I agree we looked good on the fringes, however I think we could look even better if Hall and Briscoe swapped wings, as I think any winger of quality can player outside Watkins, yet outside of Moon I think Briscoe would be a better fit.
Kylie looked past it, but Bailey still as plenty to give.

I honestly the think this is going to be the year of the Rhino!

Hall looked out of sorts, he didn't even jump for the Monaghan try. Kylie look lethargic and cumbersome, Bailey reminded me of Kirke and on at least two occasions Hardaker could have passed for a nailed on try.
Peacock was immense as always, Watkins is phenomenal and you'll not see a better solo try than the one from Briscoe in a long time. BJB is looking more likely to takes Hall's shirt at the moment.

Ablett put a bucket load of work in and it was great to see Ward back in the team.

We looked sharper with Aiton at dummy half than Burrow although his defense is a little questionable . Singleton didn't add much to the mix.

Individual performances apart, I thought our discipline was much improved on this time last year, saying that we've not got JJB on the pitch!

Think a lot of comments on here are OTT. I thought we were Good. Loads better than last year. Never looked like losing. We look like we have what it takes to win, an extra gear.

How much does Briscoe add!

Agreed generally. Wasn't sure we really needed briscoe but he certainly improves the team and attacking wise the partnership is only going to get better. Hall for me isn't as bad I know he hasn't scored in a long time but for me he got limited ball and moon as good as he is isn't a wingers centre.
Good to see hardaker strong in defence strong runner and now started to develop a passing game. Good pass to set up briscoe try, one I don't think he would have made last year. Watkins looks stronger every year and peacock is a animal.

Overall very positive.
Being critical thought clarkson was a wasted selection, kylie a little out of sorts, singleton got limited time and the thing annoying me the most was Danny mags in D. Not particulary the tackling but when there was a loose ball didn't seem to want to drop on it.


Re Aton someone mentioned his tackling he did get bumped off a few times from memory in the tackle but bounced back up and got involved

It was a "strong" display, against a very difficult opposition, with lots and lots of positives for us.

A fantastic goal-line defence. IIRC at one stage they had 30 consecutive tackles in our 20M zone. Most other teams would have buckled under that pressure.

The hooker had a strong game IMHO and is a good acquisition.

The back line has great potential and we have squad depth.

My only real concern is the half backs atm If Sinfield is out injured then play Sutcliffe at 6

Fair comment on the whole although Aiton had a couple of lapses in defence. Warrington were never going to be easy and it was a good work out as Leeds look to build up form. McDermott has said they have planned for Leeds to start to peak in about 3/4 weeks time and until then are prepared to tough it out. Very pleased to see Ward slot back in so well as I see him as a key player for us this year.

Personally very happy with the result against a decent backline and a very good set of forwards. Thought the defence was very good and the attack was ok. Thought Peacock, Hardaker, Watkins and Briscoe had very, very good games. Admittedly Atkins was almost our 18th man! Glad to see Ward back but I do think that we need a bit more creativity within their twenty and I believe that the leftside attack are not a great combination or maybe our right is just performing that much better. Also slightly worried that our pack are not doing enough to share the workload with Peacock

Similar to last year, had enough possession near their try line but didn't score enough points. We should've had at least 1 if not 2 more tries on the board by the end of the first half.

Too many handling errors and kickers put under too much pressure on the 5th.

Defence was very good, how anybody can think their hasn't been a good improvement in the defence side of the team from what we saw in 2011-2012 must be blind.

Considering we have the best back line in super league we don't utilise them we'll enough. Unless we're really chasing a game it seems to me we're still driving into brick walls for 5 tackles most of the time. Surely with wide players like we have we need to get more expansive earlier on in sets. If you've got a set of forwards that are monstering the opposition for 5 drives fair enough, drive it in and blast your way over. We don't have that pack of forwards, so why not give the ball to the game breakers earlier on and give them more of a chance. I'm happy with the win but don't think scraping past Warrington is any great shakes in the scheme of things.

Do you think if Lee Briers had still been playing rather than the abject pair directing the attack that Leeds would have found it quite so easy to repel the attack?

As you quite rightly say anyone who cannot see that must be blind

Thought Hardaker, Watkins and Briscoe in that order were the pick of the backs.
Peacock and Ablett for the forwards along with Ward when he came on.
Aiton got the forwards going with quick passing from the play the ball.
Hall once again was poor and is not using his power when bringing the ball out. He continues to do his little shuffle which negates his strength in the collision.
McGuire not good enough same goes for Burrow who if he has to be in the 17 should be on the bench not starting hooker.
Sinfield was ok although two or three yards short of pace.
Kylie should have been pensioned off at least a year ago.
All in all not a bad performance against a Warrington team who were lacking in ideas.
On a positive we can only get better

Yes and if your Auntie had a penis........

And if Wire signed Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston........

And if Wigan had the likes of Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson, Martin Offiah, Dennis Betts, Ellery Hanley etc. in their prime, play vs Sydney Roosters this morning.........

As you quite rightly point out there are a number of factors that contribute to an end result. You are the one comparing now to 2011/12 - I am only suggesting you are not comparing like with like.

The fact that Leeds defended a number of sets back to back doesn't definitively mean their defence has improved on a measurable scale. You can easy repel an attack as impotent as Warrington's. That is obvious to most but it doesn't suit the agenda you are trying to push.

Let's see how the rest of the season pans out, teams like Wigan, Saints and Huddersfield should test your theory more rigorously.

I must say I was immensely impressed with the goal line defence on Friday night and it in no way looked easy...nor did their attack look impotent.

It was I would suggest a limited approach relying heavily on the high bomb when at the half way line but within our 20m they battered our defence.

The positives IMHO which you take to the bar far outweighed the negatives which you take to the training ground.

Agreed, defence is about attitude. To suggest we are a better defensive side just because we have conceded less points than two years ago is not conclusive for me. My point has always been the standard on the field is dropping just Leeds are not dropping their standards as quickly as the rest. Nothing I have seen this year - early days - has convinced me otherwise. The Wakey v Bradford game is typical of 50% of the games in SL and that is the problem.

Maybe its because I can take a wider view over a much longer period that I don't see such a huge difference in any comparison

I think 50% is likely to be a bit of an exaggeration this year with London Bradford Wakefield HKR being the weakest quartet so perhaps 30% is a truer reflection but isn't that the same as say in the EPL ?

Soccer is a different game the target is much smaller so its easier to keep the scores respectable. Most of the sides in the EPL can give each other a reasonable game that is not the case in SL. Add to those you mentioned Castleford and Widnes and you are getting close to 50% of the sides being substandard in an elite competition.

I cant agree on the EPL seen plenty of one sided 4-0 5-1 games so far and loads of boring 0-0

I suspect in SL that Widnes and Cas will be a more competitive this year.

Saints seem to have recruited well at last has well as Hull FC, and Huddersfield have come through in the last 2 years, so I think the top 8 will be very competitive plus Cas and Widnes to improve again.

i was impressed with leeds goal line defence. if nothing else they seemed to have a great attitude on there own line.
i would agree that again we blew lots of chances in the warrington 20.
however its early days and i thought mcguire had a really good game. he looked a threat throughout

Not sure what Danny McGuire is bringing to the table anymore.

I am going to watch the full game tonight again. My initial reaction was he is now lacking that pace that supported his natural poaching game and having lost that aspect he cant adapt to a more skilful approach.

Some of his long miss out passing is dire at times and I don't think he ever had a good kicking game.

Leeds have never had a good short game typically IMHO in the last 10 years our pivots not having that ability or skill set.

both mcguire and burrow have a decent kicking game but as sinfield monopolises it they don't have much chance to show it.
i think mcguire has adapted his game. i wasn't sure how this year would go but as i said i thought he played well on friday

I agree with Tad here I though McGuire had a good game on Friday

However lets not forget here that 10 years ago we saw McGuire at his majestic self and since then he has had injuries and some other very good seasons but we wont see him at that peak again

Don't get me wrong DM is one of the Leeds greats and I have really enjoyed watching him but unlike those that could adapt and bring other skills, once the pace had gone he has a limited value team wise.

Its one of the sad but true facts that no player gets faster as he gets older.






"Looking" a threat is not a real asset either and its occupying a shirt where we need someone who can take advantage when we get into the opponents red zone.

but as you said we haven't looked a threat there in 10 years, and that time included the 'golden triangle' at there peak!

Agreed because they had a different skill set based mainly on the outstanding pace of DM and RB.

Now however its difficult for them to adapt. RB has something to offer at AHB but DM is now somewhat limited.

I do think if the new hooker can reach his potential then we can still be successful this year.