Quote braytontiger="braytontiger"but the rules are there for all to see the winners of the grand final are the champions,there not my rules they are the rules of the rfl,so teams will train to be stronger at the end of a season.
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True, but I'd go further.
Warrington were blessed with very few major injury concerns (as Leeds were during the 'three-in-a-row' years.
Who's to say that Leeds would not have competed better
throughout last season if they hadn't played without arguably their best back(McGuire) and their strongest forward(Peacock) for much of it. Leeds also played much of the season without recognised props or half-backs or centres.
I for one, believe it's no accident that McGuire and Peacock's return to the team (along with many other injured first-teamers) coincided with Leeds' return to champion form.
Factor in a new coaching team, virtually no pre-season and new playing systems, and Leeds' poor early season form takes on a wholly different and much brighter perspective.