Leeds have lost the big games that mattered this year. That doesn't mean they are in decline, it just means they weren't good enough. We will only know if we are in decline in 6-12 months time with the benefit of hindsight.

If Wigan fail to win tomorrow, would their fans see the season as a sucess? Lost two of their most influencial players, won a cup by default, and has a fairly poor league campaign. It really is an all or nothing game for Wigan.

Personally, I think they'll win. But i'd love Wire to win, just so we don't get all the Wigan posters bragging on here

So when you won sod all in 2012 did that make you a team in decline?

So the goalposts are now moved from "Leeds are in decline because they lost to Wigan and Warrington" to "Leeds are in decline because they didn't make either major final".

Keep going, you'll find something to support your theory eventually. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Lol. How the tables do turn. When Leeds supporters dared to state such things I am pretty sure Wigan supporters vehemently disagreed along the lines of it devaluing the league campaign and final positionings

You couldn't be more wrong. Wigan have had the most successful season of all SL teams already, the only team to get to both finals, and so far won 1 of the 2. Even if they win tomorrow they'll have had the most successful season of all SL teams.

The league means nothing, you should know that as a Leeds fan.

Leeds are on the decline, you'd simply rephrased the same point by saying 'they weren't good enough'. In past years they were good enough, and now they're not, hence the decline.

Based on your nonsensical theory, Wigan have more inclines and declines than any other team in Super League. Declines happen over a long period of time, not one season. But I suspect you know that.

Weren't Leeds supposed to be a team in decline back in 2010?
Weren't Wigan at the start of a period of dominance?

One of the reasons I've never liked (many) Wigan fans is their unbelievable level of arrogance, which is very surprising because for the last 20 years or so, they've been distinctly average at best. 4th most succesful club in Super League.

Admittedly we've all been reminded 19 zillion times about the way they bought success pre Super League...but what has that given them?
No Ground and having to play 2nd fiddle to a footy team? Wow...A fantastic legacy of the success!
I can't see Headingley being turned into a Tesco superstore any time in the future.

I've never mentioned 2010, not once.
No matter what Wigan's history is, it has no barring on Leeds being in decline.
Wigan Warriors v Wigan Latics is a total different debate, one I've not passed comment on.

Really? I have no idea.

At last you admit it.

So next season if Wigan to make a final, they are in decline?

Potentially yes. But Wigan are in a very different position to Leeds, the core of our team are very young and winning when young. Leeds starts are ageing, results are showing they're not the team they once were.

Okay Last Son of Wigan, here's a logic bomb for you to try and defuse.

You say that Leeds are a team in decline because they failed to make either final this year, however as Leeds are the only side who could consider that to be a decline does that make it an actual decline? Or is it a blip as the last time such an event occurred. In 2006.

Five Grand Final wins and three back to back Wembley appearances later we've had a season where, at certain times, things didn't go right. That being said, Leeds - the team in decline let's not forget - were hardly blown away by the ascending Warriors despite having several players on the park injured.

Next season Leeds' squad will be stronger, not only with the addition of Briscoe, but with a fit Stevie Ward ready to slot back in and the likelihood that Maguire won't miss half the season. Even if we do no more business that would make 2014's squad notably better. Add in to that that we have youngsters like Foster, Singleton and Sutcliffe all with valuable big game experience that they didn't have last year and the fact that a repeat of the atrocious injury list we've suffered is highly unlikely and all of a sudden it starts to look like the Rhinos might actually be very strong next year.

Contrast that with a Wigan side whose already weakened back line has lost two more of it's best attacking assets and who's move(s?) have, for the most part at least, been figured out by the better sides, and which side would you say was really likely to be at the start of a decline?

Did we have, by standards that only the Rhinos can actually stand by, a poor season? Yes, but when you win the league 5 years out of 6 it's inevitable that at some point another team will have their day. Are we going to be better next season? Almost certainly. Are Wigan?

Decline? Time will tell, I'd say no, we're a team in transition, and the future's looking rosey - we're a side no-one wants to leave and hot talent wants to join. Tell me again how that's working out over in Wigan?