game was over at half time

Game was over before it started. For Leeds to have any sort of chance we needed a full strength side out, even then it would of been a massive uphill battle. Our depleted front row showed right from the off.

For a first hit-up I thought the Melbourne defence was superb.

Good effort from Leeds considering the lightweight pack, but the number of times they looked to have got over the line, somehow a Storm player made a last gasp tackle, right up to the end.

There is more to rugby league than fight.

Mebourne will do this against most of the NRL. They are the benchmark at the moment. They are relentless and ruthless. Leeds looked really good in the first 15-20 mins. By then they would have been out of sight in most SL games.

What do people think about Wally Lewis' comments about Leeds being 7th/8th place NRL standard? Fair comment?

Bang on. Too many front rowers down to compete then the injuries in game killed us off. It's a shame both our last two WC games we have had near half a team missing, something you can't afford against the best of the NRL.

Didn't see the game. So can't comment.

I'm am interested in how the 2 referee system worked? Would it benefit the game over here?

I think he was being diplomatic.

I think 7/8 would be flattering. Its like a championship/newly promoted team playing an SL team. In a one off you will give the SL team a good game and may pick up a few wins in the season but to do it consistently is the real challenge.

I think this Leeds squad would do very well to finish above bottom of the table and it is my team so certainly no biased. A lot of people are tipping NZ Warriors to finish bottom two and looking at their squad i think they would romp away with SL were they put into it now.

I don't think that's entirely accurate to be honest. As a whole the leagues are worlds apart, with the NRL being far more consistent at a higher level, but the best teams in SL aren't necessarily bottom of the ladder fodder in the NRL. They don't have the consistency so on a bad day can get walloped, but on a good day (which is quite often) they can beat the best and occasionally look good doing it. Leeds [icould[/i finish bottom of the NRL if they had a bad season, but they also could finish a few rungs higher up if they had a damn good one. "Pick up a few wins" is selling them short imo.

I believe in what Brian Mcdermott has said since the game. Give him 10 weeks of NRL games and he could get that Leeds team close to Melbourne. Ambitious but his point is valid regarding consistently higher intensity.

Leeds were obviously lacking forward power. Need a full strength pack against Melbourne.

In some respects that's a fair comment, but regardless of the opposition look at getting your team closer to that level of intensity in the week to week SL rounds. which leeds, regardless of success, have very rarely achieved.

The two friendlies should have been Friday and the WCC should have been today.