He is only asked to tip one team though to be fair. So no good fans getting their knickers in a twist, just because someobody says something different to what they want to hear.

Can't do with Howes, and there is no doubt he is blinkered when it comes to Leeds, with a bit of downer mentality. But what do you really expect him to say?

And I respect that, but I just don't understand his opinion of Leeds. McGuire and JP will be back around May more than enough time to hit form and win the GF.

For once I'm in agreement with KS on this.
Looking at the link to Howesetc posted below I'd say we're very lucky to have kept hold of Rob Burrow.

We may well end up with the same amount of silverware as last year, but hopefully the quality of performances when it counts improves.

I don't necessarily buy into the 'ageing' stuff, but last year Leeds were a long way off the pace at times. The CC and playoffs both spoke volumes. We beat Sts in the CC semi-final when they didn't have a halfback and yet our defence was poor the whole game. What really was surprising was the fact that a team with so much big-game experience didn't seem to react to that, and put in a shocking performance at Wembley. IMO Peacock would have made little difference to the result.

In the play-offs at home we were also tonked. The loss of Peacock and McGuire were important, but IMO we were looking a tired outfit by then, despite the fact that the team had appeared to be aiming to peak at the end of the season again.

Hopefully the new coaching staff, a bit of a reality check from results last year and not spending all pre-season apparaently focused solely on the WCC will benefit the team. I expect a top four finish with ease, even without McGuire and Peacock for a while.

Presumably the fact we went away to the league leaders the week before and won doesn't fit your argument?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eason.html A very good interview with Captain Kev. Interesting last paragraph..was Bluey losing it?

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyl ... eason.html A very good interview with Captain Kev. Interesting last paragraph..was Bluey losing it?

I am by no means defending Bluey, and believe it was time for a change.

But I would guess it did not mean that as it is quoted. Why would people not know their roles? having been together for years and coming off the back of 3 previous championship winning seasons. I find that hard to believe if taken literally.

[i an area where we could really get better is people understanding fully their role and their responsibilities[/i

Well thats what he said


Maybe Bluey was trying to mix things up and was experimenting too much


All we can do is speculate as always.

A win in the first playoff game is meaningless. Haven't we lost our first playoff game in most of the years we won the GF? Its not a knockout game - only the hysterical Wigan fans thought it was.

Correct.

Someone should have told Stretcher Boy that before he decided to take it upon himself to illegally pull back a Wigan player off the ball.

I guess he wanted a week off.

He got over half a year off instead.

Well St Helens do not looked to have improved one bit. Judging on this game they are so slow and offer nothing in attack. Wigan are getting an overlap as soon as they go out wide.

Well trust that to happen, soon as I say that Saints start to look interested.


Although I was a case of Wigan throwing the game away. Saints still wasn't very impressive.

Good result for Leeds that, but some decidedly iffy referreeing. Wellens was no where near the try line for the Saints drop out, and Prescott tackled Wilkin(?) when he was falling over never a high tackle.

Saints looked poor, and after a strong first hour, Wigan were no better.

Will be interesting to see what Leeds can do tomorrow.

If the referees consistently call the play-the-ball as they did tonight then Wigan will have to find another game to play, because the foundation of last year's success will have disappeared.

Good intense final game that. Nice to see that wigan are not as impregnable as the pundits would have you believe

Agreed. I had the view that Hudds, Wire, Saints and Wigan will all be stronger this season. However Hudds look to have improved but still didn't look world beaters, still the same old mistakes and scrappyness. Wire looked very vulnerable under pressure, soon as Huddersfield took the game to them they opened up. Saints just have nothing in attack. Wigan defend very well, still a solid outfit but they do switch off, lack discipline and are beatable.

That the problem Childs reffed the game completely different to Silverwood - under Childs Saints would be almost unbeatable and Wigan would struggle with a PTB that quick

I wonder why Silverwood chose to control the ruck more or less to 2010 standards after Thaler (excellent bar one terrible call) Hicks and Child had attempted to set a consistent standard around the PTB?

I only wish Paul Cullen had still been in the commentary box for the final game. He appeared to get pretty much what was going on earlier.

Having all the officials sticking to the plan is what we need ...... surely.

For the most experienced official on the day to be the one to go his own way somewhat justifies Keith Senior's post match views after the WCC last season.

One more thing, seven teams appeared to make a decent fist of playing the ball correctly at least for most of the time. That was encouraging to see and I hope the eigth team can be persuaded to join the club in the near future. Even Silverwood eventually noticed something was amiss in the 72nd minute when he issued a warning on the run to Scott Moore who promptly ignored the warning when he next played (sic) the ball.

Can we expect Harrison Hansen to wipe his arris after every try he scores this year? Did anyone else notice? www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... 6z&h=0576d

Can we expect Harrison Hansen to wipe his arris after every try he scores this year? Did anyone else notice? www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... 6z&h=0576d

For those without anti-virus software, I'd advise them not to click on that facebook link above!

Quote ="LFCPatriotRhino"Can we expect Harrison Hansen to wipe his arris after every try he scores this year? Did anyone else notice? www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... 6z&h=0576d'" Aye I noticed that. When that try was scored Paul Wellens was sniffing somebodys arris too, no doubt be in nuts/zoo.

Quote ="LFCPatriotRhino"Can we expect Harrison Hansen to wipe his arris after every try he scores this year? Did anyone else notice? www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A ... 6z&h=0576d'" Aye I noticed that. When that try was scored Paul Wellens was sniffing somebodys arris too, no doubt be in nuts/zoo.

Leeds quality has declined steadily over the last three years, as has the standard of SL as a whole, given our 3 best players from 2010 are unavailable for half the season or have left I expect that decline to continue.
I am hopeful the other players can step up and Leeds can play an entertaining style, I cant remember a solid defensive performance from last year so I hope we can improve that too

The standard of the league may improve if the referees stick to their guns, Silverwood aside I am impressed by the efforts to remove the wrestle this weekend. First few weeks are no indicator of performance for the season so I make no conclusions on the teams who have played so far.

Unfortunately the most important hing that will happen this year will be off the field, I expect Leeds to get a franchise but one team will be kicked out which doesn't deserve to be.

I also expect another embarrassing England performance in the four nations and it to be lauded as a successful building process again.

Out at first hurdle Challenge Cup.
12th in SL.
1/4 finals of the Ladies Challenge Cup.
Ground swap with Hunslet Hawks

Good 2 points at first hurdle against a team playing with 11 strangers. Struggle to see where your next points will come from (until I see the referee appointments)

Great, glad to hear it, do we have to wait until we play the Bulls for 2 more points then?