It's not that hard when they were outscored 5 tries to 3. A kicking performance of only 1 from 5 from the opposition is not a gift you'll get many times in rugby.

Interesting then how a coach who has been heavily praised on here all year did something that McDermott gets slaughtered and called an idiot for.

Powell was an idiot for not using his sub. Its idiotic whoever does it.

I think he's hugely overrated personally. I've never got the hype.

Had Leeds walked out at Wembley having rested several players before the semi-final the tactic would have appeared to have worked. It worked in 1978, the result in 2017 suggests it didn't this time.



Castleford will be at Old Trafford in their first Grand Final having just beaten a team they lost to in their previous meeting. What part resting several key players the week before played in the victory is open to debate, the result suggests the tactic worked. In a semi-final all that matters is the result.

I think there's a difference between resting a few and picking a virtual reserve side. Cas were already missing Gale last time out - given the possibility of him not recovering in time I can see some sense in protecting other key players. I can't and don't see sense in the whole team effectively taking a week off at a time when they need to be building confidence and fluency.

If you are so in tuned to the rubbish Leeds have churned out for the last two years, then you probably won't know what quality is. That was a quality game last night, a lot of intensity, and excitement. I hope we get to see more tonight.

I'm nervous.

Well I suppose we'll never know how they'd have played if the didn't rest so many the week before. Even if they didn't I don't think that would've helped with the nerves and it was a nervy showing by them. Yes Gale held his at the end but on the whole you could see a very nervous team out there at times and it does raise a question for the GF that they were 10 up with 10 to go and proceeded to conceded 3 tries in 7 mins and lose the lead and let off by Percival having even more nerves.....that's not good whatever you think of them and their rightful worth of being champions.



We know what people think of Leeds' slim chances of beating Cas, but if it's Hull in the final then I might have to tip them because Sneyd isn't missing numerous goalkicks.

I think you raise some good points my take is that the game last night will work to Cas' favour. They have faced and avoided the abyss and like the great Leeds sides of the past gained fortitude from their ability to handle adversity. The Cas player that worry me the most would be Roberts he seemed ill equipped to deal with the pressure he single-handedly gave the momentum to Saints in the second half

Which game did Castleford do this or are we talking Leeds at Wigan? Last week (from memory) Cas had nine of last night's seventeen on duty - Eden, Webster, McShane, McMeeken, Springer, Roberts, Cook, Foster and Sene-Lefao plus Lynch (who after last night can no longer equal or beat Sinfield's SL appearances record) Hitchcox and Monaghan. It was actually a reasonable looking team on paper - would have arguably coped with a full strength Leeds given recent results between the two - but Hull had far more to play for and it showed.

Thats not quite true. You opened a thread called "Additional Pressure" intimating there was another factor the team, coach and players would consider regarding the WCC games.

Why is your wife having a baby?



This is a game of rugby - a form of entertainment, do you get nervous when you go to a concert?

I agree it was a great game & I think Child deserves some credit for what a i thought was an excellent refereeing performance.

The last minute penalty was entirely correct IMV & a dumb piece of play by Morgan since Shenton was never getting to Gale's kick.

Benny had an absolute stinker for us last night. Rocks and Diamonds - luckily it didn't cost us in the end...but even Daryl said post game "its one Benny will want to forget" He wasn't the only one to be off his game. Still don't understand picking 4 subs and using 3...



Hopefully tonight's game will just as entertaining, fingers crossed the weather brightens up before tonight.

Looks like walker will be playing tonight.

is golding injured? doesn't deserve dropping after 2 excellent displays

He's picked that up from the master tactician.

I'm sorry to say I really fancy Hull tonight. I think with the wet weather their forwards will do a number, with Sneyd's kicking influential.

I'm not sure RE Golding. Just that Walker posted on Instagram a picture of him playing against cas with the caption game day can't wait to get back out there.

How does Walker merit selection?

Great prospect but so is Golding and has not let the side down recently.

Not sure Walkers defence tonight is going to help us much.

Tbf it is genuinely one of the toughest selection dilemmas from recent memory. If he goes Golding and we lack a bit on attack then they'll be calls saying he should've picked Walker and likewise if he goes Walker and he isn't strong enough defensively.

Not sure what forecast you looked at mate but BBC weather has dry with sunny intervals for rest of day and dry evening.



Anyway, we have to deal with Sneyd's kicks that is a given whatever the weather or we will suffer the same fate as the Cup Semi.

It reminds me of when we had Hall and Smith battling it out for the right wing position about a decade ago, and unless they can find a way to get them both in the team, then it will go the same way as that battle did for one of them. Although, it seems the club see walker as a 6 long term.

Golding and Ferres to drop out of 19 tonight.