The MPG is looking more and more likley. Hopefully Segeyaro can come in and make a difference. Jimmy Keinhorst should have played for me in place of either Golding or Briscoe. We desperately need another half back.

Is Lilley injured? I would have thought he's a better option than Burrow as a scrum half. When Burrow was absolute lightning he could get away with playing 7 as he could make space with his speed. He's just not fast enough to do that any more but doesn't seem to have adapted his game in any way. He can still work as hooker as it ties him down a bit and stops him crabbing so much and chewing up space, but even then it should be off the bench. That's assuming the disruption that happens every time he comes on is worth it.

I see BM's still citing off field issues out of his control before admitting we're not good enough. Its a bit sad really as it just comes across as petulant or delusional. The defence has been a shambles all year, we have easily the worst attack in SL and none of our senior players in a position to run the side have stood up at any stage.

Lilley has aggravated his shoulder

The lack of basic game management and lack of leadership is jaw dropping.

In the final ten minutes, with it tied up at 22 all, Leeds have 4 sets of 6 on the Widnes try line. It was only on the 4th attempt that McGuire set in the pocket to attempt the obvious drop goal (the ball to him was terrible and it never happened.)

Compare that to Widnes, 1st chance they got down there, Kevin Brown went for one and missed. 2nd time they were down there, Mellor kicked his.

It's such a simple thing, no matter what level you're at, what the play was.

McGuire and Burrow as our veterans and leaders displayed such lack of leadership. We're void of it. We have a team of passengers and no-one is directing the play or taking responsibility.

Big Roy Dickinson was on fine form with the corporates yesterday, saying we may as well turn out the lights and the players weren't bothered to wear the shirt. And he's on the payroll.

The worst part is we did the same thing against Wakefield at home, by not setting up for a drop goal it cost us the game

That basically means that in the review for the Wakefield game (for some reason) it was not made clear to every player when and how to set up for a drop goal, something most should know anyway
Mcguire was set for it a couple of times but Burrow ignored him as did many forwards who instead of driving for the posts decided to pass it on or crab looking for opportunities out wide

Was Sinfield seriously the only player in our team with any brains?! When you here the crowd all saying 'now... now... okay now... ' you know we have lost the plot

On top of that it seems a lot of players have forgotten how to count to 5, as that would be the only reasonably explanation for being caught totally unaware numerous time when the 5th tackle was called

A drop goal is too obvious, that's what the defence is expecting. Apart from it being virtually undefendable if it's done right of course.

If a SL club doesn't have a drop goal set then all the coaches should be sacked on the spot. Has Roy Hodgson been mentoring McDermott?

The only different between Mcdrmott and Hodgson is that mcdermott isn't managing a bunch of overpaid gutless k unts.

Exactly.

After one failed set Ryan Hall was literally stamping his feet in frustration, after Galloway ran in a circle then passed to Cuthbertson who knocked on. Another of those sets, on the last tackle the dummy half (Burrow) passed to JJB, who passed to Singleton, who passed into the crowd.

Those diabolical final sets were a perfect microcosm of this seasons attacking shambles.

thing is burrow and McGuire should have been demanding the ball on the last. they weren't in sight half the time

Tad- couldn't agree more. On the 5th tackle its up to the halfbacks to demand the ball. If the rest of the team are too dense to know what's going on, then they should stand first receiver and force the acting half to pass to them that way. Burrow has never been a demonstrative player, but McGuire seems happy enough mouthing off to all and sundry - he needs to grow a pair and if necessary physically push his forwards out of the way to get what he wants. You simply cannot get by with two passive halfbacks.

Maggsy was perfectly placed for the 1 pointer everytime but if players cant play the ball correctly or if the ball goes to JJB and Singo instead what can he do???

Danny seems to be getting some stick for not being a leader but if professional players need telling what the heck to do at 22 all with 3 mins to go its embarrassing! 16k in the ground knew what needed to be done so its hardly a question of leadership on that occassion.

I think most of the blame goes on Burrow, from dummy half. He didn't need to demand the ball as he was the one putting it out. He should have took better options. However, I dissagree with you on McGuire, he received that ball plenty of times in good position and move it on wide, instead of keeping it going forward to the posts which is what teams would normally do when setting up.

I agree Gotcha. Burrow took wrong option a couple of times, Cuthbo attempted a ridiculous offload on 1 occassion with 3 men on him. I think Maggsy was in position for the drop goal a few times but ball never came.

For whats its worth i wouldnt drive to the posts in a dg set as the dumny half then has to then turn 180 to pass ball to kicker and defence has more chance of pressure. 10m either side of posts to allow a quicker pass. But heyho ball never got delivered so lesson to be learned.

Not saying any of the criticism is unfair, but this is a try and if it's given as it should be then drop goals are moot. Poor show by Thaler but that's become the norm these days.