apparently was) but to a fan, he wasn't sufficiently proud of his team. Maybe this is why he got so much from the Rhinos? They were constantly trying to play to their best to seek his public approval

Leeds are a relatively young squad, so don't laugh it off. It's the young guys who play out of their skin. like Lee Smith, who make the difference in a game. The old warhorses (and they're getting younger by the day) know what they're doing and don't need the kind of ranting that Anderson subjected Saints to at half time (wise decision? with a bunch of prima donnas? Maybe not, you decide), but one thing's for sure: Brian McLennan got the tactics spot-on tonight.

Even the ol' warhorse Keef benefited from being shifted over to the right for the first half. Haven't seen him play so well for ages; he teamed-up with Ryan Hall better than I've ever seen him gel with Scott Donald since the glory days of him having the oh-so-reliable Franny Cummings on the wing. Senior needs to be part of a partnership to shine. He makes other people look good and plays better because of it. When he hasn't the support, he becomes an old man who hasn't the speed he once had, and that's a waste of an international talent. I hope Ol' Cone Head moves him to the right more often.

Burrow and Maguire have been relatively quiet of late, but if anything tonight showed (Maguire's try has to be the try of the season in my opinion) is that they are a constant threat. Yes, you can stifle them, but you do so at the detriment of the rest of your defence, and that means one of the Rhinos other stars will just pick you apart. A kick from Sinfield, a tackle-busting run from Senior, an impossible offload from Lauititi, a quick darting run from Diskin...the options are endless.

And that is why Leeds are the best team in the world - they have so many options to hurt their opposition. Their only weakness is themselves; when they allow their opposition to impose their game upon them they become rigid and mediocre. Brian McLennan knows that the best way to combat Saints (as it was with the Bulls when they were good) is to play the game in their half; you let them get near your try-line at your peril.

Tony Smith got the best out of Leeds, Brian McLennan is doing the same for the majority of the time. If he can do the same next season and improve on it, Rhinos will be unbeatable. We only need fear mercurial performances from the likes of Warrington, Catalans, Hull (both) and Saints; the rest are just plodders.

It comes down to who wants it most, and when Rhinos want it most there's no stopping them. I believe Brian McLennan can motivate Leeds to do that every game, and we have the team who are professional enough to do what they need to do, and more with style.

I believe! Do you?

Isn't this the first time a team has won back to back Grand Finals and the first Leeds side to win back to back championships?