Looking ahead to the CC final, McDermott will be completly outgunned tactically by Maguire.

McDermott's methods are archaic. Maguire is a smart, forward thinking coach. He will be made to look stupid.

That's before the players even step foot onto the pitch. The players are the saving grace, they really are. We can only hope they put up a good showing, in spite of McDermott.

I agree with that, and yet we have produced two of our best performances of this season against Wigan this year, the 22-22 draw at our place when we SHOULD have won, and the away game when for me we lost it with a daft five minutes at the start of the second half when the Pies scored twice. If Mac has been watching Wigan games of late, there is a recognised weak link down one side and that where we have to go to get anything out of Wembley. But the players have to recognise that to a certain extent and adjust their tactics in play to suit circumstances.
Take Sunday, all the second half we had been attacking into a cul-de-sac, and geting nowhere, and the minute we spread the attack across to the Watkins/BJB side for almost the first time we found joy and scored. It is, for me a question of seasoned players knowing how to think with their heads, and come up with a plan B, if plan A continues to fail, as on Sunday.
Hopefully, at Wembley, that, and a desire to avoid another embarassing "no-show" as last year might give us half a chance of producing a shock.

we have the players who have been through it before they are a bit older,but they may be able to get it together for this final it istheir last chance.McDermott v Maguire no contest really

Its a sad state of affairs when a thread like this is started, more so because most know its true.

Its very difficult to pick out who has been bad this year. Yes Brain is shocking but some of our players have also been poor for large portions of the season. Now, is that down to poor form or them trying to carry out the coaches tactics which are not good enough?

I suspect the answer is somewhere in the middle.

yes Im afraid that in a coaching match this could be stopped by the referee early with Mcdermott being deemed as in no condition to continue

I don't think you'd get any sort of an argument about BMD's tactical ability.

The players are another matter though, even with the generally poor showing this season. I'm encouraged enough with our two performances against the Pies, and the fact that it is a 80 min last chance for them to get anything from this season.

Personally, I'm delighted it's Wigan. We have unfinished business, and the added edge of the still lingering feelings from last season's game, should be more than enough to make this a genuine contest against them.

The team who wants it the more will win on the day, and I genuinely believe, that the core of players who completed the Triple will raise their game, and we could be in with a shout.

Whatever the result, I'll applaud their efforts.

My thoughts exactly.

For me, recent Leeds/Wigan games have the Leeds/Saints animosity from 07-09. There's a lot of history - Ablett's high shot on Tomkins, McGuire's injury in the play-offs, last minute CC win at HQ, Cross' move to Wigan, J Tomkins booting McGuire, Senior booting J Tomkins, Ali shaking the posts for Paaaaat's last minute miss at the Piedome.....

Only an idiot would call us out as favourites, but I share your optimism for a scalp given our two games with Wigan this season.

Additionally, McDermott managed to put one past Wigan last season after going in down at half time. Perhaps McDermott has Maguire's number? An odd, seemingly impossible thought I know.

Did anyone notice the celebration song after the game? McDermott was not part of the group singing he was awkwardly stood on the edge tooking very much left out, contrast that to Maguire who was sat within the team and repositioned the drinks cool box so that he could use it as a drum!

Maguire was clearly part of the team McDermott wasn't I know which coach a team would do anything for and which team lacked any leadership.

Maybe McDermott feels he should be on the edge and not a friend to the players but theres a fine line and for me I'd rather see my coach winning and losing as a team.

I think that just comes down to styles. I don't think Tony Smith gets too involved in that kind of thing (might crease his chinos) but he still does alright.

Not singing along is the least of Mr McDermott's worries.

Maybe he can't sing? Or perhaps he doesn't know all the words? Or maybe he just has a few cameo parts?....

Comparing coaches is no contest. Maguire is the best in super league IMO. He is a born leader.

Webb, Maguire, Burrow, Buderus, Peacock and Sinfield have all got massive big game experience and are all in pivotal positions within the team.

That will matter more than the coach. None of those players are in their prime but they are capable of pulling it out of the bag in reality.

Brian would knock him out in the first round. 2m 20 seconds is my prediction.