But with 8 minutes to go we were 6 points up andhad momentum. Cas looked to be down and it was the sending off that revived them and our being a man down. You have to agree that this factors were crucial. However I do agree with you that defensive errors gave away a couple of soft scores but in such a high tempo game this can happen to both sides.

Actually, I think there is a confusion about the sending off and the fact he had already been pinned for the holding down. The sending off came from the resulting arguing. Cas moved down field from the original foul, and awarded two further penalties to give them the try scoring opportunity. This is why I personally say the sending off was not the reason we did not win the game.

We had enough field position, and enough ball, to have won that game in the 20 minutes before his sending off, and that's not even considering the first half, as far as I am concerned. It was those brain farts that stopped the win.

We should have been more than 6 points up before Sinfield was sent off. We'd already butchered a routine drop-goal chance when Aiton threw a terrible pass to McGuire, where otherwise McGuire could have popped it over or flicked it on to Sinfield who was waiting in the pocket. There was also a Hardaker break where you'd have backed him to score but he was taken by an excellent Sneyd tackle, but then McGuire messed up the next play where a quick pass blindside would have been a walk-in and we wasted our set of six.

However if Sinfield hadn't been sent off and we were defending with 13 men rather than 12 then obviously we'd have been much more likely to close out the game 6 points up whether or not we scored any more.

Am I the only one who remembers that Sinfield DID attempt a drop goal (about 2 minutes before his sending off) and it was charged down with Hardaker running back to collect for another set of 6?

Or the previous set when 2m out on the 5th, Hardaker tried to crash over from dummy half ala Kieron Cunningham style?

In times gone past we might've done but the team usually wasn't missing as many starters (and if Moon stays on at centre instead of Walters getting caught out we probably still win). I'm not trying to have a pop at Walters because he's done very well since he came in but he did get done there and on one or two other occasions and it happens with the younger guys.

For how good the likes of Sinfield, Burrow, McGuire etc became at winning the tight games they also had the narrow defeats in the 2003 playoffs and CC Final, lost to Bradford in the 2004 playoffs (before gaining revenge) and narrow defeats in the 2005 CC and GF. I'd say this 'golden generation' didn't become good at winning the close games until McClennen took over and at that point they'd already won 2 GF's and WCC.

Even the guys who became experts at winning the close games had to have their failures first, and it's perhaps understandable that with a chunk of them missing a less experienced side came up just short, with a bit of a rookie mistake leading to the winning try.

Surely you are not comparing run of the mill league game with cup finals and semi's?

You are correct to talk of youngsters learning and time, but the comparisons you were making, those previous players were winning those same league matches, Infact winning by big margins in some cases.

Yes Walters made a mistake at Wakefield. But there were chances before that not taken by experienced players. I can't recall other than Wakey where a youngster has made the mistake that cost us either. I think it's the experienced guys who are coming up with uncharacteristic errors and making the failures.

That's the whole point, about tight games not big margins games. This same team strolled past Wakey twice this year.

When this Golden Generation were first hitting heights they drew 5 games in the 2003 & 2004 seasons. In the following 9 seasons Leeds drew 4 games altogether as those tight games became wins.



Yes like I said I wasn't trying to bag the guy but it's impossible to mention the Wakey defeat without mentioning the winning try and what was behind it.

I think Brian deserves a bit of criticism for tonight. Fancy resting so many players in a big local derby.

It was Bradford's last chance to put one over on Leeds for at least a year,maybe longer, and they took it.

However, any calls for McDermott's head would be harsh.

A bigger critisism would be once you get in front with limited time left, why the hell would you then sub Delaney.

Just one look at the bench tonight and jimmy and his bulls would have got all the motivation needed really.

Well I'm glad I spent 4 hours in the car on the m1 and a 150 mile round trip to watch that crap. Bradford were all but still managed to beat us

The kids at half time manned to hold onto the ball so why couldn't the professionals.
The worst thing was the lack of structure or organisation, and no real go to players who can come up with a big play.

We did make breaks but never had the pace to finishthem off

Our attack is dismal, we rarely see any set moves at scrums etc. The skill level in this squad needs improvement.

if we dont beat wolves next week (going into it on the back of 5 poor performances) McDermott should have to answer some questions. you dont pick a squad as thin as that to play the bulls. they showed what they can do when taken lightly last week, so what do we do? the exact same. the mind boggles

After the performance against bradford and London it is time to GO NOW

The week before the Cup final? That could only go well for us.