I don't think we 'took it easy' or 'aimed for 5th', we were just very poor, it happens in sport. People who think McDermott was saving his team for a playoff run need to remember the lack of rotation. Whilst the likes of Wigan and especially Warrington rested key men at points throughout the season we pretty much went full strength every week. Sinfield for the 2nd year running played every game and only really Peacock got given a game or two off but would do some long mins when he did play (75 mins away to Hudds in a dead rubber of a match). If McDermott was holding back for Sept/Oct then constantly using the same players is a strange way to do it. Add to it 3 full runs in the CC then apart from missing the 2010 GF this team hasn't had a break for 3 years, include also the large number who represent England mid and end season.

The reason we finished 5th isn't because we were content with being there. Its simply because we played poor too often AWAY from Headingley. Leeds' home record was 2 points better than Saints and even Wigan. That Wigan eventually finished 10 points clear of us shows how bad the away form was. The problem we have is that when we travel it's always one of the biggest games of the season for the opposition to beat the reigning SL & WCC holders in their own back yard and it's something we need to work on next year if we're going to get higher than 5th.

Well said.

I strongly agree with the point you make about us being a big scalp.I cant imagine that Hull Fc or Wakey played much better all season than in their home victorys against us.

If you factor in other away defeats to top clubs, to Wigan week before big WCC game, to Catalans week before Wembley final and to Saints when they had a massive point to prove and were on fire (most would have been blown away that day) Bulls when they were backs to the wall and looking at playing their final game.

Not wanting to make excuses,some of the performances this year were dire and lacked desire and commitment as we know(Wire away,Wigan at home Hudds.away) but It could be argued we were unlucky to be playing some of these big games stated above under such circumstances.

Spot on.
Had Saints held on to Royce Simmons a week longer we might well have won at Saints given how bad things were going there at the time. But McDermott isn't the first coach to take a beating away to Saints and won't be the last. Hull away I think they'd built it up as near knockout game importance. Wigan away you could sense the feeling of looking ahead to the WCC the following week. Hudds at home, well they got off to their stream train like start to a season again and had already beaten Wigan and Saints too, plus I think Webb, McGuire and Burrow all were out injured. And if their is 1 fixture you don't want the week before a CC final then I'm pretty sure any coach would say going Away to Catalans.

I'd definitely agree with this.

In any sport you just can't keep peak intensity throughout a year. Mentally as well as physically it's just not possible. Try and achieve it and you just end up at 90% performance all year, whereas to win things you need to be able to build to 100% when it matters.

If GH or any other SL exec responsible for budgets include revenues from Cup Finals or Grand Finals then they should be shot.

I'll bet that GH doesn't - what he WILL include is season ticket revenue and assumptions about sponsorship revenue, average crowds etc, which ought to be conservative. That's why regular rounds matter financially, and almost certainly the main reason why GH himself was clearly concerned with some of our form this year.

I've no doubt he's pleased as punch by the outcomes this year, but also hugely relieved as well. Imagine being in his position had we lost at Catalns, and then having to shift season tickets for next year.

That's why I suspect he will be pushing as hard as anyone to try to get Leeds to perform better during the regular season next year.

Didn't the Bulls do that or something very similar?
Your comments re GH seem to me to be spot on.

Genius thread.

So much so that those in William's shadow feel duty bound to plagiarise.

Permit me to state the blindingly obvious, Catalan won't be an easy match, if our form does not improve we will be out.

There is no easy route to a grand final. Anyone who says otherwise is a tard

If our forwards don't get on top of the Catalan forwards early doors .I can see us going out in the first round.
The aggression and ferocity in which the Catalan pack play is similar imo to the way Wigan go about their business with a bit less class I hasten to add.
Our forwards cannot play like they have been doing for the past few games that is for sure.
Not sure we can afford to carry any weak links like Kirk in our team on Saturday.

For me if our defence is on song like we've seen at points this year then we should be ok. Catalans away from home concede too many points, even when we were missing a few players in the league game vs them and generally wasn't playing very well we still managed 32 points past them.

If Leeds can't get past catalans (who have a shocking record at headingly) then they really do have problems.

Last 3 times we've played Catalans at home in the league we've started with Bailey at loose. Whilst I can't see any of JJB, Delaney or Ablett being demoted to the bench to accommodate that this time we might just see a bigger bench of

Aiton/Burrow
Bailey
Kirke
Singleton

If all fit, with Sutcliffe dropping out from the CC Final/Semi line-ups.

If Burrow is fit he will start if he is not fit we are in trouble. I understand your logic of a big bench but in truth neither Bailey or Kirke punch their weight and I would like to see young Walters on the bench as he punches well above his weight both going forward and in defence and enthusiasm. Also Sutcliffe gives cover for several positions so my bench would be Aiton, Sutcliffe. Singleton and Walters. Having said that Mac is loyal.

The Sutcliffe covering positions isn't really needed.

We get an injury in the halves, Burrow slots in there with Aiton at 9.
Injury at centre we can put the much more proven at centre Ablett there.
Injury at FB/Wing, Ablett goes to centre and Watkins fills in for the injured player.

Walters has looked good in a few games but also struggled in one or two. Defensively regarding reading the play he's still a bit green and not what you need come playoff time.