Erm... "I cannot see past Wigan and Warrington who, by the way, if there was a Man of Steel award for salary cap management, they would both be up there"

I'm hoping by "up there" he would mean clearly 2nd & 3rd to a team that managed to win the league for 3 years in a row without breaching said cap. Given that they're to a two teams who've managed to win one competition each without breaking it.

Aslong as we put in a decent challenge in all competitions then I will be moderately happy. I would hate however to start becoming like Bradford.

Pet-lipped R H I N O S fans in [i"We don't welcome David Howes or his opinions because GH doesn't welcome him"[/i shocker!

Somebody should tell Howes trophys are not given out in the first half of SL. The fact is Leeds could have their entire 17 first choice squad out injured until May and still have a chance of winning the GF!!

He is only asked to tip one team though to be fair. So no good fans getting their knickers in a twist, just because someobody says something different to what they want to hear.

Can't do with Howes, and there is no doubt he is blinkered when it comes to Leeds, with a bit of downer mentality. But what do you really expect him to say?

And I respect that, but I just don't understand his opinion of Leeds. McGuire and JP will be back around May more than enough time to hit form and win the GF.

For once I'm in agreement with KS on this.
Looking at the link to Howesetc posted below I'd say we're very lucky to have kept hold of Rob Burrow.

We may well end up with the same amount of silverware as last year, but hopefully the quality of performances when it counts improves.

I don't necessarily buy into the 'ageing' stuff, but last year Leeds were a long way off the pace at times. The CC and playoffs both spoke volumes. We beat Sts in the CC semi-final when they didn't have a halfback and yet our defence was poor the whole game. What really was surprising was the fact that a team with so much big-game experience didn't seem to react to that, and put in a shocking performance at Wembley. IMO Peacock would have made little difference to the result.

In the play-offs at home we were also tonked. The loss of Peacock and McGuire were important, but IMO we were looking a tired outfit by then, despite the fact that the team had appeared to be aiming to peak at the end of the season again.

Hopefully the new coaching staff, a bit of a reality check from results last year and not spending all pre-season apparaently focused solely on the WCC will benefit the team. I expect a top four finish with ease, even without McGuire and Peacock for a while.

Presumably the fact we went away to the league leaders the week before and won doesn't fit your argument?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eason.html A very good interview with Captain Kev. Interesting last paragraph..was Bluey losing it?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eason.html A very good interview with Captain Kev. Interesting last paragraph..was Bluey losing it?

I am by no means defending Bluey, and believe it was time for a change.

But I would guess it did not mean that as it is quoted. Why would people not know their roles? having been together for years and coming off the back of 3 previous championship winning seasons. I find that hard to believe if taken literally.

[i an area where we could really get better is people understanding fully their role and their responsibilities[/i

Well thats what he said
Maybe Bluey was trying to mix things up and was experimenting too much
All we can do is speculate as always.

A win in the first playoff game is meaningless. Haven't we lost our first playoff game in most of the years we won the GF? Its not a knockout game - only the hysterical Wigan fans thought it was.

Correct.

Someone should have told Stretcher Boy that before he decided to take it upon himself to illegally pull back a Wigan player off the ball.

I guess he wanted a week off.

He got over half a year off instead.