Leeds have an awful lot to work on before they get to peak performance. They had enough players of the right size and ability to win that game but did a lot of things wrong. McLennan will have been tearing his scalp to pieces in frustration tonight. I thought Sinfield's decision making was terrible tonight, going for the big game breaking plays too early when there was little on. Your ball retention was poor and you just seemed to be a little of with the timing tonight.

Having said that the second half of the second half was dominant. Sinfield is important in lifting and organising your side, despite his rusty performance. Buderus though looks like a player who takes to the field aching, like he's gone on one season too many. Diskin was far more effective tonight.

Bradford were not unlucky tonight. Unlucky means that the bounce of the ball or poor reffing (really poor - not imaginary poor), contributed, but they ran out of gas a bit, made some mistakes and Leeds took advantage. No bad luck and Leeds should be given some credit for sticking at it defensively.

The Bulls handlingfor 65 minutes was immaculate - they dropped nothing, while Leeds were their own worst enemy dropping ball after ball. And the Bulls were offloading and throwing it around - no up the jumper stuff. But Leeds started winning the collisions with 20 to go and it told. Leeds are a top side and they deserved their point - maybe 2 for that finish.

A great game to watch but frustrating for Leeds fans who will know that if we manage a bit more ball control, a few more offloads earlier in the game and sort out out our dfensive organisation (I would be sweating if I was Ryan Hall when Donald comes back) there's a solid season to come.

Bulls need to do that every week, but consistancy is the issue for them against teams that aren't Leeds.

Difficult to argue. I watched on TV and every close up of Sinny showed him limping slightly or grimacing in pain (even when he scored). I think it was heroic that he did the full 80.

I do wonder though, because I've been watching Leeds for nearly 30 years and at no time during that period have they been able to organise themslelves for a simple drop goal to win a game infront of the sticks. Maybe it's a secret club rule?

Spot on Seth. Spot on.

We have played like that on attack the last 2-3 seasons at the start of the year and relied on solid defence to compensate. I agree on the lack of structure with the ball, especially near the opponents try line. However, it does usually come together.

Just out of interest what was the general impression compared to last year? Last year we lost every penalty count and turned the ball over a lot early on IMO. Thisn year we seem to have combined that with a mini injury crisis and a lack of defensive pattern (although last year we were also very, very vulnerable near our line at times which lead to some truly huge shoot outs - eg. Wakefield away).

Dead right, I was going apopleptic at Sinfield for shocking decision making. A crap kick on the 3rd tackle right on their line followed by a woeful looped pass again early in the tackle count.
But then, b*gger me, the Red Sea parted before him & he fell over to score his try.
Before the game I'd have said a point lost, after that performance I'll regard it as a point gained.
Now we know why Orford went for the 2points from the penalty when we all thought he should have gone for 4 or 6 in view of the way we defended our line in the 1st half.
Must have been entertaining for the TV audience & at least I got almost to empty my hip flask by the end.

Not just a response to Leeds current form but BM is not the best coach out there, nice guy and everyones friend but beyond that i've not been enthused

It's funny because I think both sets of fans will see it as a point dropped but TBH a draw was probably the fair result. Bradford bossed the first hals and the opening fifteen minutes of the second but Leeds showed what a champion team they are with some extraordinary stuff in the second half capitalising on Bulls mistakes and silly penalties.

The finish to game was heart in the mouth stuff. Had Kearney passed to Orford it might have been 21-20 to Bradford had Leeds gone the other way in the dyeing seconds it might have been 21-20 to Leeds. But on balance I think a draw was the best way to end what was a thrilling encounter between two very good teams that I'm in no doubt will be further up the table come the business end than where they are now.

Warrington, Saints and Wigan fans will be rubbing their hands but Leeds proved tonight after a shaky first hour (understandable considering that a number of players most notably Sinfield have been out for a bit) proved they are back and will be mixing it with the best when it counts. GF rings aren't won in February and March.

Maybe that's what this squad needs? Maybe there is an argument for having a happy squad as well as a good squad. I've seen several Leeds squads with possibly more talent but so miserable in each others company that the club failed year after year.

We do look "under" coached at times, but I also feel like we looked like that with Smith in charge as well and with Murray. I just think at the moment that the guys need a break. No team has won SL 3 times in a row, let alone 4. Maybe this year we take a breather, re-structure a bit in the playing staff side and then kick on.

My thoughts also.

A very good analysis

It was Sinfield calling the shots in the last 20 seconds when the ball went to leuleui and he should have put the ball over, but that still wouldn't have masked the poor 60 mins leading up to that

That was garbage tonight. Seth has got it right. It was only the Bulls willingness to give away so many penalties in the final quarter that allowed us to keep on a roll. We have very few attacking ideas particularly 22 metres from the opposition line. We are not organised, at one time in the second half 7 players must have handled the ball without any of them moving, that brought a response from the crowd and we cannot even organise ourselves into a position to drop a goal. The truth about tonight is we didn't deserve a point there was no interest showing for the first 60 mins.
We should forget about three times grand final winners, this is another season, other teams have gone up a level, we have gone down a level. Apart from Quins at home who were very poor, we presently don't look like improving and never mind the season is only young our poor displays are becoming a serious concern.
In my opinion only Smith, Ambler and Webb came out of tonight with any credit, a few didn't deserve to be on the field.

No. That was a great game of rugby league.

You are easily pleased then DHM. The scoreline made the match watchable, from a Rhinos perspective the rugby was terrible.

can i just say that being a wakefield supporter that your rugby in the second half was similar to 3 years ago, fast, offloads and not intent on stopping the other team and a joy to watch..glad you only managed the 1 point though