It is a good job Melbourne didn't have a full strength side out - if both sides were at full strength do you think the result would have been closer?

I would agree with that - how many of those players are now trotting around in SL in 2018

Perhaps he was waiting for Deutschland Deutschland Uber alles to ring out.

Who was missing for them exactly?

Good effort first half but the lack of props was a problem. That's before we mention the salary cap.

Just a shame it's one game a season.

yesbI read about that and saw it on TV

The only player they had missing was Kasiano, and there's no guarantee he'll make it into their 17 regularly anyway (he'll need to maintain high standards on gameday and in training consistently, which he's not famed for) , so yes, I'd say it would have been much closer, but they would still have had enough to win relatively comfortably.

Even at full strength Melbourne are far better' than leeds. without garbutt, Mullally and 3 other big forwards it was always going to be one way traffic up front. Thought they showed plenty of effort. Need some bodies back, in particular Garbutt for the go forward.
Prince William and Harry don't sing the national anthem either, perhaps Jimmy as A German is related to the royal family and therefore does not want to sing great auntie's song, or maybe does not know the words. Whatever I could not give a monkey's.

Yeah, most definitely. The pack lays the platform

Leeds were missing two forwards Garbutt and Mullally even if Galloway was fit it is unlikely he would play ahead of Cuthbertson, Darbutt, Singleton and Mullally and Ferres would never get in ahead of Ward, JJB and Ablett. If Melbourne had played Kasiano and Kaufusi they would added as much as Garbutt and Mullally. The idea that Mullally/Ferres etc. would have had a big influence on the game is grasping at straws IMO. Yes Leeds lost Walker but Melbourne also lost Slater and even at this stage of his career Slater is still in a different world to Walker as a player.

Leeds will not be far off winning the GF this year but the gulf in class between the 2 competitions should not be ignored.

Kasiano? The 3 good games a season lummox? He's another Mase Masoe looks like tarzen plays like jane & i've been watching him for years.
Absolutely Garbutt & Mullally would make a difference maybe not to the result but our efforts 100%.

"Maybe not the result"

Of course having two mediocre props in Garbutt and Mullally on wouldn't have turned around a 7 tries to 1 victory against a far more talented, and drilled outfit in Melbourne.

You're more delusional than Mcdermott who in his post game interview said gives his players 8-10 games and they would be at Melbourne level.

The difference between the competitions is night and day, its like the gulf between super league teams, and championship.

Kasiano at the Storm will be a different player - if he isn't he wont be there long.

The idea that two very average players would have made such a massive difference against the best club side in the world defies any kind of logic. It also suggets that the only side that could have improved its performance was Leeds - again grasping at straws is duly noted