Looking at leeds last ten games i think they peaked for the wcc then aimed for semi final time and to hit the play offs in form again. All the last few are winnable games. It will be interesting to see how wigan fare having been 100% from day one

I don't think we can look into anything from the Semi final. The games leading up to it were easy winnable games, and in truth in patches they struggled. The Semi was a game that the players had the ability and desire to put a huge effort in to win.

Like I said previously, the test comes in backing it up. I wouldn't be surprised if we lost on Friday. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if we lost 3 of our last seven league matches, despite all been against oppossition you would prefer to have, and probably losing the two games either side of the cup final.

Friday will a struggle i think but i expect us to finish fourth looking at remaining games

Neither do I.
I agree that fatigue could be a part of poor performance, after all they had to come into the season ready for the WCC rather than half-cooked, that alone will account for a mid-season dip in fitness (and form is very difficult without fitness).
Hence June was not a good month.

I'm arguing against myself here, I am hoping that's the case and that we are poised for a storming last third of the season.
But it'll take more than a couple of games to convince me.

average age of starting props 35

I don't buy into this 'not trying until the big games' theory that some on here believe in.

Last year through out the season was poor but McDermott taking over late and having to bring in his own new coaching staff, no McGuire and Peacock to start with and even then took then while to get really going in games. Unrest with Cross and Burgess, Senior getting injured around May time and Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow changing from 13, 6 and 7 to 6, 7 and interchange 9. Also young players like Watkins and BJB giving a chance and then picking up injuries too. It also most importantly seemed to take a while before the squad clicked with McDermott as their leader, and McDermott himself didn't look settled in for quite a while.

As for this year, getting up for the WCC, trying to rely on pretty much the same 13 to win every game, and complete under usage of the 4 guys on the bench led to this year's form and results we saw around May/early June. This year has not been as bad as last year, good wins at home against 3rd place Catalan and 2nd place Warrington (some will say Wire didn't play to good that day but 12 months ago i think we'd of still lost that one), we should of had Saints beaten at home after taking an early second half lead only for McDermott to not interchange enough during that game. As for some of the other defeats we have faced some really good performances (teams do actually raise their game when they play the current SL champions and WCC winners), have/will Hull FC play any better than they did against us at the KC? We met the Giants in their usually good patch, if that game was scheduled for any round after week 10 then it's probably 2 points for Leeds. Saints battered us the game after their coach left (happens a bit in sport) and Wigan away felt like a no contest with all eyes on the WCC. The real low part of this season came in the back to back beatings against Wigan and Warrington and too much i think got said publicly off the field that didn't help, McDermott questioning if the guys were waiting for the mythical end of season, GH threatened axing of under performers and Peacock getting into a spat with Schofield. Hopefully all looks to be behind them and the mood looks happy again.

There is still some structural issues within the team in attack and especially defence that willl rear it's head again at times that need working on and the problem of playing certain players too much with a CC Final and Playoffs looming is a worry. However throughout everything with the likes of Sinfield, Peacock, JJB etc on the pitch i know that 'not being bothered about regular season games' only exist in some fans head. (that last line cue a big sulking response probably from those who know for a 'fact' that the players aren't trying )

Ranking of Leeds coaches during the SL Era

SL Regular Rounds only
7 - Dean Bell (44.00%)

All other 1st Grade Fixtures
2 - Dean Lance (72.73%)
3 - Brian McClennan (66.67%)
4 - Tony Smith (65.22%)
5 - Graham Murray (58.33%)
=6 - Daryl Powell (57.14%)
=6 - Dean Bell (57.14%)

Wigan should be fine as they have a healthy lead at the top and have no CC final whereas closest challengers warrington are in the CC final.

They've enough time to emerge from their current funk and hit form again for the playoffs. They're certanties to contest the grand final.

Nobody mentioned not trying or not bothered. Its easing through training and games saving energy for the final third.

Agree tad its the not "competeing" and its happend far too often to be just dismissed as not worth mentioning or getting all kinds of labels for questioning performances ,selections and tactics etc etc.

Professional sports men are a competitive breed and it is not something you can switch on and off or contemplate deciding to sometimes deliberately not compete. You either have the will to win or not. Equally professional rugbyplayers know that if you try "easing" through training and games you will increase the chances of picking up injuries or getting dropped.

Why is it that some folk prefer to believe in conspiracy theories rather than except the fact than as human beings we sometimes fail to produce our best performance. If the coaches were part of this theoretical game plan they would be running a very high risk of getting sacked as word would have got out to the management and fans.

Because we managed to turn around our form and make a historic Championship winning finish last year does not mean any sane coach would consider taking such a risk and deliberately go to that dark place again. Would any coach really believe that he had a magic formula to achieve success by repeating the events of last season?....

Our season lasts around eight months, with the internationals often having a nine month season. It isn't possible to "peak" for that long. Teams always used to target games. In the days of relegation, coaches would occasionally even be open about investing their gameplanning and prep time for the relegation rivals, and almost writing off the games against the top teams.
I don't have any doubt that our strength, fitness and training intensity has been cycled to peak at particular points in the season, and that's been happening for more than the last two years. It's just perhaps gone further lately.

You are quite right Richie but targeting to peak in key games is a normal positive plan and never included a deliberate negative element of regularly not trying or competing in other games, as is being suggested, which is a whole lot different. If indeed the coaches had such a negative plan we would have seen much more of the squad rotation that these same 'theorists' have been calling for.

egboth deliberately not competing and not resting/rotating the squad is somewhat illogical in my view.

Woah there. Who is suggesting deliberately not trying? A change of intensity in training cycles and other such mechanisms are far more likely ways of recognising that an ageing squad cannot be at it's highest level of performance all year.

I would imagine that nobody would be too pleased at how the balance has worked this year and the idea would have been to be a little closer to "peak" at a few points.

Spot on. Juan is trying to put in things that aren't there. Warrington have done the same as leeds albiet better. For me a 12 team league and 5 team play offs would mean more intensity and less games. Leeds know a top 5 finish is more or less guaranteed before the season starts. They want to hit the play offs in form and with energy. Therefore there will be stages that training has to ease off and performances suffer. As sir kev said, the table doesn't matter, its winning when it counts that does