We have been terrible with the ball for the whole second half of the season, but unlike the first half of the season our defence has lost its bite. This is what happens when you rely on magic from players who are either not ready or getting slower as they age. I know I'll get slated from the usual suspects but that was a typical McDermott performance, hard working but ultimately dumb with the ball meaning you burn all your juice in defence.

I would agree with the confidence part.I actually think Stevie would benefit from a season out on loan at a lower SL club to find himself again as he has gone backwards this year without doubt.He is still young of course and certainly wouldn't write him off yet.

Another one who would not have played a key attacker in McGuire in the semi - another blinkered poster

Both teams defended well, neither team attacked particularly well. Difference was Wigan benefiting from the refereeing of the ruck and, more than that, Leeds's attacking kicking game in the 20 being pishpoor and Wigan's being decent. We didn't force a drop-out or even look like scoring a try from an attacking all night, and for that part of his game at least we missed McGuire.

Singleton was our best forward. Could have done with him last week.

It reminded me of the league game at the DW last season but obviously in reverse.

A flat performance, and frankly we never seemed d. Too many errors again at both ends of the field. I would have taken the 2 at the start of the 2nd half as it was clear that we were totally unable to build any pressure. We missed McGuire, and Burrow, all Wigan did was target Sinfield in attack and defence and because we had nobody else to take the pressure off him our 'structure' totally vanished.

It was frustrating because Wigan weren't that great at all in that 2nd half, and with a bi more composure and concentration we could have got into the game more.
Individually I thought Aiton was good, and Kylie, Achurch and Singleton added some impact off the bench. Hall was very good for the first 50 minutes, and Sutcliffe showed some glimpses but he should have tried to force himself into the game more I thought, especially seen as it was obvious Sinfield was struggling. At the other end of the scale Sinfield had a night to forget to say the least, but credit must go to Wigan for that, and he did look to be carrying a knock. Watkins looks knackered, as does Ablett, and Delaney.
Personally, I would write next week off like we did against London and give some of the key players a rest and come back fresher for the play off game the week after.

Thought Sutcliffe was decent for you guys and agree about Singleton being your best forward. Sinfield had his worst game in a long time IMO, some shocking decisions on the 5th tackle.

If we rest a number of players next week it could be that we go into the play offs on the back of 5 consecutive league defeats...

are your joking i will be the lowest SL attendance of the year

Where have you dreamt up that I didn't want McGuire in the semi final?

Our 5th tackle plays have been crap all season. We've often ended up with moon, Ablett, Watkins or Briscoe kicking on the last to avoid Sir Kev getting 'sacked'

We badly need to find a stand off with electric pace going forward for when Sir Kev & Magsy hang up their medals

I wouldn't think we need to be full strength next week against a weak hull side and start to build momentum into first week of play offs.

Personality after Brian mac's interview I think he is resigned to the fact that Italy be too big a hurdle to climb now. Those give away loses to Bradford and London have cost us big time. But we will still have at least one trophy this year.

Does'nt matter.What was our league form going into the 2011 play offs? i'm sure it was along them lines and awful yet we were a different side as soon as the play offs kicked in. I don't think it will make a jot of difference and a few of the lads on display tonight looked like they could do with the week off.

Did you not get the sarcasm

After the CC final in 2011 I don't think we lost a game.

A lot of negative towards the referee again, if you play well enough he's irrelevant.

Personally I'm looking forward to the play offs. If we finish 5th/6th we get a home game against some whipping boy rabble (©William Eve), away against a team coming off a loss, then admittedly a big away game at a week 1 winner but we have seen in the cup we can lift it to a level above the rest (Warrington semi mainly & Cas final).

If we sneak 4th, well, we'll see...

go back to the thread about the team for the semi - look at your team selection!!

Are you sure? i at least remember us losing to Huddersfield in dire circumstances in a last game but that could have been 2012! either way, i really don't think a defeat matters next week, we just need a fresh squad for the week after.

And if we then won all our play off games would there be anybody who cared?

Credit to Wigan for aggressive defence, not always legal but they knocked us back . Once again our ptb area was slow all night. Thought aiton played well.
My main worry is some of our senior players look tired and jaded. Obviously last weeks game sapped our energy levels. Likewise with saints.
I will never write off this current rhinos team, but it's going to be a tough play off series.
One thinks for certain who ever we play away from home will be apprehensive .

Credit to Wigan for aggressive defence, not always legal but they knocked us back . Once again our ptb area was slow all night. Thought aiton played well.
My main worry is some of our senior players look tired and jaded. Obviously last weeks game sapped our energy levels. Likewise with saints.
I will never write off this current rhinos team, but it's going to be a tough play off series.
One thinks for certain who ever we play away from home will be apprehensive .

You really think that we will win all our playoff games? We will beat Catalans at home, the fall against the next team we play away.

Stranger things... With a full side out we'll have an outside chance.

Not sure where this we were up against some poor decisions from the ref comes from.
Thought he missed a fair bit from both sides.
Wigan players reefing the ball out and Leeds knocking on twice that got missed spring to mind.
Wigan were the better team and fully deserved their win.
Farrell for me was MoM with Smith not far behind.
Sinfield was pish poor tonight worse game from him for at least a month!

Nobody can contest the effort, commitment and team ethic....but the lack of creativity in attack continues to haunt. Sutcliffe does not appear to be a halfback IMO; Sinfield really should only be considered a forward. Hooker...OR surprise surprise LF for me.

Poor old Stevie Ward....Clarkson mark two. The young uns certainly do not appear to 'kick on' under the present stewardship. Sutcliffe will probably go the same way.

Delaney looked knackered

I do hope you used that word as a pun