Quote: rhinowinorlose " - tvoc - I've been waiting for someone to mention London!! '"
London's record under McDermott is indicative of the direction he took them over the course of just over four full seasons and that's a longer spell in charge than any coach has been given at Headingley during the SL Era. Despite what you've said London have charted fairly respectable finishes despite the 'mercenaries' they've recruited during the SL Era prior to Brian McDermott's contribution: 4, 2, 7, 8, 11, 6, 8, 5, 10, 6 - a couple of above average finishes, a couple of below average finishes but overall pretty consistently somewhere in the mid-pack.
McDermott presided over a steady slide down the rankings except for the season they briefly stood still: 7, 9, 9, 11, 13 - Powell at least started to reverse the trend with the 12th placed finish last season although whether that will continue this year remains to be seen.
It's a personal trend McDermott is currently extending at what is one of the supposed have clubs. Can he turn it around? Can a club like Leeds take that chance or even afford to wait and see?
I'd highlight a Regular Round form-line through the clubs Leeds should be judged against, which over this latest switch-coach period have been Wigan, Warrington and St Helens.
2010 - Pl 6, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Pts For 127, Pts Agst 161 (avg scr 21 - 27)
2011 - Pl 6, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 5, Pts For 108, Pts Agst 202 (avg scr 18 - 34)
2012 - Pl 6, Won 1, Drawn 0, Lost 5, Pts For 82, Pts Agst 202 (avg scr 14 - 34)
I'd say that amounts to a worrying record of diminishing returns as Leeds settle back amongst the teams making up the numbers. When Bradford started their slide they went 3, 5, 9, 10, 10 - Leeds have gone 1, 4, 5 and are looking like slipping lower still this season, is that the blueprint we should follow?