I agree we generally miss a solid presence in the tackling department at 9 but come on guys,some of those missed tackles tonight were cringeworthy bad, are we trying to say that was down to no Aiton? When Matt Cook brushes off three and waltzes 60 meteres you know you have problems

A combination of missing 30/40 tackles a game from him for several weeks though adds up for the guys who have to make them in his absence. They were tired attempts in defence.

It's a fair point, but Aiton appeared to be the leader of the defensive line, and the main reason for the poor defense in the middle is we're moving up slowly, and not as a unit.

Agreed.But there needs to be some soul searching from some big names.It was schoolboy stuff out there tonight and can't be excused because we are missing our regular hooker.

Yep, Delaney and Garbut were particularly guilty tonight.

Leeds just confirmed that Robbie ward has not been given a new contract.

Thought Lilley was one of very few positives tonight Yes we lose a defender in the middle but he did well at dummy half for such an inexperienced player. Passing was quite crisp and he generally chose to run at the right times.

No not happy at all. Do you think for some reason had Aiton played in the last three games he somehow would have avoided the post Wembley hangover that has beset the whole Team? The same thing happened last year and it included Aiton then.

Also why would Aiton's presence have prevented the missed tackles of Ablett, Garbutt and Hardaker etc tonight.

You can scoff but we are certainly missing Burrow on attack and also the mobility of JJB and Keinhorst in defense.

You cannot blame tonight's defeat on a lack of tackling by Lilley. It was the missed tackles by several players and the lack of go forward. Cas played very well and were faster in every position than Leeds who were lethargic with the exception of Ward, Cuthbertson and Moon. The rest made too many mistakes.

Of course all our injuries have been crucial as has our extra cup game and we have totally lost momentum on attack and defense and it will take a miracle to turn this around.

So based on this season's form, Aiton wouldn't have made a difference, but JJB, and Keinhorst would?

Never said that. It is the total number of injuries that has done for us not just the loss of Aiton.

Lilley joined Sinfield and McGuire defending on the fringes. Forwards plus Watkins to pick up the slack midfield with a big bench to share the load except the Leeds coach seemingly skipped class the day they taught game management.

If the Leeds forwards (Peacock, Delaney, Ablett and Ward) are looking flogged right now it's because they are.

You can Leeds are really struggling because tvoc comes out of hiding.

But his point is totally true.

yep,he is spot on,as he usually is.
you have to question if ward is not rated, burrow is used when he has to be used here and there, then wtf did we only have one hooker in the squad? terrible oversight

Here they go again

am I wrong? no, since aitons injury we've fallen to pieces. it's there for all to see. if you want to see it

How is it a club the size of Leeds has been unable to produce a hooker of the correct quality since Matt Diskin?

Only having one hooker in the squad was a huge oversight - Burrow as a back up is nonsense notion too.

Even if they had played Sinfield at 9 he would not have defended in the middle so the issues that causes still exist.

If Sinfield isn't fit to play next week then he will play Burrow at 7 so the team will have to hide three half backs against one of the strongest physical sides in the competition - deep joy.

Never said he wasn't. I don't like McDermott use of subs at times and I don't like the hiding 3 HB's in defence tactic.

Just funny how old Mr Meldrew only pops up when it's going badly.

And you start making excuses

We have sustained injuries to both our two regular hookers in the closing stages of an otherwise successful season. On top of that the coaches have seen that the academy hooker has regressed and is not to be retained. Add to that the injury to Sutcliffe and Burrow (as cover for half back as well) and we had little alternative to play Sinfield at 9 leaving us exposed at 6.

In a capped sport you cannot just replace young Ward after the signing deadline. It is also clear that under the new SL format the Wembley finalists are at a big disadvantage playing an extra high emotion draining game in the middle of the super 8s. Add a number of injuries to key players and both the physical and mental toughness are stretched to breaking point. It would be a remarkable achievement if they can recover from this unfortunate set of circumstances.

Such as what?

Your comments about James Child's performance in the first half!! do I need to go on?

you probably should go on as I made no comment about Child's performance last night.

So I misread this?

"He was practically begging for the VR to disallow Moon's try for a knock on that only existed in his head. He calmed down in the 2nd half actually but the was so desperate for calls to go against us in he 1st half that it was again pathetic to hear from a paid "professional"