I've always believed the head-coach to be the most important position within the club from a playing point of view. It's also an appointment that is not restrained by any cap or quota implications. The standard of coaches out there are hugely variable - IMO so any attempt to find a cheap option will ultimately prove to be a damaging false economy. The right man seemingly able to improve individual performance levels and in turn team performances that are beyond the individual capabilities of the players at his disposal but the wrong man at the helm can equally have the opposite effect. There is also the question of consistency and having an occassional good day only highlights a general failure the rest of the time.

You also have to take the players with you and I think you will if you earn their respect and they can see your methods are working come game-day. I think the players can spot a dud when they see one though and start to go their own way and attempt hero plays because the neccessary structures either aren't there or aren't enforced.

Good post TVOC some very fair and good points.

This is correct, but it's worth pointing out that the route to the two CC Finals have involved comfortable home draws against whipping boy SL rabble teams. When it counted in the CC Finals themselves against superior opposition, they were found wanting. The route to winning the GF last year also involved easy fixtures against two whipping SL boy rabble teams. To McDermott's credit, Leeds won the tough games that counted... Warrington away, St Helens in the GF and the win in the WCC against Manly. All the rest has been dross for the most part.


This is incorrect because prior to McDermott's arrival as coach, Leeds were an established Top 4 club on the regular season ladder. This is no longer the case as finishing in the Top 4 is now a struggle for them.


Correct.


Disagree. Warrington have arguably improved drastically in recent years but that's from a position of heavy investment in the squad from a position of being one of the rabble SL teams. Wigan improved under McGuire but have since stalled, St Helens and Leeds have declined sharply over the past couple of seasons. The rest aren't worth talking about... they are pitiful opposition for the most part and not serious contenders.


Has it? Results and performances during the regular season during McDermott's tenure suggest this is not the case, particularly against the top SL clubs - one win, one draw and ten defeats. However, I do think he's taken over at a time when the squad was already in decline and he hasn't benefited from the luxury of any serious investment in the squad. The CEO appears somewhat reluctant to invest in the squad but this policy may well change dramatically should Leeds fail miserably in the play-offs and season ticket sales next year suffer accordingly.

I wouldn't put Wigan at Huddersfield in this year's CC Semi-Final in that category although I note your later comment that you see Wigan stalling post Maguire.

I think they've missed Richards and Leuluai when injured this year but if they are both available for the play-offs I'd still expect to see them contest the GF with Warrington.

It really, really wasn't.

As usual tvoc, spot on.

It's always worth pointing out.