IMO the Rhinos have no chance what so ever of making the top 4 play offs, I believe that your priority is actually making the top 8 after the split rather than playing in the middle 8's

You guys wont like this one bit but I seriously think that you need a cull within your squad ASAP

I would get rid of these players at the end of this season (although it won't happen as some of them are under contract)
Burrow - You can only get away with those scoots across the field so many times a season,and that is all that he can do TBF,He's Only worth a bench spot at best,but who's place would he take in the 17?
Falloon-OMG this lad is garbage and is a pale imitation of Aiton (Who should have been retained without a doubt)
Achurch-Heart of a pea and probably on a nice salary too


You need a dominant half back in your side urgently and where do you get them from?
Sutcliffe and Lilley are OK and will be quality but they are far too inexperienced as a pair ATM

As you say Stokes isn't a death bowler. Willie was on fire, if Morgan had held him back for the last over England would have got home no problem. But the blame can be shared around. England were 20 runs short (at least). Losing a couple of early wickets, Morgan doing his favourite trick of block block block out. Even Joe Root, for all he batted brilliantly again, played a needless shot when England needed him to bat until the end. Then in WI's innings they didn't take advantage early on when a 4th wicket would have killed it off. Billings drop was a big moment too. Still, it's a young team, good learning curve for them. I'd certainly be giving the captaincy to Root and finding another man to bat at 4 though, Morgan's good innings are extremely few and far between these days.

Anyway, thread drift.

Ahh don't worry their's numerous threads on here all saying the same thing just with different thread titles.

Agree Root's dismissal was disappointing, you could just sense that he was getting frustrated with his partners getting themselves out and then he did the same, but at least he gave us a chance. Morgan should be dropped and made to find form away from the international game. They have most of the ingredients to be successful just need to have someone in form batting at number 4 and a top bowler coming in to close out innings. I know Stokes got a couple out at the death vs NZ but wasn't exactly great bowling just poor shots by the batters so the potential that if the batter got it right against him he could go for runs at the death and that's what happened in the final.

Posted elsewhere, but just for youhttp://i.imgur.com/HcVauTu.png" >

(Similarity of these colours to those of any team, alive or dead, is purely coincidental).

Here's how they're currently doinghttp://i.imgur.com/VmDfSn5.png" >

Let's say they need to hit 0.8 league points per game to avoid the bottom four. They need eight wins from their remaining 14 regular season games, and that still might not be enough.

It's not going to happen. Leeds are pretty much in the M8s already. Comeback of all time if they're not. I agree they're not getting relegated. Every year there'll be a team there where everyone wonders how they got there, and who go on to not lose a game. Last year Widnes. To my present shame I was looking for a price on it being Warrington this year before the start of the season.'"

It sounds like BM has conceded that top 4 is becoming a huge challenge. Given that performances have got worse rather than better I'd say the cause is almost lost already.

This sort of thing is generally over well before you have to start talking mathematical "possibilities".

The biggest question is can we make the top 8 because form will have to improve markedly just to scrape into that you would think with some tough away assignments on the horizon.

True enough, but you do still wonder how they got there. They were too good to be fearing relegation.

Next two fixtures will determine where the season goes from here - a loss at Salford would really put the pressure on - I just can't see Leeds losing there, then I thought they would not lose at Cas.

Hull have a massive pack that may just run over us - lose that as well then I think the top 8 is curtains given they still have Wigan x 2, Warrington, Saints & Hull away before the split.

The fall from grace is absolutely staggering when you think about it.

Leeds have never failed to appear in the play-offs.

Just 9 games into this season and they cannot realistically qualify.

The club must be wishing for the return of the Top 8 play-off system which rewarded their previous mediocrity oh so well, and particularly so in 2011 and 2012.

They have lost games they should have won against less well financed teams but they were the exception - now these defeats have become the norm. McDermott looks like a defeated man who doesn't possess the skill set to deal with this situation.

When was the last time Leeds finished below 8th?? 1996?

Yes