Anyone with a modicum of common sense can see that our current squad could be strenghtened by the inclusion of another forward and a right centre.

A point missed by those who appear to be still carrying a torch for the previous managment, but not thankfully by our CEO, or the more astute Headingley fans.

Our 2010 squad could be awesome, and on that note, I bid you all a Good Night

The CEO and President both said the off season recruitment hadn't gone to plan. That is as straightforward as it gets.

I've not read either of them saying that Leeds couldn't defend their SL title which is something else we have in common.

I'm pleased every time Leeds win a game let alone a championship.

I'd still rate the 04 win as the biggest achievement in the last 30+ years. Breaking that title drought was immense. Not to diminish what McClennan has achieved in any way at all. And I hope he goes on to be the most successful Leeds coach ever in terms of trophies.

Next year will be very interesting. 'On paper' Leeds look as though we'll be a good deal stronger (assuming Senior stays in form), although the Buderus-Diskin issue needs a rethink IMO. Sts will have one threequarter amongst the donkeys, which will make a difference, but I agree they appear to be showing the signs of ageing. Warrington should be more competitive from the off and I think Wigan will be stronger as well. I suspect Hudds and KR will drift a bit.

Perhaps the most interesting thing to watch for next year is Leeds' attitude towards the Challenge Cup. I suspect a lot of our players will be hugely motivated in their desire to win that. Looking at already announced signings for next year, they may never have a better chance to win it.

The last paragraph is the key - the quality on the field is seriously diminished - that is what the salary cap does it supposedly increases competition but in order to achieve that it has to bring the the top sides down to the level of the lowest common denominator.

The cap is a good thing if you want to stop a Wigan situation of the 90s - although with full time teams that would be unlikely to happen - but it needs increasing annually with inflation - the cap hasn't moved in value since its inception - this penalises the sides with the good business plan

For me I would give each player a value - youngster no value to encourage developement and inclusion - a figure for GB players depending on experience, overseas players would be the same value regardless of status thereby encouraging clubs to only recruit the top players and then a value for a side in a game ie £3m and then the coaches would need a blend of players to make up your side

OK, I can concede that recruitment didn't go to plan.

However, that said, I maintained all along this squad was good enough to retain the title. Many doubted that. They were wrong and I was right.

Harry Jepson said this was Leeds best squad ever. Do you disagree with Mr Jepson?

There is one vital and very obvious flaw in that statment

its called

LEEDS RHINOS ... THREEPEAT CHAMPIONS

Operating below the Salary Cap for 3 years...yet still managing to recruit overseas quality.... and bringing young emerging home trained talent through as well.

PS, its' not just Mr Jepson. The CEO now agrees with me that this is the "best Leeds team ever".

So maybe we weren't desperate for that prop and right centre after all.

Not just the best Leeds team, but the best squad. IIRC there were those who levelled criticism at Blueys "Man management" approach to coaching. It now appears that this particular group of players who a couple of years ago were reported to be fractious and fragmented under Smiths leadership are now willing to put themselves into bat for each other even when the chips are down. It appears that the lack of "big name" signings has actually given those who remain an incentive to step up to the plate and demonstrate what they can achieve given a steady run in the team.

I have a confession of my own to make though. When Diskin went to burrow through from D/H on the 5th I did start to say "Oh FFS", this did then change to "F*** me, he's only gone and done it"

Finally, what did Jesus once say, 'it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

I think I know how he felt.



Of which I don't believe I was one but please carry on. My goal for Leeds this season (as it is every season) was to achieve the Cup and Championship double as I've never seen it done and what's more it's never been done by any Leeds side in their history (but several others have done it including St Helens and Bradford in the SL Era.) I really thought there was an opportunity this season but the off season recruitment probably put pay to that.



Who am I to disagree with someone who has watched Leeds (albeit as a Hunslet man) from the 1920's. I don't think his comments were specifically related to this season's squad though but to a period covering the recent seasons. He also states that this season's squad could and implies should have been stronger and that next season's will be stronger where again I'm in agreement.

I was waiting for someone to trot out that argument, and I knew it would be you.

Saints 2009 squad is deeper than either of the previous two. Look at the young players they have blooded this year such as Wheeler, Lomax etc who were able to come in and enable them to keep winning even when they had injury issues to key players.

And yet with a supposedly weaker squad than 2007 and 2008, with their two key overseas signings either injured or unable to get a visa, Leeds were able to do something they hadn't been able to for the last two years and finish ahead of them over the weekly rounds.

Lee Smith and Nick Scruton left because two other clubs saw their value as being much higher than Leeds were prepared to offer. That would happen with or without the salary cap. Perhaps Scruton would have done well to heed the words of his former captain after the game on Saturday, as would Messrs Calderwood and Walker?

I am begining to feel its impossible to educate you D.

Its not so long ago you were losing money telling me Leeds wouldnt win a single trophy in a season never mind 3 GF pn the trot.

As to the above ridiculous statement you are aware the goal isnt for Leeds to be better then THEIR predecessors it is to be better than THEIR opponents.

You were arguing that the Salary Cap impinges on this vital goal when clearly the indisputable FACT is that you are WRONG AGAIN as Leeds unique record demonstrates..



Answer me this one as well do you think the likes of Scruton Walker Claderwood etc and no Smith have made a huge mistake based soley on chasing the money at the WRONG time in their careers. ????

I disagree re Saints - their problem was the number of ageing players who have taken up too much salary cap and as a result the depth of the squad is weaker IMO - all these youngsters they have blooded only Eastmond played more than 5/6 games and he was the only different player in their side in 2009 compared to 2008. How many of these blooded youngsters will get a regular place next year?

I think most on here would suggest the standard of rugby this year has on the whole been poor across SL and Leeds are no exception. That is to take nothing away from what they achieved which is outstanding but say they were best of a very competitive league simply doesn't ring true IMO.

You're confusing quality with competitive.

It would be hard to argue that SL was anything but more competitive this year. Leeds lost almost a quarter of their games in the regular season, Saints nearly a third. There were only 12 points separating 2nd from 8th.

You may have an argument about quality, although I think the World Cup may have had more of a hangover than many would give it credit for, with a larger than usual number of players from SL being deprived of a full off-season programme as a result.

That depends what you think a competitive league is Dave. Some seem to think it should involve superior teams enabled to play free flowing rugby against inferior opponents.
What we're seeing now are closer teams playing position and possession. You might not see so many passes across the backs to wingers in space, but do you really want to? Or would you rather see a competitive but scappy game?