The games changed from when the goldens came through. Throwing kids out to play every week at 18 is (rightly in my opinion) seen as the wrong way to go. And even back then the likes of McGuire and Burrow didn’t play every game. In reality there was always plenty of ‘squad’ players. Whether you’re talking Dunneman or Millard, or later on with the likes of Kirke, Worrall, Ambler. Our best squads have always had depth, some of which is from the academy but some were from other clubs or the championship.

For me this squad is the closest we’ve come in a while to getting the balance right. Some of the overseas quota just needs addressing now.

Quite correct, as I mentioned previously the stats are a useful tool but don’t paint the whole picture. For me one of the benefits is how much yardage the forwards are making. If you have a dominant pack you usually win your match. The stats will give you a rough idea as per the pack’s performances or lack of.

I disagree with just about all of that, and not surprisingly, just about everything else you post. No matter. It's all about opinions, as they say.

My goal was not to bag O’Connor or Smith, I like them both but just to point out that these simplistic statistics are not all RL is about.

On another note Ryan Hall is stronger than any of our props, can still finish and is safe under high ball. Looks 3-4 more years left to me …….would we for next season?

That would be good we can finish up with a 39 year old winger

Likewise, on the stats, I presume it doesn't count as an error when Olphert's runs away from the high balls so that he doesn't have to drop them.

To disagree agreeably is a good thing - it is good that there is a divergence of opinions - it would be a very dull board if everyone had the same view.

The club is the best run, highest revenue generating club in SL - outside of the golden generation it has struggled to deliver on the field - it was 32 before 2004 that it last won the Championship - why do you think a club with such resources cannot deliver in the most important area i.e. on the field.

Management.

And that, not because he spilled a couple in a gale, is why he should be dropped.

Good posting, think that’s were the frustration comes from. Fans see the off field efforts of the club with new stands plus excellent corporate facilities.
Yet we seem to struggle to create a decent team,. We have no god given right to silverware success but since the golden generation we have been below par. Few months ago we all had a long dialogue of verbal fisticuffs regarding our playing demise.. Maybe the slow decline started at the back end of Brian Macs spell. For me the giants game is interesting ,more so in how we perform than the result, obviously I would prefer a win but with some semblance of creativity and teamwork needs to be on display.

At the end of the day we are not far off where we thought we would be in the league.
In my mind we should have got points against Cas, Hull and Wakefield and a 50/50 call for 2 points against KR. I didn`t think we would beat Warrington, Saints and Catalan.
So 6 points maybe 8 is where I thought we would be after 7 games.
What is disappointing is the manner we have lost to teams we should be beating.
On the flip side the way we played against Saints and Catalans shows it`s in there, it`s consistency we lack and not enough good quality depth in our squad yet.

Let us not fool ourselves , we played Saints at a good time and a fair bit of the game they only had twelve men .
A good half against Catalan hardly makes up for the poor performances against Cas, H.K.R , Warrington, Wakey and Hull

I think we must win two of our next three games(all three would be great) to have any credibility in the league this season. If we don't then unfortunately the knives will be out

Talk about looking at the positives….!!

the referee was appalling last week and has carried on in the same vein tonight at cas...

I think the stand redevelopments have taken a focus away from the team. They were a massive financial and operational undertaking. It is the right choice to focus on the long term needs of the team, but understandably we may not have had the chequebook out as much in recent seasons.

Leeds always spend near to the cap - but I think recruitment especially overseas has been below par for whatever reason. It is the lack of quality youth in key positions that appears to be holding matters back. When did we last produce a quality half back?