It's the same thing that was levelled at McGuire in the games against Wakey and Catalans when Sinfield and Burrow were missing.

They need each other to be at their best, you take one out it effects it, two missing then definitely.

Crap player we have 15-16 best players and that is it need to add genuine strength in depth next season.
We can still win GF with our best side out though.

pretty much this.

confidence is shot - that's what happens to young players that McDermott doesn't like/rate

That's incredibly harsh given how much Thaler kept us on the back foot all night - even the Sky team acknowledged on numerous occasions (even Clarke - that's how bad Thaler was FFS!). In the circumstances, whilst Leeds weren't at their best, they stood their ground throughout and never gave in.

Not surprising as the huge problem was because we were without our key attackers Burrow and McGuire in both games and one man down for 60 of those minutes.

sounded like a great atmosphere at the game tonight and thought the Leeds fans were superb, still singing and getting behind the lads to the end despite the result.

so if you believe that why did you not want to play McGuire in the semi?

Perhaps this is just your way of covering for a player who is in serious decline!!

Should be a massive crowd for the first week of the playoffs at home against Catalan

We have been terrible with the ball for the whole second half of the season, but unlike the first half of the season our defence has lost its bite. This is what happens when you rely on magic from players who are either not ready or getting slower as they age. I know I'll get slated from the usual suspects but that was a typical McDermott performance, hard working but ultimately dumb with the ball meaning you burn all your juice in defence.

I would agree with the confidence part.I actually think Stevie would benefit from a season out on loan at a lower SL club to find himself again as he has gone backwards this year without doubt.He is still young of course and certainly wouldn't write him off yet.

Another one who would not have played a key attacker in McGuire in the semi - another blinkered poster

Both teams defended well, neither team attacked particularly well. Difference was Wigan benefiting from the refereeing of the ruck and, more than that, Leeds's attacking kicking game in the 20 being pishpoor and Wigan's being decent. We didn't force a drop-out or even look like scoring a try from an attacking all night, and for that part of his game at least we missed McGuire.

Singleton was our best forward. Could have done with him last week.

It reminded me of the league game at the DW last season but obviously in reverse.

A flat performance, and frankly we never seemed d. Too many errors again at both ends of the field. I would have taken the 2 at the start of the 2nd half as it was clear that we were totally unable to build any pressure. We missed McGuire, and Burrow, all Wigan did was target Sinfield in attack and defence and because we had nobody else to take the pressure off him our 'structure' totally vanished.

It was frustrating because Wigan weren't that great at all in that 2nd half, and with a bi more composure and concentration we could have got into the game more.
Individually I thought Aiton was good, and Kylie, Achurch and Singleton added some impact off the bench. Hall was very good for the first 50 minutes, and Sutcliffe showed some glimpses but he should have tried to force himself into the game more I thought, especially seen as it was obvious Sinfield was struggling. At the other end of the scale Sinfield had a night to forget to say the least, but credit must go to Wigan for that, and he did look to be carrying a knock. Watkins looks knackered, as does Ablett, and Delaney.
Personally, I would write next week off like we did against London and give some of the key players a rest and come back fresher for the play off game the week after.

Thought Sutcliffe was decent for you guys and agree about Singleton being your best forward. Sinfield had his worst game in a long time IMO, some shocking decisions on the 5th tackle.