Was reading today Abletts article in the paper and he even said sutty isn't a natural half and describes him as a running ball handler.

Agree on Sutcliffe, he might give one good moment in a game like the try like last week but he needs to be good and controlling for 80 mins which I just don't see in him.

Achurch was nothing in comparison to Ward or Ablett.

JJB did OK for a comeback and fair play to him just for coming back TBF because most of us thought he'd be retiring after that injury.

Said last week, we DESPERATLEY need McGuire back. Even those who heavily criticised him in the past must surely have seen that we need him.

Oh well at least we scored and avoided the zero

Will agree to disagree there. Leeds lost momentum very early there was a stat earlyish in 2nd half showing Wigan with twice the territory of Leeds. Leeds were only in it at half time due to Wigans poor attack. With the little ball and field position leeds had in first half they were always going to open up. Had leeds been cohesive in attack for a couple of plays in the first half they still couldn't have come away with the win due to the counts on the stats.

Errors and penalties are the reason that Wigan cut leeds open in both halves like a hot knife through butter. Put this way I wasn't thinking, if leeds can just be more cohesive in attack we'll take the win, I was thinking they're blowing out their backsides and need the ball!

That was very, very bad. Can't fault the effort in defence, but I don't think we won a ruck all night, constantly they left one or two players on the floor, weight of possession told with soft efforts for Gildarts and Gellings tries also.

On offense (I use that term loosely) we look like a team that's been figured out, Wigan were able to wrap the ball up and stop the ball really getting to our backs. Our Halves were awful, I know they're both young but I'd rather see them try and take control and maybe not put a great kick into the I goal than constantly having Zak or Kallum etc turning the ball over without even testing the opposition. If we are just trying to be unpredictable someone needs to remind the players that only works if you don't do it every time.

If I had to pick positives I'd say keinhorst put in a big stint, for 10-15 minutes either side of the half we looked better with Falloon on, he also showed some nice long passing. Achurch got through a big stint without getting injured. It also could have been a lot worse had wigans attack clicked and our defence not been pretty dogged for most of the game.

I've said it before and the lonely virgin can try mock it if that's all that brings him joy in life....but this team spent too long patting itself on the back for the achievements of 2015 and it's clearly showing. No fire in the bellies this year unlike 12 months ago.

The pluses first. Keinhorst, Falloon, Mullally. JJB.

The props did not make enough yards and tackled too high allowing Wigan to keep walking easy yards as they gained ground despite several tacklers ineffective efforts and we are losing the collision on attack too. Poor discipline and woefully tackling with Hardaker one of the worst and Achurch's and Handley's paperweight stuff not much better. Our half backs were not in the game on attack with Sutcliffe again looking out of his depth, Watkins outplayed by a young lad and Hall not at the races.

Opposition sides are wrapping Cuthbo's offloads up too easily making him and others force the pass and so lose possession.

Also we do not look fit or fast enough IMO which may account for some of our leg injuries. Finally we lacking game management, leadership and flair. Mac has his work cut out and we could do with a few easy games for our senior players to regain form.

I know we did a lot of defending but we don't look fit in my opinion and I'm really starting how much of an effect loosing kirkstall has actually had.

In addition, it's not often I'll criticise McDermott and his interchanges because he's paid to do the job and he's better qualified than me to make those calls, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why Achurch stayed on that pitch for so long, the bloke was dead on his feet, I've give him some stick over the last year but tonight for me anything he did wrong wasn't his fault he should have been changed, the amount of times sat behind those sticks tonight I saw Achurch on the floor blowing was ridiculous!

Don't forget SPOTY.

And the Kiwis.

Listen to Wiliam people, he once posted this nugget of great knowledge in July 2011....

"It's a tired, over-the-hill squad at Leeds that's been in decline for several seasons. The amount of indiscipline they are exhibiting is a reaction from a squad of players who were used to winning silverware and having things their own way but no longer are. They all know this, but it's easier to whine, chelp, niggle, get penalised, blame the ref, blame anyone or anything but themselves. They are no longer fit for the purpose.

The time for sentiment is over.

Reason must prevail instead.

This squad is finished as a competitive entity and there should be no further contract renewals for any of them.

It's time to move on."

....and he was completely right......that is if you ignore the 3 GF's, 2 CC's, 1 WCC and 1 LLS which included a treble that all occured after his bold claim with the same core to the team

Honestly, he's knowledgable

While Keinhorst and Jones-Buchanan were almost the only Leeds players to come out of the game with any credit - their combined effort for the Gelling try had to be seen to be believed.

Conceding that try and the fifth tackle options highlight how Leeds are a shambles at present.

Tvoc coming online just after William.....again....after they disappeared and reappeared at the same time....nudge nudge wink wink

Why the personal insults? anyone would think you were John Holmes they way you carry on

Positives:
Keinhorst - proving his worth as a squad player. Not the most skillful but makes up for that with high workrate and good defence.
Falloon - we looked better going forward and it was obvious to see the difference a proper hooker makes.
JJB - his speed in both attack and defence will be useful
Effort was excellent in defence but not directed in the right way.
Also pleased we're still determined and seem able to throw the ball around. That will pay dividends later in the season when we regain some form.

Negatives:
Everything else.
McDermott was right, the Sky lot were praising Leeds defence when I thought it was awful. Poor kick chase combined with poor contact in the tackle meant Wigan made loads of easy metres and made numerous breaks through weak contact and quick play the balls. It was only pure effort and poor Wigan attack that kept us in it.
Whilst I've named JJB as a positive it was entirely his fault for Wigan's try from the tap, he came flying out of the line and got caught out by a simple dummy run that left a huge gap in our defence.
Our 5th tackle plays are still rubbish. We've never been good on the 5th tackle except for on Grand Final day but we're particularly bad at the moment.


I have utterly no idea what game Eddie Hemmings was watching when he praised Wigan's attack and Leeds defence, if any evidence were needed that he hasn't actually paid attention to what's going on in RL over the last 20 years then that was it. Time to go, Eddie.