The reason Saints seemed to not struggle for metres wasn't necessarily because our line speed wasn't great, it was because Saints passed the ball very wide of the ruck from dummy half, meaning that they were able to isolate more defenders and run at bigger holes in the defensive line on the edges. It was a great tactic, and one I'd like to see Leeds use more often.

Whilst I don't really get the "praise other coaches" nonsense, it must be increasingly difficult for the "McDermott to stay" brigade to justify their opinion.

I actually think he now DELIBERATELY doesn't use all 17 players as a sort of "FU, I am the boss & this is my way" retort to detractors. He has used this "system/tactic (?)" in increasing regularity as his tenure has progressed. The core members of the squad have suffered over the years because of this (IMO) pig-headedness. I TOTALLY understand not using the likes of Walters or an untried youngster in a top-of-the-table clash with, say, Wigan with the scores level & 15 minutes to go; but that is not the case.

His unwillingness to unleash promising youngsters is startlingly obvious compared to our peers in SL. His reluctance to bring in "specialist" attacking coaches to add spark, structure and variety to a very stale and one-dimensional line smacks of "empire-building" and negative thought processes.

I know some people do not like the opinion that he is very limited without the leadership of Sinfield & Peacock (& to be fair what coach wouldn't miss them?), but all the signs (to me anyway) point to a desperate need for fresh blood/ideas from a new coaching staff.

This does not detract from his fine management of an already-successful & settled squad over a number of years.

Sal- My pov re-Mcdermott is well known & hasn't changed but just watch any interview when we've won a semi final or Final he always mentions Davidson Eaton & Plume tbf .

Whether people like him or not, want him to stay or go, the guy like anyone else wants to win first and foremost. Anybody thinking his team selections and subs are based more on sticking two fingers up to people rather than him having out what HE THINKS is his best team to get the result is absolutely tin foil hat deluded.

I don't think there was any intention of using Ormondroyd. That would've been his 3rd game in a week. So although it may seem McDermott was flogging the forwards against Saints, but the opposite is probably true in not using Ormondroyd.

its getting increasingley hard to justify McDermott staying when we're 2nd in the league and in the cup semi final, with a squad most said was good enough to finish mid table and do nothing? 3.958984375:5