I've got no real issue with Merrin - he's trying to carry a very poor pack.

I think the crux of the issue is that there are too many players that represent poor value for what they're on today that, when their contracts were signed years ago, probably didn't represent as-bad value. That's the risk with long-term contracts.

Players like Luke Briscoe - and England international when he joined the club, will be on a decent amount. I don't think that anyone will argue that he is currently representing value for money.

Most of the overseas players will be on decent money. You have to pay to get them here and given that even fringe players and your average Bartercard Cup squad-fillers can earn more than Super League players, it stands to reason that Lolohea, Peteru, Cuthbertson and Parcell are on decent whack. Cuthbertson and Parcell were both outstanding in their first seasons - nobody would question their value on the cap but today? Different story.

Add that up across the squad and throw in few other examples where that critique fits and I think you have your answer. This isn't so much about what Hurrell and Merrin earn (and if what they earn is causing friction, I'd invite any player who thinks they're being under-paid for their efforts this year to put their hand-up and make their case). The issue for me is that, £ for £, the club isn't getting value from its salary structure that other clubs are (Wakefield and Salford are fantastic examples of that). A player making the sort of contribution that some of our likely decent-earners have made this year would be on three-fifths of nack-all at most other clubs.

I have been one of the clubs most ardent critics over the years but at the moment I am not in a doom loop about the current position.

The team contains the nucleus of another potentially very good team: Walker, Handley, Newman, Mclennan, Oldeski, Trout, Smith, Ward, Holroyd add to that the likes of Spence and Mustapha and things look solid for the future. Of the current squad Watkins must improve, Merrin I would keep, Parcell possibly, Hurrell makes too many basic errors, Ava looks ok.

Leeds are very unlikely to go down this year so I would be blooding these youngsters I cannot see the benefit of JJB over Holroyd or Singleton over Trout etc.

This looks far worse than it is

Hasn`t Merrin already been sin binned twice this season for dissent? Poor in my eyes, Leeds should be looking to him as one of if not the leader of the team and that is just poor imo.

Merrin’s playing frustrated because there isn’t enough quality around him, and he’s not a “carry the pack” kind of player. He’s a glue player who fills in gaps and links well. It’s painful to watch. He’s a good player, but I still don’t think he was the right player for Leeds under marquee.

Hurrell - well he’ll win you and game and then lose you a game, but he’s a great character and would look much better if he wasn’t targeted as just about Leeds’ only strike player. Shut him down and you’ve pretty much beaten us.

Yes we are in crisis, and having a number of coaches over the last twelve months has not helped matters. We have had McDermott, Lowes, Sinfield to a point, Furner and now Agar. How many of these coaches have tried putting their print on this team. Like GH said last night it takes time to implement change, well it maybe time to allow Agar the time to try and give us some stability until the end of the season when we can make the necessary changes. All these coaches over twelve months cannot be good for the team. Although this does not excuse the players from putting in a shift, it does not help them with everything else that is going on in the team. Maybe now is the time for a little stability and lets see what happens over the next few weeks.

How many more games can we afford to give Watkins the chance to get his confidence/fitness back ?, looking from distance at the Cas game, he wasn't just a yard off the pace but several, he's either unable or afraid to put his foot down on the accelerator and motor off, likewise his tackling, he's backing out waiting for others to arrive first or just unable to get to the attacker, scared of injury or just too unfit? As for the Captaincy is he afraid to vent and open his mouth or has he just no clue as to what to say to get the players around him to respond?

I don’t think he is afraid to open his mouth, or that he doesn’t know what to say. You can see he speaks with them at stoppage in plays. The issue is more, to be a captain, to lead, you first have to set that lead by setting the right example. Somebody who can’t even get his own game right, and is not demonstrating what is expected himself, is not going to get his team mates to do something. Would you follow someone failing?

Theres more to it with Kallum unfortunately.

I know. Even though I had some idiot private messaging me the other week telling me I was wrong. However, that doesn’t change the point above on why it doesn’t work.

Thing is though, not sure where player welfare is these days, but they don’t even realise they are making it worse, and destroying him.

Sinfield being sat next to the coach constantly makes me think hes trying to coach.
I beleeive he’s right about the “rotten to the core”. Defo get rid of the fitness coaches. We look so weak. Get sinfield an office out the way, get rid of the ones that don’t want to play, and get Wane as new head coach.

Constantly? That is the first time this year I've seen that happen.

Reading between the lines , Kevin's comments about the club Being rotten for awhile and things have been allowed to erode . Does he just mean player recruitment or something else ? GH when he speaks puts a more rosy spin on things .I admire Kevin as he comes across as a person ,but I wonder if he's a little at odds with the CEO ? Kevin has left a wonderful legacy and I hope hes not getting disillusioned.

Completely agree with Marty and Gotcha imo we should take Watkins out of the firing line for a week or two.

Me too and I sit just a few seats away from the coach.

Clearly didn't want to sit with his friend Furner then. Now he's shi77ing himself was practically sat on Agars knee. After Agar had left his chair it was like hold on Richard for me to leave with you!