I have to admit that it's difficult to be gracious in any way given the conversations in the forums over the last week, everything from Wigan are scum to worse.

However, the difference in the two teams is obvious, 3-4 in the tackle from Leeds and a set defence having slowed the play the ball. 2 and maybe 3 in defence from Wigan and a defence that needs to work harder.

In gripe.... Hanson's "knee", forrrrwwwaarrdd and offside. The latter two just weren't something that the ref seemed to care about.

Wasn't unhappy with Marilyn Manson's knee.......providing we see a penalty for it more often and not just a one off in a very tight game where possession and territory were all. Regulary see much more interference at the play of the ball (and often from McGuire at Leeds) that goes unpunished.

And when it comes to gripes, there was Goulding's initially not square before making the tackle on Lunt and then his more obvious knocking out of the ball that resulted in a Wigan scrum. Wasn't too sure about Carmont's tackle on Burrow that stopped him grounding the ball....more and more players are going in with the knees although in most cases it doesn't dislodge the ball.

Its nice to see Leeds getting credit for their great achievement, every year they raise their game and play playoff rugby perfectly.

Last year they did this to us and just sneaked past us too but nobody gave them the credit they just assumed that we were bottlers who were really streets ahead of the rest of the league but can't play playoff rugby. Hopefully now people will start to stop being obsessed with us being bottlers and see that playoff defeats can happen to anyone, Wigan got beat twice in a row by Saints last year and to Leeds now, it doesn't mean they are bottlers, it just means they are a great side that gets beat in playoffs.

I still think Wigan should be called champions this season for topping the league.

Really pleasing to see the comments from Wigan fans in this thread and the credit given to Leeds' performance - it's much appreciated after lots of banter/bile (delete as applicable) all week.





As has already been said, awesome game and shame there had to be a loser!

Well done to Leeds.

Again they have shown how to keep themselves in a game through sheer hard work, determination and a simple game plan.

It's a shame for Murphy that he came up with the error at the end that resulted in the penalty, but if Wigan had used their heads a little more and executed better at the other end of the field he wouldn't have been put in that position.

It was exactly what a semi-final should be, hard, aggressive and intense.

It also highlighted the current problem with the rest of the season - you can count on one hand the number of games that got anywhere near as intense as that - and a team that for the majority for the season their fans have been calling for the coach to be sacked and in all honesty had been poor, are now in the final on the back of a good game last week and a very good game this week.

Well what a pleasant surprise. Hardly a word blaming anyone but yourselves. Credit due.

Exactly. We have some wise heads in that side (or we should have) yet we can never grind a win out as we play dumb rugby. Sinfield put the ball in touch or put points on the board or turned us around at every opportunity. We were a point ahead with 5/6 to go and tried to keep the ball in play and force a try. Leeds go ahead and have 4 nothing drives before putting the ball in touch 5 from our line.

We didn't need to score at 12 11. They did. We should have pinned them in their 20 and made them go 80 yards. Poor play and then poor discipline cost us that game NOT Jack Murphy.

There are many fans of other clubs who admit they don't think Sinfield is a good player.

What he is though is a fantastic leader...and has proved it time and again since 2004.
It's no coincidence that when he plays well, and bosses the game like last night, Leeds grind out the wins.

Wigan don't have that leader. O'Loughlin is arguably a better all round player, but he's not a better leader

I can't imagine the final being as good a game as last night!

Well done Leeds and Mr Sinfield! I will eat my words and say you should be champions of something, play off rugby; you’ve got it nailed to a T. Your pride and commitment to each other was tremendous and though we tried we couldn’t match it on the night. So once again to the Rhinos and most (not the really nasty ones lol) of the Leeds fans I have shared banter with this week, well done again and good luck next week. Give us another game like that please!







Three cheers!

A superb game of Rugby League, both sides deserve credit for their defensive commitment. Leeds deserved it if only for the fact that they were smarter and played the conditions brilliantly.

Just to echo Conroys comments, Wigans "leaders" (particularly Finch and Tommy) should have had the nous in those last five minutes to get the ball dead and make Leeds come from deep. Sinfield showed how it should have been done.

Again, what a brilliant game that could have gone either way right up to the final whistle, and that's what fans want too see

It was odd how you put so little pressure on Sinfield's kicks. I thought the major thing with McGuire being out was that Leeds lost their second kicking option so it would make the late tackle plays easier to read and close down, as happened in the CC final. As it was Sinfield managed to put almost all of his kicks exactly where he wanted them. I don't think Burrow or Lunt kicked the ball once.

Its true well done leeds we were outplayed by Leeds' tactics and we had no comeback as long as they were kicking to charnley (who would usually be Tomkins first receiver of course) he was played pretty much out of the game and that hurt us in the metres as that's usually good for at least ten metres so we were going from 1st on the 25-40 to 1st on or around our own 10. There were other things but I think that hurt us the most.

after watching the first half it almost seemed like leeds had last week off wigan looked tired they had no energy at all leeds looked sharp and never let us get a look in all credit to them. im afraid you cant win against top class teams by playing 40 mins best team won and i have no complaints. well done leeds.

Can I congratulate both teams on a great game of rugby league,a pleasure to watch and it shows great games dont have to be high scoring games.Hats off to the wigan supporters for giving leeds the credit they deserved,I thought a couple of bad decisions by silverwood were going to give wigan the game.Justice was done but both teams a credit to the game.!

They did that in the cup semi final as well. Wane has been out-coached twice by McDermott.

He knew exactly how to win v Wigan so we can have no complaints.

I thought last night was a great game and both sides give 100%. Hope our game tonight will be as good.

I really enjoyed it!

Yes, well played Leeds.

Yet again in a tough, close game they found a way to win which is what winning teams do.

We could have done with a bit more composure, but a brilliant match of Rugby League.

Could have gone either way in those last five minutes, Leeds looked shot and we had their line begging. Somehow they got to midfield and pumped the ball up to great effect, had us scrambling and panicking ultimately giving an easy penalty away!

A never say die attitude from a great cup side. Reminiscent of our days in the 90's when we won the games that mattered despite not playing particularly well.

A fine performance from leeds a televisual feast and a bum twitching last 5 minutes , I was lucky enough to watch the game at a fine Chinese restaurant in skipton last night on a huge screen. With all the commotion at the final whistle I even managed to disappear out the rear door before I got collard for my meal. A most enjoyable evening looking forward to tonights feast .

Im very dissapointed but the best team on the day won and we can have no complaints. I feel cheated by my own team as twice this season on big occasions when its mattered we have played terrible. Leeds had all the answers and made us look flat and average. Our creative elements need sorting for next season as we were very predictable and the kicking was poor.

Credit where credits due, they just know how to get the job done one way or another. We need to learn how to get the job done just like they manage to do. Theres no good bashing everybody up all season then doing that.

After seeing the way McDermott out-tacticed (ha new word there) Wane maybe Wane needs someone to do our tactics for him. Maybe he should just be a bit of an enforcer.

First of all, I don't like this thread. It's just not right! Can we go back to the way we were last week please?



There's been a few mentions of your attack, I think a lot of that comes down to you not having the option of Tomkins coming around on the second phase. I know it sounds obvious but give me a second! Without him everything comes easier to read because we never had the fear of him joining the line and doing what he does best.

Wane seems to be copping a bit of stick too. I think next year will be a massive test for him with the departures of Finch etc. A tough start could cause him some problems.

Finally, what a game! Both teams going at a 100%. I wish we saw more games like this every week. I made the comparison between Leeds and Arsenal last night. We get a lot of stick for "playing when it matters" but is that our fault? The structure of the comp is broken and we play it to our advantage. McDermott guiding us to fifth was a stroke of genius!



Enjoy a few beers this weekend and now doubt we'll be back for more of the same next year!

Well played Leeds! You fully deserved to make the Grand Final!

The better side won on the night. If we had Tomkins and McIlorum in the side I think the result may have been different but thats all academic now. Well done Leeds

'Arguably' being the operative word.
If 'all-round' means having a complete skill-set then Sinfield's (at times extraordinary) kicking game and his tactical awareness put him streets ahead. In all other areas I don't think (and the stats bear this out,) that there's much to choose between them.