Questioning performances and decisions was one thing, the tirade of name calling and insults was just pathetic and sums up so called fans. Deserves all the accolades does McDermott, some tough times through the season were always on the cards when you factor in players available, where the team were at last season and the transition of a new coach. His team selections made the best of the pivots in preparing for the end of the season.

Buderus also world class and has been outstanding I know mcshane and hood have benefited from his experience.

Perhaps burrow may receive a stay of execution...

There have been some pretty poor performances this season and not just in the early rounds. However, the overall standard has improved significantly and, although one swallow does not a summer make, some credit is thoroughly deserved.

As regards our change in fortunes, and my thoughts on Brian Mcdermott, just read my post on the Mcdermott poll thread!

Absolutely brilliiant finish to a rollercoaster of a season. Well done to everyone involved at Leeds Rhinos who has contributed to a complete turnaround in fortunes from the first half of the season.

I agree Seth.

Nothing wrong with critical comment but much of it against Big Mac was ill judged and bordering on the hysterical. He has shown great strength of character, dignity and a lot of tenacity to prove many people very wrong.

He has also shown courage to stick to his guns and maintain his style of play which is now bearing fruit because the players have returned to form and fitness. It was this lack of form by the players together with serious injuries that was the main cause of much of our previous poor performances. It was because in my judgement these were the reasons for our early season problems that I have consistently defended BM.

I am not saying he hasn't made mistakes but as a young British coach, starting with a difficult set of problems to overcome, he deserved to be given more time to prove himself by the many 'back seat coaches' who were calling for his head.

So very well done Brian for creating history to get us to the Grand Final and good luck next week.

I have been fairly critical of him this season, earlier in the year particularly. At the time the criticism was justified by the way he was trying to get us to play, which the players were not capable of. We have changed the style of rugby significantly since then (not one single offload in the first half last night) and whilst it's not the most "attractive" we have certainly been compelling to watch.

The players themselves have shown no lack of commitment to the cause at any point this year (maybe with the exception of Catalans away?), so that left me looking at the coaching team. They have turned the season around and now deserve the praise, where previously they deserved the criticism.

Well done on turning things round Brian.

Excellent summation of our season to date Batley. Our early and mid season form and tactics were appalling and both coaching and playing staff must accept the criticism for that. Equally, all should be applauded for their efforts at the right spot in the season, and in particular for the part they played last night in an outstanding game of RL.

Whether BMD is the real deal as claimed by several of the tight underwear brigade who have popped their heads above the parapet these last couple of weeks, only time will tell, but he like everyone at Headingley deserves a massive round of applause for getting to both Wembley and Old Trafford.

Early season performances were not good and probably some of the complaints were justified against mac. But it's important to say well done as well, and he has turned things round and deserves credit for that.

He took it on the chin when we criticised him, performances werent good enough but he stuck to his guns. Regardless of what happens in the rest of his career, GF and CC final in the same year is an outstanding achievement and McDermott has done it. There was and maybe still is a bit of a lack of faith in McDermotts ability but what he has achieved he has achieved and it can never be taken away from him.

Well done Brian

I also owe him an apology but we've won nowt yet.

With Peacock and McGuire injured for a third of the season, then getting back to match fitness for another third, Senior missing for more than half the season, Eastwood not replaced with a like-for-like player, getting both both finals is a great achievement. Statistically this season is already better than last year. Our performances have, at times, been poor but for people to want him sacked before Easter and then boo him at the Wakefield game is ridiculous. If we do it on Saturday it will be five championships in eight years and probably the biggest achievement of them all.

Have to resurrect this thread to add my own (belated) apology to BM. Well done.

I think the issue with the early season wasn't the results but the really very poor performances in too many games. Well done for turning it around Brian. I'll support you for next year at least now.

Whilst some decisions have been bizarre, I think particular congratulations are in order for how he's developing Hardaker. The lad was going well on the wing then disappeared, much to the confusion of many. Plainly BM rates him, but wanted him to become a centre. Now he's showing a lot of faith in a young inexperienced player, for which he gets a lot of credit.

Anyway, I will attempt to prevent my knee from jerking so quickly in the future.

I have never booed him, but as I put on my own thread (couldn't see this one at the time) I think it's only fair that I apologise.

I apportioned much of the blame for poor performances to him earlier in the season, and it would be hugely hypocritical to give all the credit to the players for the turn around in fortunes now.

You could argue that the jury is still out long term, but I think you'll find few arguing that he doesn't deserve the chance to continue what he's started next season.

I severely doubted him, but never booed him or called him names.

I still have some lingering doubts about the odd team selection and tactic but overall he has steered the ship through some very, very rocky waters.

However, he did himself no favours early on with some of his eccentric press appearances. For the last two months he's seemed for more reasoned and lucid. Maybe that is because the pressure has been less because we've been winning. However, if the head man reacts to pressure by making bizarre statements and flicking rubber gloves it still raises doubts it's not a good sign.

McDermott will have learned a huge amount from this season, his first in charge at a top club. Name me a coach - any coach - who's remotely likely to have developed their knowledge and abilities as much as he will have done this year.

I have been one of Mcdermotts biggest critics this year, particularly earlier in the season, bemoaning our lack of structure and insistance to throw the ball around before setting a platform. I still stand by that criticism as it was justified at the time, and even now I would suggest certainly our ball retention and to a degree our respect for field position still needs to improve.
What I will give Mcdermott credit for is the improvements over the past few months, this has coincided with a good few matches against 'poorer' opposition which allowed the team to get a bit of a roll on and build the confidence. However, it's no coincidence that since we started rolling our sleeves up and making the hard yards before throwing the ball around, we've got alot better. Mcdermott also has to take credit for the improved performances of Bailey, Burrow (although he was never terrible), and a number of the youngsters.
He has clearly got the team performing for the games that really count, which is definately a positive, although, a big part of me does begrudge paying to see the regular weekly rounds if the team are going to continue putting in careless displays and doing just enough to get them through to the important games.
The team have certainly got better as the season has gone on - this will be a mixture of players returning from injury, and no doubt McD's tactics/gameplan becoming familiar.
With us reaching both finals, he has to be given next year at the top, and hopefully the improvements will continue. I did post a topic earlier in the year when we got to the semi's of the cup asking what people would think of McD if we won the double (which people laughed at me about) - well regardless of the result on Saturday, we've not been far away from it, and as I thought - there has to be some humble pie eaten.
And to be fair, following on from Sinfields comments, I know from conversations I have had with some of the players that generally the players are very happy with McD's methods on the training paddock, and they have a real loyalty towards him, which I suppose speaks volumes.