Whatever you think of Betts' talents (and I don't think much of them) it would be near-on suicidal for him to be given the Leeds job. Even if you did think he was by far the best candidate on the entire planet the signal it would send to fans and sponsors who Hetherington has an eye on for next year when the stadium is complete would be terrible.

Coach who won titles had good players SHOCKER. Bet no other team sports have had such an experience.

Who are all these senior players who didn’t like him? Yeah I’m sure a few players didn’t like him (he’s even said so previously) especially those who didn’t make the team but I’m sure that’s the same for every team. You think every other SL coach doesn’t have individual players in their squads that don’t see eye to eye with the coach? With Leeds it’s magnified because of the size of the club and because some sections of the supporters have been hell bent on getting him out for the last 7 years.

Can’t see it being Betts.

Don’t know if he’ll come as there’s conflicting stories on what his views towards GH & Leeds are after he left but I do think GH will go for Powell. The way he spoke after Cas had won the LLS about him and the job he’d done was quite telling I thought to come out speaking of an opposition coach and he mentioned him first today when talking of the great roles previous coaches have done at Leeds.

Considering it’s been a few days since the Wigan game and GH probably had it in mind prior to that game then I don’t buy him acting like they don’t already have someone in mind.

Like I said I don’t know if he’ll come but I do think he’ll be approached.

McDermott has every right to be very sure of his abilities and people have a right to question them. But his record stands behind his view of the world and, as I said earlier, if you look at his actual press conferences they are genuinely interesting and engaging and quite unlike those from any other coach I've seen at Leeds or in SL. For the definitive view on McDermott there is always the Donald McRae interview - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/ ... nald-mcrae

McDermott has every right to be very sure of his abilities and people have a right to question them. But his record stands behind his view of the world and, as I said earlier, if you look at his actual press conferences they are genuinely interesting and engaging and quite unlike those from any other coach I've seen at Leeds or in SL. For the definitive view on McDermott there is always the Donald McRae interview - https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/ ... nald-mcrae

Think it’s mostly either Leeds fans who wrote him off and having to find ways to discredit and slate him rather than admit they were wrong and opposition fans who are jealous of his success.

The thing is Powell and Hetherington go back a lot, lot further than just that coaching spell at Leeds. Powell was the very first signing Hetherington made for Sheffield Eagles back in 1984 and were together there for the next 12 years, with GH as coach for most of the time, before being reunited in 1997 at Leeds. So Powell and Hetherington have a history of working together over two decades up to his exit at the end of 2003.

Even Powell would have to admit that the decision for him to move aside in favour of Tony Smith in 2004 was the correct one in retrospect. Probably for both parties but particularly for Leeds.

He was pictured last year at the World Cup hanging out with Hetherington and Rob Oates so the rumours of him still having an issue with the Leeds management strike me as a little off. That's not to say he would leave Cas to come back, but it must be tempting.

Well these were the comments I were alluding to from Hetherington made last December

"I believe the 2018 Betfred Super League season will be the most open, competitive and entertaining competition to date and I credit our local rivals for bringing about a significant potential shift in the game," said Hetherington.

"The game is played pretty much the same throughout the world, but what Castleford did last year deviated from convention by introducing an efficient attacking style of play which proved to be highly successful.

"In winning more games than any other team and scoring a record number of tries, they brought a refreshing style of play to the competition and I do believe it will be emulated by all of the Super League clubs next season and could change the face of the competition.

"We have seen many advances in teams' defensive techniques and tactics over the past decade and many coaches have focused on perfecting this aspect of their teams' performance which make it difficult to score against, but I now detect a change in the mindset of coaches who believe that a team will have to score four or maybe five or six tries to win a game next season.”

Thought it was quite something for GH to come out with that about an opposition team and coach and shows he’s clearly a fan of what Powell is doing and thinks it’s the way forward.

Another one from him in July after the Regular rounds had finished

“We’ve seen the most competitive Super League season to date and witnessed just how difficult it is for teams to win consecutive games or put a string of wins together in 23 rounds.


“Yet Castleford have just defied that and gone way out in front.

“They’ve also done so with a superb, very entertaining brand of rugby and that really should be acknowledged.

“It’s an outstanding achievement by Castleford and, of course, one would assume they’d now go on and collect the League Leaders’ Shield.


“They should get all the credit, particularly Daryl Powell and his coaching staff.

“It is one of the best achievements of the Super League era as not only are Castleford likely to win it by such a big margin, but they’ve done it in such style as well. It’s a very unique and impressive feat.”

Two public statements in a few months on how well Cas and Powell had done praising their style of play, very telling I think and with talk like that I can clearly see him approaching Powell.

Its pretty clear from the statements by Hetherington and McDermott that Leeds decided they had to change coach, offered McDermott the chance to leave in the same way as Wane, but he forced them to punt him on the spot. Whilst McDermott may not be arrogant, he's clearly very stubborn, and its not hard to imagine that's exactly what went down. He himself may regret the way he left when he looks back.

Re new coaches, the only British coach I rate at all right now is Powell. But Powell would be insane to consider rejoining Leeds now. He's doing a great job in building a side at Cas, and he's clearly got great support from the club management. Why on earth would he move to Leeds today, going to a club where supporters will tear him apart if we don't look like world beaters 5 minutes into his first game? He may end up at Leeds eventually, and I'd have no problem with that, but not today. That's even assuming Leeds and Cas would reach an agreement.

I've no idea who Leeds may go for, but I wouldn't be surprised at some form of caretaker arrangement to the end of this year. Whilst the timing of McDermott's departure is unfortunate, I'd rather we survive this year and Hetherington spends decent time trying to get the right replacement rather than jumping for someone who might be free today and we end up being lumbered with for two years.

Wane left because he had a more tempting offer in RU lined up.

Doubt McDermott will be too bothered or regretful. Could’ve done the “mutual decision” line but no one would’ve believed it anyway so what’s the point and social media would’ve just been awash with people saying he was sacked anyway. Actually quite refreshing (as usual with McDermott) to hear him not give a cliche response and speak honestly. Whether or not people agree that he could turn it around, any coach worth a damn should back themselves to turn it around especially when in McDermott’s case he’s done it a few times before

Excuse my ignorance if I am wrong, isn't it the case that a resignation or mutual consent is cheapest option for the Club & a dismissal would have a cost package attached ?

I know that Neil Jukes resigned due to fan pressure & extremely poor results but he also spared the Club the cost implication to pay out his contract which is fair play in my book.

If as suggested BM held out rather than resign/leave on a mutual, then it could be to ensure his contract gets paid out, I don't know, but a possibility.

No mutual consent tends to just be the polite wording to cover up being sacked. If would be just as expensive as simply sacking them (but then there are lots of exotic rumours about what special clauses there were in McDermott's rolling contract).

This inheriting a team thing and he was lucky and it fell apart when players started to leave. The guy was losing players right from the start not just 2015.

Before he started Diskin, Eastwood and Donald left at the end of 2010. The first two weren’t really replaced and BJB was promoted to Donald’s spot. Mid way through 2011 Senior was injured never to return and two props in Burgess and Cross left, the latter being a flop who was only signed on Buderus’ recommendation. Then Buderus and Lautiiti left at the end of 2011 and Webb was done midway through 2012. Lee Smith departed after coming back in 2010 nowhere near the player he was previously.

Lost quite a bit those first few years without much significant coming in apart from a teenager from Fev called Hardaker who’d become a MOS under McDermott.

Yes he inherited that core but most of that was already 30+ and two of them in Peacock and McGuire finished 2010 with serious knee injuries with the latter having to adapt his game over the next few years which was often at times hit and miss.

People who think it would be easy for ANY coach to still lead that team to 2 GF’s in 2011 and 2012 especially given how strong Wigan and Warrington were really is talking rubbish. The age of that squad and how it started to move on by the time McDermott arrived really had no right to win as much as it did under him and not any old coach would’ve done.

But what about all the stuff saying Cas were his boyhood team etc etc. But then what do I know, he said the same about Fev when he was there.

I'm sure GH will 'approach' Powell with a view to the longer term. But I wouldn't assume its a slam dunk because both Powell and his current employer do actually have a say. I'd have no problem if Powell wasn't interested or if Cas refused to release him from his contract even if Leeds did start sniffing around.

Powell dismissed the rumours earlier for what it's worth. Said people can rest easy and he's fully committed to what he and the other coaching staff are doing at Cas.