Well that was the most one sided final I've seen in years. Warrington were outstanding, and some of the rugby they played was of the highest quality. Leeds on the other hand were never in the game and in no way deserved anything less than what they got. Not one Leeds player can hold their head high after that. But, the coaching staff for me have got the most to answer for. Yet again we persisted with the same up the middle one man rugby thats become the calling card of this team under the current regime. Apart from the Easter period in 2008 this team for the most part hasn't played anywhere near its potential IMO. Yes, we've won a couple of titles but this current side hasn't got the same steel or speed its had in previous seasons and I think the points against collum shows that. I think Blueys reign should come to an end sooner rather than later because something clearly needs to change.

I would also suggest BJB and Watkins get some proper game time next season as we have nowhere near as much speed as we've had the last few years.

Couldn't agree more. I was actually both surprised and disappointed when his contract was renewed for another year.
Yesterday's performance was predictable and heartless. We lacked innovation and showed very little desire.

That's exactly what you get when you let a contract include a clause about only one party being able to extend the contract without the agreement of the other party. It's the first piece of naive contract negotiation I remember from GH, but hopefully one he will learn from.

I have it on very good authority from an ex coaching staff member that Leeds wanted rid of Bluey at the end of the season, but he chose to utilise the clause which allowed him to extend for another 12 months. Now that BMD is coming on board for 2011, I think we can all see who Bluey's replacement will be, and having spoken to BMD on a number of occasions during his last stint with Leeds, I'm quite happy that he will be an improvement. He learnt a lot from TS about doing the small details, which he couldn't necessarily use at Quins due to the playing roster he has had there, but look at the number of younger English players that have either been blooded or have improved under him. Not that many Leeds players have improved so much under Mr McClennan.

Reading the report on the game in the Mail today, one stat is telling.

Leeds Clean Breaks - 0.

The Brett Delaney who offered more go forward in the middle of the field than any of our pack did. He repeatedly pushed defenders backwards and made hard yards - that wasn't happening anywhere else.

The first try was an error of judgement and he clearly (wrongly) hoping for Smith to come for it. 4 - 0 shouldn't have been a disaster for us

Have I got the wrong end of the stick? Or are you a fan who isn't satisfied by winning titles? Brilliant. Obviously in your mind there's something greater to aim for than being crowned 'champions' - but what? Not sure it gets much better than that? But I could be wrong...I'm going to have a go and see if I can get what you mean...

Yes, we've won a couple of titles but.....it would have been better if we wore nice socks.

Yes, we've won a couple of titles but.....it would have been better if the team had done it blindfolded.

Yes, we've won a couple of titles but.....I'm never going to be satisfied cos I'm a whino.

honestly. i think you're a little bonkers. Probably in a nice way. But bonkers.

This. I thought he ran hard (and straight) with some good angles. Probably our best back (which doesn't say much, mind).

All Warrington did was come in quickly out wide and force us up the middle where they were strong and we were weak.it wasn't exactly tactical genius from smith. The fault lies with bluey,and the players,to not have the tactical nous to overcome this . For me only burrow and Eastwood turned up.a fantastic weekend ruined by an inept display

It wasn't.

Neither was 8-0. We were 8-0 down in last years grand final.

The gamebreaking try was the atkins one that took it to 14-0.

At 8-0, we could have regrouped at half time, come out 2nd half, one try it's game on.

But then ian kirke? was brushed aside like some 120lb deeb, a rag doll. Unacceptable.

Someone else,maybe hall?, was just as culpable. Kirke was dire but he wasn't alone

Agree a ruthless coach who studied the game overcame an all round good bloke who's motivational "we're all in this together" speech didnt work this time.

Agree in part tad as I think you miss out Delaney who other than his error for the first try did a lot of towing it up the middle when 2nd rowers went awol.

I thought Burrow was awful with ball in hand. No worse than Sinfield, Buderus, Webb or many others but not half as dangerous as McGuire and certainly not one of our better players

It was Hall, we were slightly unlucky before that in that the whole break came about from an offside call that was missed on their line

Have to say that offside call that led to the Warrington 3rd try was a piece of poor judgement by Silverwood having had another look

You must give Smith a massive credit. He got his game plan bang on and he got his players to follow the plan to the letter. McClennan needs to look at what happened - he had his ass kicked big style.

Leeds looked lethargic and unenthusiastic. The senior players simply failed to deliver on the day. Buderus simply froze on the day - which given he has played in Aussie GF and SOO shows the magnitude of the CC. Without Peacock we don't have a go forward prop neither Bailey nor Kylie troubled Warrington's defence. So we could not go round them, we could not go through them the only way was over them and McClennan needed to get Webb more involved but he was nowhere to be seen.

On defence our was a shambles - again the senior players were all at sea, JJB/Sinfield/Buderus/Senior especially were appalling - the number of times Warrington went back inside from the wing and we could not handle it.

The manner of this defeat will take some getting over - they weren't just beat - Warrington simply dismantled them. If this is a champion side then now is the time to show it. Without Peacock to lead I am not sure who will stand up and take the mantle. The team selection at game plan will be interesting to observe at Hull.

Warrington were magnificent and even at our very best we would have struggled to compete.

How GH thinks this same squad can compete next season at this level defies belief - a go forward prop and serious centre are desperately required.

For me, that offside call was one occasion when the kit clash went against us. It was just a mass of blue and yellow, and on first viewing, I couldn't tell who it had come off to be honest.

Very good point, not really considered that

I agreed with pretty much everything you wrote, until this.

This squad have won 3 championships in a row. Despite being decimated by injuries for large parts of the season they lie 4th in the league and have recorded wins against all those teams above them, 5 out of 9 in total. They've also reached the Challenge Cup Final and while it will be very difficult could still make an impact in the playoffs.

While I think everyone can see there are areas to improve I see no reason at all why this squad in it's current state would not be competitive next year.

One of those odd occasions where you wish that we hadn't tackled Riley(?) as then it could have been referred to the video referee.

I thought that as he running through. I've also thought that in the past and been completely wrong (only occasionally mind) with what I thought I saw.

I guess you just have to accept that referees make human errors. I thought Silverwood had a great game overall FWIW

Why would they be, Leeds were clearly the underdogs going in to the game.



I thought exactly that when McGuire scored in the WCC earlier this season. Turned out I was wrong and he was onside on that occasion.

Not going to add too much to what's been said, but the two moments that summed up what's going wrong for me at the moment were kicks in the second half. Both were 6th tackle plays, and both were aimless. One was high kick from Sinny, which no Leeds player got anywhere near attacking, and the other was one that I think was meant to be a grubber from Disko near the Wire line, and wnet straight into the arms of a Wire defender. Most of the season, our last tackle plays have been woeful. When we get near the opposition line, we rarely force a repeat set, more often than not we turn over possesion meakly. We need more tactical nouse.

I don't understand where it's gone. Our last two GF wins were composed of almost flawless tactical play.

Leeds were very poor. We played defensively about the same standard against Sts in the semi, who managed to score 28 points against us without a proper halfback. I suspect that win again papered over some cracks in too many minds, as did the recent wins against poor opposition.

Whilst we missed Peacock and Ali, Warington were very well drilled and Smith had a gameplan that worked to perfection. Leeds OTOH looked to be completely clueless at times, and the most worrying thing ought to be the defence. Leeds have looked on both attack and defence to be almost completely uncoached at times this year - and under stress in a big game that showed.

What is abundantly obvious is that Bluey and the senior players need to rethink the way they approach the season. They need to remember that its hard work and trying to get into form consistently that has enabled them to win titles, not winging it for most of the year and hoping that because they are a great team it will all work out on the day.

If we drop out of the play offs early I suspect there will be a lot of soul searching at the club, because these players can and should do better, and I doubt they'll want to see the memory of their fantastic efforts over the past few years be tarnished.

Agree about Silverwood. It was over 20 minutes before the first penalty.