I was bitterly disappointed with last nights performance. Apart from his try, saw why Bish isn't a top full back. When he got pushed back over the line (even though Smith was offside), he should have been looking to hit the deck. Out of position for the first try (Hardaker tends to defend along the try line in those situations so he can read the play) and he was on his knees when tackling Mathers for his try (Zak would have wrapped him up).

With him going next year I'd be looking at next years options like Gotcha said.

Our lack of structure is worrying. There was no second phase and why don't we have an offload game? The forwards really struggled, and like mentioned, Bailey showed nothing. His only moment of note was giving the little guy a push on the floor. Thought Mulhern looked good when he came on for his cameo. And Minchella brought enthusiasm. Another good performance from Walters

Not a great Leeds performance but my man crush on peacock grows by the season.

Incredible efforts he's putting in again this season. Hope he gets man of steel, phenomenal player and top bloke with it.

Double post

Got what we deserved in the end the structure and basics were all wrong again imo.
No communication ,too many errors and dare I say it "one man" RL again ,we didn't even get the "Grind" right.
Also Mc.D and his 1 man Coaching band need help asap its just not happening and injuries alone are not to blame.

I think we're all being a tad too critical. Yes, it was a game we should have won. Yes, our attack needed a boost. But really, the game would have been won had we had Sinfield kicking. I know it's easy to see a loss and panic, but we lost by 2 points - 2-4 points Sinfield would have kicked. Let's remember we're relying on our FOURTH choice kicker.

And we're saying we can't blame our injuries, but why not? When we were at basically full strength we were Top of the Table with the best defence in the competition. Our players are going to start coming back and with them, our level of skill and ideas will increase.

That's not to say there aren't changes McDermott could make, or that those first-team players we have had playing have played to their best, because there are always improvements to be made, but I'm certainly not worrying about the rest of the season. And I'd rather this 'slump' happen against teams such as Wakefield who a) Are not challenging us for high spots on the table, b) we use frequently to give younger players SL experience, and C) As a team I don't want to see them relegated.

Reading this it's evident the majority chose to stay at home and watch the game on TV. True supporters! Sure you will all be out in force for the cup final/ grand final though.

Are you one of the bunch of idiots that used to sing "loyal supporters" at fans who left early when Leeds were getting hammered?

Nope. Just a very poor turnout last night, smallest leeds following I have seen in years at Belle Vue.

Doesn't say much for the home "following" for Wakefield's cup final either, does it?

As poor as it was we were we should still have held on to take the points. Truly awful defending for the final try, especially as Wakey had telegraphed that switch move several times in the lead up to it. It was ridiculously laborious and predictable yet still enough to fool the Leeds team.

Still, how Ryan Hall was judged to have deliberately played for the ball and knocked on and Mathers didn't a couple of plays later is another mystery.

This is a really bad result. Those points will matter at the end of the season and we should have done much better than that. Our attack down the right, which was so promising at the start of the season has disappeared with Zac Hardaker. Every game BJB plays at FB must be cementing his position on the wing at Salford.
Dare I say this, but we are really missing Rob Burrow.

Oh, and Sutcliffe will be a big loose forward with good hands, pace and a dangerous step. A busy half controlling a game he probably won't be.

I agree whilst having some sympathy for the team. IIRC Walters was defending at centre due to Moon's injury and it was he that went flying in field from the Wakey play the ball that Tim Smith spotted and sent the ball back the other way, leaving Hall 2-on-1.

Whilst we weren't good enough and some players need to pull their socks up, if Moon hadn't been injured we win that game.

I admire your optimism

I'm not really that optimistic, but it's highly unlikely that a centre the quality of Moon would have been dragged away from his position the same way Walters was. Our defence was pretty good at that point and I'm 90% that we'd have defended Wakey's last attack.

He's right. What makes Walters look so promising is his enthusiasm and determination to get in the face. In the forwards closer to the middle you can do this. As a centre you move up with your winger. Walters enthusiasm was his downfall there, shame for the lad. And Smith having a rugby brain probably spotted the fact it was him at centre and how he dad been defending.

Highly unlikely but not completely certain that Moon would not have been dragged away, and your only 90% and not 100% sure you'd have defended Wakey's last attack if Moon had not been injured your not very decisive, and had Moon not been injured you would have won the game I'd have been more inclined to agree with you if you had said you would have won the game if Sinfield had been playing due to the missed conversions'.

if our attack and go forward hadn't been so toothless and weak the last try wouldn't have mattered. an appallingly bad display against a poor team

Bang on the money. Walters youthful enthusiasm did for us there but I can live with that because he'll get smarter but hopefully not lose that enthusiasm.

The thing is, I knew Wakey would score. Early season, I knew we would hold teams out.

We probably got what we deserved though with a kicker we win that game despite playing poorly. Also, the Hall "knock on" is a second, recent, tight decision that has denied us a win. Hopefully when the "evening out" starts it's in the playoffs.

I'm impressed, no I really am seriously, where did you learn to actually talk through the rear end of your avatar

you thought it was good then? well done. glad you enjoyed watching

We have had 6 performances on the trot where we have been well below par (Wildcats, Catalan, Widnes, Giants, Leigh and Wire) the 3 wins hide the truth. We have been really poor for 6 weeks. I love that this slump coincides with the 2015 season ticket push. 5 invitations through the post and 3 emails to get me to spend now ready for next year. The best sales pitch is on the field, perform like you did in the early week's of the season and I'll cough up. Will we recover and peak in August, September and October? I hope so but this slump has gone on long enough now. With Cas on the horizon, followed by Wire (CC), Saints and Wigan we have got to start building the magical momentum formula - starting this Friday against HKR. Another scratchy performance will not satisfy anyone and that includes the mythical loyal supporters.

Wonder why it took until 75th minute to use Mulhern?

not the first time BM has done this though is it?
lad showed up ok in the little time he had

In James Websters post match speech to the Wakefield sponsors he talked about the work they had done on reviewing the Leeds defensive structures and how they had planned to attack the inside shoulder of defenders all game,
as they were never going to run around Leeds. The 2 tries they scored down the short side were from 2 set moves they had designed that week purely to exploit Leeds defensive structure.

He came across really well in that speech, talked honestly and openly about their preparation, going as far as saying they know Leeds are a better rugby team, but they knew if they got in Leeds faces and stuck to their structures, they knew they'd have more will to win than Leeds and that it might be enough to get them home.

His honesty and openness was refreshing.

Quite.

Pointless using him for 5. He should have been used properly and given a proper stint. Its not as though the Leeds pack were firing. what would Leeds have lost? Nothing. But may have gained some freshness and willingness.

In a game that could have gone either way for most of the game it was understandable that the coach put faith in the experience of Bailey and to a lesser extend Singelton. In hindsight these two were so very disappointing that yes Mulhern could not have done worse. However it is ironic that it was his introduction and Moon's departure that led to Walters being in the wromg place at the wrong time.