Lunt's performances when he's started have varied from excellent to reasonable. His performances from the bench have been poor. I'd be happy to see him sign, on the proviso he gets the number 9 jersey, and starts every week. It also means Burrow gets utilised a lot better.

Looks like Andy Wilson has revealed the famous NRL back signing that he was talking about earlier in the season, as well as saying it's not going to happen now... www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/oc ... rand-final "Leeds have therefore made a determined effort to prise Gareth Widdop from Melbourne Storm this year, though the Halifax-born, Victoria-raised England stand-off now seems certain to stay with Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and the rest of the newly-crowned National Rugby League champions, who will face the Rhinos in the World Club Challenge early next year for the third time since 2008. "We'd love to get Gareth Widdop but nowadays with the money the top players are on out there, and the exchange rate, it's not within our grasp," Hetherington said."

Looks like Andy Wilson has revealed the famous NRL back signing that he was talking about earlier in the season, as well as saying it's not going to happen now... www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/oc ... rand-final "Leeds have therefore made a determined effort to prise Gareth Widdop from Melbourne Storm this year, though the Halifax-born, Victoria-raised England stand-off now seems certain to stay with Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and the rest of the newly-crowned National Rugby League champions, who will face the Rhinos in the World Club Challenge early next year for the third time since 2008. "We'd love to get Gareth Widdop but nowadays with the money the top players are on out there, and the exchange rate, it's not within our grasp," Hetherington said."

I'm not surprised the coach is asking for more troops.

He is right to do so IMO, you can't keep off-loading and expecting what's left to produce the performances required on a consistent basis. Leeds don't even seem able to get anywhere the near end of the season these days with the same number of bodies they started with and that's without accounting for injuries. Last year it was Cross and Burgess and this year it's been Pitts and Smith (perhaps even Webb dependant on what you want to believe went on there) from an already restricted 1st grade player pool.

The players are magnificent, can the same be said of the management ?

Yes, why would you think otherwise? They put in place the core of this squad retaining those players who could contribute to the necessary level, add to that the strict wage structure they put in place to create the right balance and environment. They have also released many key players in recent years at the time they see fit, with a view to succession planning, whilst still achieving success.

I'm sure you don't really think the players alone, however special, created all this success?

The day after the squad built by the management delivers it's 6th title in 9 years and those are your thoughts.

The "errors" in letting legends Burgess, Cross, Pitts and Smith go are really hurting us.

It was a question as indicated by the use of a '?'

The coach is IMO raising a legitimate concern.

OK, if you need to ask then the answer is, fairly obviously, given the last few years, goodness me yes.

So you don't share the coach's concern as expressed in that article ?



Fair enough.

Not sure it constitutes concern. Your interpratative skills on display again.

I don't share any concern, if any does exist, about the management. In the 9 years some players have been here throughout, some have changed, the coaches have changed but the management has been consistent. They keep delivering title winning squads and title winning coaches whilst running the club as a high turnover, profit making business.

I'm surprised at McDermott's comments. They're bizarre given his refusal to use his squad players over Easter, his refusal to show faith in squad players for lesser game and his propensity to either not use bench players at all or give them a few minutes here and there.

Certainly, if I had to answer whether the coach or the chief exec concerned me more it would be an easy question to answer.

Who said those comments in the linked to Guardian article came from McDermott?

__________

Have you accepted yet the possibility that the YEP may have carried more of the Noble comments re the non selection of Sinfield in 2004 than the soundbite versions you found?

I have not accepted that Noble said the things you claimed he said. I've said you're making it up. Could I be any clearer?