If rumours are true and he requires an operation then this may provide some mitigating circumstances.

It wouldn't really, as those missed tackles if that was the reason, show he shouldn't be playing. Did he need the op last year too to give mitigating circumstances? Like I said, parts of his game, op or not, are excellent, it is the defence for the last season and half that isn't, and something the coach should sort.

Quite correct.

If I have to look for positives, the biggest one has to be JJB, guy was an absolute monster again. It wouldn't surprise me if he broke himself trying to put the team on his back this year.

Again, I don't think Walters put a foot wrong, including a nice pass for the try (I thought it was Moon before I saw the replay) and Mullaly is growing on me.

At the minute it is some of our big name players that are letting us down.

It is.Have to say Hardaker has started the season a shadow of the player who won MOS. I can't recall a line break yet, it seems like he is trying too hard to be involved in everything and he is no creative force that much is clear and he stifling a lot of our plays especially in the opposition red zone. He needs to get back to doing what he did best last year which was being a rock at the back and elusive in his kick return game.

Last year we had two half backs I think he is trying and failing to help the team. It would be burrow and sutty doing that which they aren't. I think when mags gets back we should look a little better hopefully

What I'm struggling to understand with hardaker at the minute, is the amount of times we're seeing a guy who is judged to be safe as houses under the bomb and solid on the kick return, continuously look to his wingers to catch a kick that his coming towards him, which they then struggle to reach, it just doesn't make any sense.

I haven't read through the comments on here yet, but imo we were kept in the game largely by child's and his touch judge at times, I was in the corner for that last try of the first half and couldn't believe we got away with that forward pass from Walters.

Where do I even begin with Galloway, we didn't get going at all until he went off in the first half, absolute penalty machine, I'd try him off the bench or not at all at the minute, mullally seems a far better option.

Brian Mac highlighted in his interview that the forwards looked like they'd been playing 3/4s of a season not a quarter, maybe the penny still didn't drop with him that may be something to do with his interchange policy?

I agree, but at least he's trying. Is it too much to ask Sutty or Burrow to at least try a last tackle kick close to the line, have we even forced a drop out this year? Burrow should be doing it as the senior half, and I'd rather see Sutty try and fail than not try at all.

I have to admit it's Watkins that's really annoying me at the minute, looks a shadow of his former self, and only so much of that can be blamed on those around him, Moon still looks quality despite the teams failings.

barely noticed moon in attack last night

Firstly, what an entertaining game. Two sides who were desperate for a win and it showed.
On the main issues:
The referee - he's the worst of a pretty bad bunch at the moment. However, he isn't biased. His is just incompetent. However, I think his biggest mistakes went in Leeds' favour, in that Hardaker knocked on at the start of your long range try, and he disallowed the McShane try that clearly wasn't forward. I do think in general play Cas got some undeserved penalties, particularly a couple of time when we clearly just dropped the ball and he gave us a penalty.
Injuries - it is clear you miss McGuire's influence and direction. However, remember that we had a number of first-choice players missing (Shenton, Roberts, Dorn, Holmes, Cook) who would have strengthened our team too (and meant the unsless Ryan Boyle didn't have to play).
All in all, I thought we deserved to edge the game.

There was the total reckless head shot from Mcshane on Burrow.

Galloway had a few pens for high tackles, arm hit shoulder slipped to head. I have no issue with those being pens. But to not penalise Mcshane in the middle of that run of head high penalties against Leeds is just baffling.

Leeds did get a few moments of luck but in general Child is (for both teams) shocking.

I take your point, but was talking more about the season as a whole. I also thought his defence was excellent.

if, as flex wheeler suggests, that last night was castleford's cup final, then I think they should now look elsewhere. after all they have beaten the whinging rhinos in the last three meetings including two at headingley.
BMD is right, cas did not deserve the first two tries,.......THEY EARNED THEM. have some humility Brian. I heard he didn't stop to see the cup presented after the game !!

Too stubborn is brian. Sutty/burrow create nothing in 2nd half while lilley sits on bench all night! Plus singo/garbutts no show again adds to the misery. Im convinced that just 1 try in that 2nd n we win at a canter. But hasnt got the b@lls to change things or trust lilley

Child was poor, got some very obvious ones wrong (hardaker strip had two men in the tackle for literally seconds before the strip, the 2nd defender even had time to come out of the tackle, then go back in before it was stripped, i dont know how you miss that?) for both sides. I wouldnt agree that Leeds benefited more, Cas only got sustained field position on the back of a string of penalties which led to their 1st and 3rd tries, and a few times he invented a couple when leeds had great field position.

regardless of that, we had more than enough opportunities to win and made far too many dumb decisions and executed poorly. We dont look as fit as usual, we dont look quick, but i think there is a lot of improvement to come for us, i think we might get something out of this year.