Well the limit on overseas trained for this season was always going to be eight and I can only really think of Wigan exceeding that with Roberts, Carmont, Richards, Smith, Leuluai, Riddell, Palea'aesina, Bailey, Phelps and Hansen although not sure on Hansen's position in this regard.

Next year it's down to six though + any exemptions still with the clubs.

I can't believe the amount of doomsayers on this board. We hav lost a few games and some people believe this means we will be the worst team in the league! You may argue that because we haven't recruited well that that's the reason for this slump. But surely if most players have stayed and the squad is basically the same it is the same side that has won back to back titles! How could the same players suddenly become so bad in such little time?

Maybe a couple of signings would freshen us up but they won't make huge differences.

One last thing maybe because so many players have started in the same positions week in week out they can play badly and will always be on the team sheet for next week. This is you're Sinfield,burrow,mguire,senior,Webb,donald

Point me to one poster that has claimed that.

Im not quoting that people have actually said that but some on the posts have been implying things along that line

Leeds were first, they then went to second, they are now third, where next?

No-one has said or implied they will be 14th before the season is out.

Have they? Where?

Gareth in 2004 the club were on the crest of potentially having a dynasty what happened poor recruitment meant it took a genius coach - in your view - another three years to reach the title, and the team never reached the level of 2004 - so that was a good decision in your view?

I think GH loves the game and wants to see it prosper - did Wigan winning everything really prosper the game - do you think he wants to be responsible for a decline in interest in the game because his side wins everything?

The team are not playing well and have not played well all year - the squad is weaker than in the previous two years - how many companies do you know that actually weaken the quality of the personnel and prosper - you have to question who is responsible for that.

So you would have Sinfield as your captain until he stopped playing regardless - perhaps change would be a good thing. Do you think Peacock would make a worse captain? do you think he would less respect from his fellow team mates?

McClennan is a very good coach a better coach than Smith IMO - I have never said he is the best Leeds coach ever - I think Francis will never be eclipsed in my lifetime - but some of us a realists and you have question the coach as well as the players the coach cannot be immune from critisism that is the way of things. They do well they get the praise if things don't go well they should also get the questions - hopefully he will show his metal and things will improve.

As I said earlier I think they will give Huddersfield a serious beating and they will reach the GF. You on the other hand would are happy to overlook Smith faults - at least on here and point to his record as the be all and end all - what I find odd is McClennan's record is equal to that of Smith at the same stage of their tenure - yet you seem incapable of applying the same criteria to McClennan - also McClennan's stats for 2008 were significantly better than Smith's for 2007 with virtually the same players - another fact lost in your hero worship of Smith.

You have consistently bagged McClennan almost from day one because he is not the hard b@stard that Smith was - the worst thing that happened to you was Leeds winning the 2008 GF - you would have had field day if they had lost and as I have said before if they win the 2009 GF you really will be between a rock and a hard place

Even if they were to win the 2009 GF this team needs breaking up and another great team building - you only have to look at Saints and ask why are they have been consistently at the top of SL for 15 years because they have had three distinct sides during the SL era - if you want to stay at the top that ruthlessness is what is needed.

Eccleshill, you make some good points, and some ones that I don't agree with, but suggesting that Gary Hetherington doesn't want Leeds to win this season for the good of the game is just wrong.

We won two out of the next four Grand Finals. How high were your expectations?

david,

I have always said I hoped Mclennan would go on to eclipse Smith. I still hope he does. I still think he might. I have written anybody off this year.

What irks me is the hypocritical way people on here judge McLennan compared to how they judged Smith.

Oh and yes. Sinfield would be my captain until he retires. I'd imagine his team mates feel the same way, including JP.

I think Eccleshill Rhino is correct, we need to break up the team, just like Alex Ferguson sold Giggs, O'Shea, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes etc. Like Saints sold Cunningham, Long, Wellens, Gardner, Roby etc.

For us to be successful again lets sell Webb, Smith, McGuire, Burrow & Sinfield.

The very least Sinfield deserves for his recent games not being played to his usual high standard is to be stripped of the captaincy - just to restore his confidence.

Gareth you are just as hypocritical about McClennan as I have said his record stands comparison to Smith in any way you want but you do not judge McClennan as you do Smith.

You never critisised Smith and times his decisions were poor and performances were dire yet you consistently bag McClennan - that is hypocritical even you have to admit that?