Like I've said in previous posts - the evidence was in how the players acted on the field - walking to scrums, taps and other breakdowns in the game, sloppy and unforced handling errors, lazy marker defence, silly penalties.... All signs of a poor attitude to the game. If a team is 'up' for a game, those things don't happen (though you may get some silly 'over eager' penalties).

You admitted in your post that you don't believe all players were motivated for the Bradford game - that's a poor attitude!!! I also admitted in my earlier posts that it's understandable that some players would have an eye on next week (particularly those guaranteed a spot), what I said I was more disappointed about was that the younger fringe players who should be trying to play for a spot in the semi team didn't up their game - and obviously it's disappointing the senior players didn't lead the way.

For me, the younger/fringe players missed a big opportunity. They were playing against one of the weakest SL teams and had the chance to shine - they chose (along with the senior players) to enter the game with a poor, low tempo and half d approach.

I'd expect any youngster in the Leeds set up worth their salt to be looking at the current squad and thinking they've arrived at the perfect time to take someone's shirt- many players are getting to the end stage of their careers and their form is starting to slip. They should be coming in with the attitude that their gonna make it impossible for the coach to drop them - playing against Bradford was a great chance to showcase both their will to win and skillset. Walters is the only youngster I see at the moment who's really busting a gut to keep a shirt.

I'd hope younger players would bust a gut, but TBH if you are trying your best and feel that the senior players are just mucking about, I could understand it being a bit hard to maintain for 80 minutes.

Personally I think the sort of performance described against Bradford is the worst way to prepare for a big game, which the semi clearly is to those same senior players, regardless of players out injured/rrested. It doesn't mean they can't beat Warrington, but IMO it makes it even harder than it should be.

I think Gotcha and G1 should meet up and have a drink together at Brudenell Social Club. Heck - even have a slice of cake each.

You both contribute as much (or as little) as each other, but it has gone off-topic and personal so consequently neither has been particularly offering anything to thw wider SS'er community.

Meet up, have a drink and a chat and chill!

Mate, what do you think it is, I couldn't be seen in such establishments. For info though, Gareth has previously invited me out on one of his whisky tasting jaunts. Not sure cake was involved, but pretty sure the establishment would not have been Brudenell Social Club

Ah shame.

I like the BSC. I especially like it during the 'off season' (ie. Christmas and July-August) when there are less students around.

Always obviously the likes of Arcadia and so on. One thing I appreciate about living in town is that there are more 'old man pubs'. Which is a good thing, IMO.

I feel I am digressing from the focus of this thread, however.

Feel free to digress ,this week is the calm before the storm. After Saturday whatever the result ,the verbal jousting on here will be something to behold.
I am looking forward to the game and the after match verbal fisticuffs .

You must be new here!

Don't get me wrong - I understand if often does go off-topic and get personal, but it was just more apparently so on this thread - catching up on posts I had missed there was a whole page of back-and-forth and no-one else saying anything.

Now, what personal insult should I finish this post with...?

Don't be concerned, I've had 12 years of it. It might not come across in the posts but Gareth loves me really. He's obsessed with me. Just doesn't like rejection. He's a cuddly teddy bear really.

Does Danny still post on here? Gareth and him used to have a very good double act on here as TweedleDum and TweedleDumber, which raised a smile on many a dull Monday morning.

Perhaps, like Monty Python they may have one last season in them......

Hmmm. A thread of some interesting opinion, and some entertaining personal tiffs.

I do think the tendency to overreact to games like last week has been persistent for a while. that said, I think the coach took a gamble by loosening the reigns for the Bulls match. If he'd got away with it you could argue it was a good decision, but he didn't and looking at the league table those two points could very well be vital when it comes to the play-offs, given how little separates 1st from 6th at the moment. Without being disrespectful to the Bulls, those were 2 points we should have taken.

It's not the end of the world, but I think there was an error of judgement involved here.

As for the semi final, we can compare to the week before the Hudds match in the Cup last year, we can compare results with the other 3 semi finalists. Doesn't matter though, all that matters is what we produce at the weekend. The prospect of a Leeds v Cas final, with both sides very evenly matched and in similar league positions is exciting, but we have to get there, and so do Cas. Saturday is a massive, massive game for us.

Win and most fans will largely forget about a league defeat to the Bulls, lose and the general mood will not be so good and the lost points will look like a very bad idea indeed.

To be honest I'm less worried about pre-semi eyes off the ball issues (it's happened to lots of teams for as long as I've been watching RL), and more concerned about the loss of form generally over the last few weeks. Time to see if we can get that form back again. We can still be a very good side when it all clicks. Question is, how easily can we turn that back on?

Oh, and I think G1 and Gotcha just need to hug it out. Bring it in for some of the good stuff. Dial up the bromance. Whatever.

What were we talking about?

I don't think they did though...from the snippets I have seen.