For me the concern is games against the likes of Wigan ,Wire and ST's the 2 losses against Giants this year ,away at Ull and the awful performance away at Odslum.
Don't get me wrong winning the GF was outstanding last year and an heroic against all odds effort and the CC semi win was also a quality win against the odds but i think they are the last big swings of an ageing fighter waiting for the "Younger Hungry champ Elect" to come along and take the throne.

For me is the concern that we (the fans) turned up and they (the players) didn't. If McDermott therefore cannot motivate what the eff can he do???????

It's the player's responsibility to be a[irse[/id, it's the coach's responsibility to ship them out of the club if they aren't.

...in our case isn't it more GH's responsibility? That leads to stability as coaches come and go, but can undermine the coach's authority as players know there is someone above the coach in the hierarchy.

That's where I'd defend McDermott. I'm sure he has input into signings and players leaving, but the squad in the end is largely the creation of GH. That's a tough position for any coach to be in.

Particularly when half of it feels it can pick and choose when to perform.

Lack of depth below the "best" 17 is breeding complacency.

Like Rhinoms my concern is our performances against the top teams. IIRC we've only beaten Wire and Catalans in the league and Wigan in the cup who are above us in the table. And Wire were dreadful in the game we beat them in. Also when we have lost to those teams we've been blown away by them. We've often mounted a little rally but nowhere near what's required in those games. If we play well and still get beaten by a top team like Wire or Wigan I think people can accept that, it's the "non-performance" in those games that has been disappointing.
Plus our defence lacks any bite against the top teams, our poor defence kept Wigan in the game in the semi final when we should have been out of sight.

Andy, It would be a nice if outside the initial 17 were given a chance to prove if any depth there. The major problem is this idiot picking the very same 17 players every week, despite how they play. That is why you get complacent performaces.

Losing to Huddersfield isn't really a surprise, let's be honest, if you take away the blue and amber spectacles. We are way behind the top four teams, and only on a level this season with the likes of Hull and Huddersfield. Even Bradford who everybody laughed at at the start of the season beacause of their weak squad, would have finished very close to us despite a six point dedution and the major financial problems they have had.

Our coach is clueless, absolutely clueless, and certain players are getting picked purely on historical performances, rather than up to date.

Best thing that can happen for Leeds, IMO, is to lose on Saturday. There needs to be no scrapping of the barrell, and reality needs to set in on the board of directors.

I'd have thought it fairly common for personnel decisions to be made above the coach. Coaches tend to only be around for two or three years, so have too short term a view to be in charge of personnel.

Agree with all of this Gotcha.
It would be nice to see if the likes of Singleton, Chisholm etc could cut it in the first team if given the chance.
Strange how the likes of Ward and Keinhorst have slotted in so well when given the chance.
Playing JP yesterday for the full 80 minutes (I think) is a disgrace.
Yes I know we had no other options on the day .But JP should not have even played yesterday. We had able deputies who did not even make the squad.
I am not qualified enough to say if McDermott is a tactically good coach.
When Huddersfield went down to 12 men why didn`t we try and compress their attack by moving more in field instead of defending out wide?
That to me is a fundemental simple approach to coaching.

The Wakefield match without stating the blindingly obvious is a big test for Brian Mac. I am amused at people on other sites saying the rhinos can't be bothered until the vital play off matches, then they go into overdrive and start to win matches. If only it was that simple,our success last year was due to Danny
Mc Guire and JP hitting top form after coming back after serious injuries.
By and large when we have been beaten this season we have played poorly and deserved to be beaten. Also poor team selection has played a big part,playing JP
yesterday was ridiculous.
On the bright side we have won the world club final and been to wembly some
clubs could only dream those kind of games. I am looking forward to the Wakefield, match because Wakefield will be up for it. Which Rhinos team will
turn up. This looks to be a fascinating match.

Last year the run was down to Buderus being unleashed for the full eighty, organising the direction of play with ball in hand and leading the ruck speed and consistency in defence.

Who has McDermott got to turn to this season after the often highly regarded CEO released a world class player without sourcing an adequate replacement first - which he had promised to do incidentally.

You didn't have to be that clued up to realise that Buderus was hugely instrumental in our achievement last season, and furthermore what a huge loss he was going to be on this season.

Only certain individuals fail to face up to realism.

This is where i have some sympathy for McDermott because whilst Tony Smith was able to bring in the likes of Ali, Webb, Ellis, Peacock etc. i can't imagine McDermott is being given the same kind of financial support in terms of recruiment and highly doubt GH went to him and said you can pick any player in the world you want and i'll go get him for you money no object and McDermott's first thought was........Richard Moore.

It was also Weller Hauraki, and Griffin that came down to that Einstein.

A fair point, on the face of it looks like uncle Garry thinks the solution is to bring players through the academy . It will be a deadly fascinating end to the season ,for certain players who if they don't perform should be shown the door.
Whatever happens I think they will rightly or wrongly stick with the present coaching staff.