In several interviews McDermott has eluded to unbelievable things happening outside their control. It got me thinking about all the hullabaloo surrounding GH's attempt to sign Sam Burgess and the rummour of Watkins being offered to Bath as part of the deal. Now I have no idea if this were true but it could have had an unsettling effect on the likes of Watkins as would the new signings if they had a better deal than the old guard.

In fact the departure of Sinfield and JP could also herald a change in the salary structure at Headingley. If we are to re-balance the squad with a mixture of experienced quality and young talent it may mean selling one or two established stars on the wane to fund it.

Why can't you do your gym work, out of interest? What's so different about the weight room that Leeds had at Kirkstall that they couldn't find another similar one in the area? Yorkshire is full of pro sports clubs, all of which must have high standard gyms.

You can't use injuries to explain a lack of defensive urgency from the 17 that are on the pitch. How does Moon. McGuire, Cuthbertson etc being injured cause other players to be slow retreating or miscommunications? It's down to those players that are actually on the field to sort those out, not bemoan the ones sat in the stands.

Leeds are struggling defensively because they're having to do too much work due to their own errors and indiscipline. All else is excuses, and I'd hope those involved day-to-day at the club aren't using them in private as much as they have been publicly.

It has a sprinting track down the middle and it has a wrestle/contact padded area at the end. So you can combine weights with other conditioning and training. They're are gyms but they're public which isn't ideal nor would you be able to book it for exactly when you want it. The same is true for the other pro sports clubs.


I think players who are injured or not fit probably wouldn't show as much defensive urgency. Also, leadership can create such urgency. For an example see JJB in leading the line.
With a lack of urgency it probably comes back to the lack of preseason and the continuing lack of proper wrestle and contact work. Which is obviously affected by the lack of training ground but also by injuries.


It's partly why they're struggling defensively, partly it's because they've had sod all preseason and still can't train as they'd like and half the players can't train properly because they're injured. Those are also primary factors in why the attack is poor and why we're producing so many errors.

When is Stevie Ward due back? I think that will make a big difference as he has the mix of youth and 'next generation' whilst also having been around for ages and many of us were bigging him up for new captain as well...

castlefords "gym" which was upgraded last year is a portacabin, kitted out entirely with weights, that are specific to squats and legs. That is their gym. Look how it has effected them........ no really.

Yeah. It's theirs. They can use it whenever they want in whatever manner they want with half the team doing something else on their training pitch which is right next to it. It also wasn't out of action during pre-season along with their training pitch.

Incorrect. It actually was out of action when it flooded down there.

But you haven't seen the gym? Leeds could have that same set up within a couple of days if they wanted it in action. They chose to go elsewhere for the time theirs was out of action.

I have seen the gym at Cas. I've been in it. Nearly killed myself getting in to the sodding thing because they didn't have any steps there.

People are missing the point of the combined training that takes place and has been a big part of Leeds training and conditioning over the last few years under Davidson. It's having the gym, the wrestle room/contact areas, physio rooms and training pitch all in one place with players able to do different types of training as is needed. Not everyone needs to do the same amount of work in the same areas. When you split them off and don't have access to them when you want you disrupt training significantly.

Is it the only reason for poor performances? No, but it's still a factor that can't be ignored.

Well we have great facilities at the Bulls (all the above in the same place etc) but compared with other factors (player quality, injuries, coaching quality etc) it has less impact on performances and results IMO.

The team mindset of unconscious complacency appears to have been replaced by the loss of their gym as an all-emcompassing explanation for the season ending after just 92 days.

Suntan-injecting mincers have a lot to answer for.

Is there really such a thing as intravenous suntans?

Would save me a fortune in holidays.

I've absolutely no idea.

I personally tan very quickly and easily even though I try to avoid it. It's not very healthy deliberately burning your skin.

JJB mentioned it, them (and mincers) as the reason Leeds have struggled this season.

He must have been reading this forum.

I'll assume he was taking the Bob Holness.

I once asked JJB if he ever read this forum.... let's say his reply was less than complimentary towards the posters on here.

We're all fantastically corrupt

He's not my cup of Twinings either therefore the feeling is mutual