The main issue for me is structure. Wigan play to a rigid structure and utilise dummy runners. All of there players know what they should be doing and when. In contrast, we play an off-the-cuff type of play with a hooker who half the time doesn't know what he's doing let alone the rest of the team. Wigan create overlaps with structure.

Overlaps are generally created by support runs from forwards, we don't have that. In my view, that's because our forwards on the pitch are having to play with only 2 props and in defence are desperately making last ditch tackles instead of getting 2/3 men in quickly and dominating the tackle. So our forwards are knackered when we have the ball.

Of course our halves have slowed down, but I still don't think they're a major issue. I think, in the games where our forwards dominate, our halves prove their worth. Either way they'll only be around another couple of seasons and will need replacing either way.

Wigan's tactic works because they only have 1 tactic. Run hard, tackle hard, do out the back play followed by out the back play until a try is scored.
Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
I also find it very boring and nowhere near as good as our play was early in the season.

Get some forwards in to dominate the tackles, our backs and halves, slow as they might be (though Burrow's not slow), will do fine.

But we had a chunk of possession early doors, also did vs Wire in the Cup semi and didn't come away with the points our field position warranted. So it's not a fatigue issue.

Halves don't necessarily need pace, but they do need fast accurate possession to be effective. Leeds' PTB is pedestrian and has been for years especially from JP, Kylie and Delaney. I'd also add that too often our halves are standing still when they receive the ball making them more predictable. One thing I like about Blake Green is that even though he isn't lighting quick, he always receives the ball at pace which creates doubt in the opposition defence because they don't know if he will run or pass.

So even though our halves aren't fantastic they're still very good. If our forwards were able to punch more holes we'd see instant improvement from them. One player whom think would really strengthen Leeds is Elliot Whithead.

the decision not to retain kyle amor looks better by the week.......................

Briscoe thinks hes world class and asked fc for silly wages luckily we didn't buckle to his demands and by all accounts he has been average and a weak link for you guys so glad he has gone. He looked better for us as we had a very average back line where at leeds they got a quality backline and he hasn't shone at all

It's not the only issue. Very few of our forwards dent the line when they take it in. There's Peacock and occasionally Leuluai. The rest of the time they're dealt with quite easily. Compare this to Wigan, Warrington or Saints forwards.

But we make the yards forwards, the stats prove this.

Metres made 2014

Leeds - 38,008
Wire - 37,618
Wigan - 36,754
Cas - 35,846
Saints - 35,829
Hudds - 34,258

2013 was a pretty identical list

I know it's not all down to forwards and our back three play a big part but if you're making more metres than any other team in the league then you shouldn't be the lowest scoring team out of the top 6. Regardless of the method (heavily reliant on Peacock, the back 3) we DO get field position enough to score more points than we do.....but we don't.

And whilst our back three give us good metres so do the backs of Wigan, Saints and Wire so the forwards must do a good enough job and aren't the liability some think......however they do offer next to nothing 10m from the line. That's where an added figure to the coaching staff is needed.

For all the talk of players leaving, players coming in, players stepping up from academy......it's getting an Assistant coach that is the key factor for next year.

Are those stats for teams or just forwards? How do our stats look when you take Hardaker/Briscoe/Hall kick returns and first drives out?

Even if our stats turn out to be ok we look more likely to score from 60 yards out than 20, something which probably has got worse in the second half of the season with our new-found tactic of drilling the ball into touch whenever we get into an attacking position.

For the team as a whole, but like I said, the backs for the other Top 6 have hardly been slouches themselves now have they. And even if we rely more on our back 3, we still must be getting down field enough if we're comfortably the top metre maker.....so something is wrong in executing field position to points. An issue I pointed out well over 12 months ago but was shot down with just typical cries of "the team's too old and past it".

and the coach still hasn't addressed it.

McDermott OUT

Reckon he's reached/reaching his shelf life at Leeds but an off-season change isn't likely.

Whilst winning trophies means he deserves more respect than the look-down-their-nose abuse some continuously give him on here, both previous coaches won titles and it was right to move on from them.

As a off season change is unlikely then a key addition to the coaching staff is the thing I look forward to.

Four years is a good stint, time for some fresh ideas - particularly on attack. I think we also need a new approach to player retention and development, I think some of our coaches values are getting in the way of making decisions that are needed.

It's been a good season overall, the cup win was awesome, and no easy run to get there either, but I am totally hacked off with our approach to the regular season. McD seems to be a one trick pony - under achieve, develop siege mentality, exploit underdog status, hope the great players we gave drag us through several playoff games. What a total waste that early season form was.

But I don't think we are getting in good field position. Our back 3's excellent returns and work rates get us up-field away from our try line but I don't see us camped on the oppositions try-line very often.
We don't get quick enough play the balls, because we're too heavily reliant on 2 props.
When we get those play the balls, we look dangerous. When we don't we look slow and ponderous.

I don't think our halves have been brilliant this season by any means, but I don't think they're the major issue. Get some forwards in who'll actually take it forward with energy and our halves and threequarters will flourish. Like they did early this season.
Until we do that we'll rely on Peacock and Leuluai to roll us forward. We have second rowers (Delaney & JJB) trying to do props work. That should only be when we have injuries, not a regular occurrence because our 3rd & 4th props aren't doing anything like enough.

As big a Sinny fan as i am, I think he shares the blame with Briscoe, why didn't he take the ball up himself, if he stays in the field of play great lets have another forward do the same, if he gets pushed back over the try line we waste another 30 od seconds and the ball ends up 50 yard from our line. Just my opinion, didn't think we deserved to win anyway, but at least make them score a try not gift one to them.