You're right. Under close scrutiny he's terrible.

I presume Leeds signed him as a squad player, they probably didn't expect to play him as much as he has.

Excellent news if true.

The sooner he buggers off the better.

Though given his current form, I doubt he'd make their feeder club squad, the Mounties.

Just like you asked me whether I would retain McDermott I ask you again - for the third time:

Do you think despite everything the current league position is the best that McDermott could have achieved given the circumstances?

Don't suggest others have agenda's when you cannot answer a simple question as it might compromise yours

There are others on here who see Mullally as a dreadful signing - his defence is appalling - take a look at the Catalan's third try and ask yourself where was he?

Baldwinson is a squad player in what is currently the worst side in the competition by whatever criteria you choose to use. Every prop in the squad has not performed anywhere near their potential. Surely just to freshen things up it would be a good idea to give him a go - as I said it is not as if the current selection policy is delivering. If he isn't good enough that is OK.

Well you sort of sat on the fence regarding Mac ....couldn't quite bring yourself to sack him but want a new coach!

With regard to McDermott I would have thought that you had understood my position. I cannot hold the Mac responsible without knowing all the facts. I like you do not know all the circumstances, however there are sufficient serious and crucial external factors which would explain the decline in performance. For you and others to arrogantly apportion the main blame onto the Coach of the Year by dismissing these serious external factors shows a complete lack of balance. Maybe the coach has made errors but I do not believe he is responsible every time a player drops the ball or misses a tackle especially when most weeks he cannot pick a fit 13 until just before kick off. I do suggest others have an agenda and the proof can be found in their comments over the last few years.....take a read of the Allah thread.




We all have our opinions but remember he was signed as a squad player. He has shown plenty of enthusiasm and promise in taking the ball up and has not been bad in most outings. In normal times he would have had a rest by now and he is not alone in making defensive errors is he? In fact I think he may have a better missed tackle ratio than all but Ferres in the forwards and almost 3 times better than some of the backs like Hardaker.




But you fail to acknowledge that the reason he is not getting selected is that the coaches believe he is not ready yet.

You supported Stuart Lancaster's appointment as full time England head coach in 2012. What was his record as a head coach with Leeds Tykes/Carnegie when they were in the Premiership? Two wins from twenty-two was it? Even McDermott in 2016 has that one beat.

Why overlook the most important event of his time in charge - namely the 2015 Rugby World Cup - where (according to Wikipedia) [iLancaster led England to their worst ever performance at a World Cup. England became the first host nation, the first English team, and the first former World Champions to be knocked out in the group stages of the tournament.... The 33–13 loss against Australia was England's largest ever defeat to Australia at Twickenham. A week after being knocked out of their own World Cup, England faced Uruguay at the City of Manchester Stadium, winning 60–3. The match saw Lancaster select his 20th mid-field (Fly-half and centre combination) in his 4 years in charge. Inconsistent mid-field selection was one of the main issues on which England's early departure from the World Cup was blamed.

Following the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Lancaster, along with his assistant coaches and the RFU, were particularly severely criticised for their handling of Rugby League convert, Sam Burgess. Lancaster had selected Burgess to play for England as a centre, despite Burgess being developed as a flanker by his club Bath, and despite Burgess's relative inexperience, having only played 17 games for his club. Lancaster's selection appeared to be inconsistent with some of his previously stated principles, that he would select players based on form, and that he would not select outsiders ..... in part because it might unsettle players who had been in the England squad for a number of seasons.

On 11 November 2015, Lancaster announced his resignation as England Head Coach, taking full "responsibility for the team's performance during the tournament".[/i

Sounds like you sold them a pup there although I appreciate Lancaster's honesty and integrity with the final quote.
Could do with some of that up at Headingley right now.

And how did England do in 2016 - still coming 2nd every year in the 6 Nations probably just as they did under the rookie?

I fail to acknowledge it because neither you or I know the truth - I personally don't think it is

Talk about sitting on the fence - nobody is apportioning all the blame on to the coach - but unlike you we are suggesting McDermott has take his share of responsibility for the debarcle that is the Rhinos at the moment

I will tell you what I really think - Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Peacock made a lot of people at the Rhinos look better than they really are, that includes the CEO, a number of players and without a doubt the coach.

Yet you ripped Golding getting a gig at FB as having no desire. Baldwinson may well have gotten Hallas' bench spots in those two games had he not asked to leave.

I don't claim to know McDermott particularly well but having listened to him and the other coaching staff at Leeds a few times, it's obvious that they value the right attitude extremely highly.
Whether that plays a part in this case I have no idea.

True. Maybe the attitude of the player should be questioned instead of just the coach.

We've seen the coach stick with Keinhorst who we've seen to be always full of effort and not go with Robbie Ward who was slated by Hunslet players for not trying when he was on DR there.

Maybe Baldwinson hasn't exactly got a great attitude. He/his camp weren't shy about coming out at the time of his move to NZ criticising the Leeds club for a derisory and insulting offer, yet was quite happy to come back here with his tail between his legs several months later.

So looking at those two players one has significantly more talent than the other - which do you think will make the most of their talent?

So to paraphrase, if I were to turn up to training and give it everything I have at 43, I would get selected above the young player of the year in the championship because he had the wrong attitude? Give it a rest... Baldwinson's face hasn't fit with McDermott since he decided to go to New Zealand and anyone who suggests otherwise is either stupid or bull ting.

He showed his commitment during his DR at Featherstone and there has never been any question as to his attitude in training so I would suggest that is a red herring. If he had an attitude problem why did Leeds re-sign him, they were offered Ward on his return but turned him down.

Let's face it McDermott doesn't appear to have an issue with serial wrong doer Hardaker?

Of course - obvious to some.

The one who works hardest and has the right attitude. Were Sinfield or Peacock the most talented?

Sinfield was the best youngster of his peer group by a mile - he was always destined for stardom. A bit before your time I know but he was cut above any youngster playing for any of the top sides in the academy as they called in those days.

Sinfield was the classic example of an old head on young shoulders. Dougie got a lot wrong at Leeds, but he was more excited about signing the 13 year old Kevin Sinfield than many more well established 'stars'.

People thinking we re-signed him just to spite him and not play him are the ones full of bat-sh*t thinking. Wasn't part of the reason Mulhern left because he was going to fall further behind the pecking order with Baldwinson returning?

He had to show patience for his chance, he's sulked so it looks like he's leaving. People just obsessed with daft theories that everything issue is McDermott's fault.

Yes but was that because he was the fastest, or strongest, or best HB, or best loose forward, or even at that time a great goal kicker. Just like his senior career I'm sure their was a number of players who had more natural talent in certain attributes than him.

There are not many players who can throw 30 yard passes or completely run games before they have left school, there wasnt a flood of teams trying to sign him for his great attitude

Were they the same people who said early in 2013 that he had an issue with Singleton and that his face didn't fit with the coach after he only made 3 appearances over the years. Since Magic Weekend 2013 Singleton has since been picked in 88 of the 104 games played (one his own fault for getting suspended last week) and only Ablett played more games in our treble winning season, but as soon as Singleton wasn't selected for two games this season it was back to McDermott doesn't like him and his face doesn't fit.......

......still can't let it get in the way of a good agenda. It's almost an unwritten rule with some fans, if someone doesn't get picked for a game it obviously has to be because McDermott has fallen out with them because he's a ruthless dictator who is full of spite for certain players.

And there's not a lot of players who can be good but not great in so many attributes yet become one of the best players in the country.

McDermott didn't resign him, Hetherington did. It was Hetherington that Baldwinson went to discuss his future too, based on the talks made when he re-signed.

At Leeds, the CEO signs the players, the coach picks the team. Can you see the difference?

So if the CEO has signed someone the coach has no interest in then it's on GH is it not.

The coach has no interest in a former England Schoolboys captain, a former England Academy Captain, and last years Championship young player of the year, who plays in a position where we have been absolutely woeful all season and you don't think it isn't because the kids face doesn't fit with him? I didn't have you down as that naive. Even if you discount any "inside knowledge" there is no other logical answer. What has, for example Mullaley done to warrant consistent selection in front of Baldwinson?