Why? There not even playing at their peak. They missed some pretty simple tackles yesterday, looked tired from the Easter period, and dropped some ball. Yet still played rugby of a quality we would love to see at the moment.

They have a right to be arrogant at this time, and good luck to them. I just hope they do blow it big time once again.

They're going to the CC final, just weeks before the playoffs and the playoffs are longer this season, more game to win for the top 2 to make the grand final.

It's gonna have an impact...especially if they lose the cc final.

Apart from v saints at headingly in 2007 when did we play quality rugby? in the entire season?

The final elim and the grand final.

As long as we finish in the top 2, we are a formiddable opponent.

Therein lies the problem. You dont look dangerous anymore. Granted, still better than rabble like Hudds, but look nothing like last year. Think wigan will probably knock you out of the play offs.

You're up and down like a yo yo.

Last season it was all Saints are too good for Leeds, Saints will win the GF along with everything else, I don't see how Leeds can match Saints blah blah blah. This season its the opposite, let Saints knacker themselves out, Saints aren't very good, look at 2007 and 2008 etc.

Reality this season so far (which has surprised me as well) is that Leeds look a shadow of the side that has won the last 2 GF's. The loss of Ellis is huge, particularly defensively. You look light in the forwards and the backs don't look threatening. You have a problem with discipline and so far against Saints, you have looked easily second best, both at KR and Headingley. Saints OTOH look to have improved again defensively, look quicker down the left with the switch to centre of Gilmour and the forwards are a massive improvement with Puletua. The youth give us a good bit of pace down the middle as well. It has to be said that in the last 3 years, Saints look further ahead in all departments of Leeds than ever in the previous 3 seasons.

Now, this isn't to say that its a certainty because the last 2 seasons prove that. However, the improvement needed from Leeds to beat us is a big jump if Saints continue as they are. I still see a Saints and Leeds GF barring major injuries because the rest of the division are pretty average. Time will tell who wins that whether it be either of us. From where the sides are right now though, I do think if Leeds manage to win it again this year, it would be the biggest achievement of the 3.

Last year we were awesome for a few games at easter and that was it.

We cruised for about 6 weeks, then hit a bad patch and to be honest we struggled to recover from that. We got up for the 2 important games in the playoffs.

This year we've just been cruising, we got knocked off a couple of times by you and that dented our confidence.

You're certainly doing this.

Out the cup and lost 3 games already ? Cruising is definitely a way of putting it.

You can't seem to comprehend that teams can improve and develop as the season goes on.

As far as leeds and saints go, you make an assesment a month or 2 into the season......and that's it. It's basically ''right i've seen all i need to see, saints are better than leeds and that's the way it will be for the rest of the season bar a choke saints will win the grand final''

Last season leeds really got out of the traps quickly, we were 6 points clear of you, but we peaked too soon. It was only a backs to wall rainy day effort that pulled the title out of the bag.

Just remember, in each of the previous 2 seasons you've felt saints have been superior to leeds. But who's ended up with the title?

Agreed. Agree with practically all that post.
We'd also be the first to win it 3 on the trot...there's a reason why no-one has done that before - it's because it's bloody hardy to do, especially given the salary cap, but we will see.

One thing is for certain though - given the squad strength of the Rihinos - had we beaten you in the cup we'd have had no chance of winning the GF.

We were cruising. We were top of the table without even playing well. But then, as i said above, we got knocked off a couple of times by you and that dented our confidence.

Had we not drawn you as well we'd still be in the cup and 2nd in the league without even playing that well.

It's cruising.

It's not just the last two seasons. His excuses for 2004 were spectacular examples of delusional denial.

Chronic.

Yet again - its a small minortiy showing this behavoir.

We all know we are on a good run, but ahve a brittle squad and nothing is won in April.

I for one, will be making few statements about how good we are until November.