It's pretty hard to knock the players after that effort last night. A real gruelling game, a fantastic advert for Super League and the intensity of the play offs. Leeds are a superb side, a side of winners and I want them to win it again. They've got everything we're lacking by the bucket load.

Leeds dominated us throughout in terms of field position and Sinfield and particularly Burrow marshalled them round really well. If we had one player of the quality of Sinfield, Burrow or McGuire we'd have won last night. The lads defended superbly, some really heroic stuff. Manu, Jones and Wilkin all tackled themselves to a standstill. I thought Manu was absolutely sensational tonight, setting a ridiculously high standard throughout. LMS too had a dig again.

When we did get chances tonight we were pretty shocking. Although the defense was good tonight, the attack wasn't good enough. We've had a full season under Brown and it still doesn't look like the players actually know what they are supposed to be doing when they get into the opposition half. It seems plays 1 and 2 are just one up tackle wasters to settle in. 3 is a crashball pass telegraphed, faxed and emailed to the defense in advance and plays 4 and 5 are blind panic. I think some of the senior players really need to take some of the blame for it though. Meli's hand in to give a stupid penalty on Leeds' line on a rare sortie down into Leeds 20, Roby's decision to kick on the second when under Leeds' sticks when it wasn't on at all was also stupid. Hohaia seemed to spend the game chastising the likes of Wilkin, Roby and Lomax for what they did on the previous play. Roby in particular was awful in his decision making.

A point I'd given up making recently out of sheer boredom, Paul Wellens. Paul Wellens starting at fullback is one thing. It's a stupid thing and a should-have-ended-4-years-ago thing, but it's nothing compared to the ridiculousness of starting with Paul Wellens on the bench. He didn't seem to get on until the hour mark. Why bring him on at all? Is that Brown protesting at McManus forcing him to be in the 17? Or is there meant to be some kind of point to having the slowest back in the history of the world on the bench?

Last night kind of sums our season up to be honest. Solid in defense, like headless chickens with the ball. It's incredibly naive of us to think Luke Walsh, a player proven to collapse under pressure, will solve all our problems. We NEED another halfback.

Wellens should have been at fullback all season. I'm still to be convinced that Lomax is a fullback.

Wellens should have been released four years ago. The days of him contributing anywhere on the field are long over.

What about those flowing curly locks the sky cameras caught him brushing and the scowling he does?

He contributes plenty.

How to contradict yourself in one post.

Is this post a take?

Where you watching the same game to the rest of us?

What was your opinion on it then? Did you think having Wello on the bench till the hour mark was a good move? Did we attack well? Did we not defend well? Which bit of it are you referring to when you ask if I was watching another game?

It was a masterstroke. Wellens nearly won the game for saints. He works well as an impact sub in the rob burrow mould.

This guy has been calling for a 7 all season. We sign one from the NRL and he's not even played for us but yet he cracks under pressure. Your post isn't pointing out anything we don't already know. As for Roby not playing well as you claim, he has hardly played all season. If you have ever played sport at any level you will realise a tired body leads to a tired mind. Yes his decisions weren't perfect as he was ring rusty. Sia didn't break a tackle all night as he was not match fit.

You're very good at criticising the team and how they play but, very vague on your solutions to the problems

You say we were ultimately poor and go on to praise how good Sinfield and Burrow were, but they scored the same amount of tries as us and had more territory than us. So where Leeds poor offensively aswell?

Considering we have no half backs and a back rower has had to fill in all season I thought we did pretty well to be honest. It was an intense game (it would've been fitting of a Grand Final it was that good) where defences were strong, it wasn't really the kind of night where the attacks shine.

thought your lads played really well, great game

I thought it was a good game, Leeds had more chances, more territory, but Saints defence held well. In saying that I didnt think either would go on to win the SL this year.

I'm not sure why. He's a decent defender, can take a high ball and is much more dangerous in attack than Wellens. The fact that he gains us an extra 20-30m on pretty much every kick return also takes pressure off the rest of the team.

The swap was a no brainer for me.

Who are these magic fix all halfbacks that are off contract?