Given the various issues surrounding the WCC, it really doesn't provide any true indication of the respective merits of the two teams. The English teams Iincluding leeds) have struggled to compete over the last few years and yet, they have been holding significant advantages. You also have to question the motivation shown by the Australian teams.



I wasn't guessing, I think I've learn to discern what is good and what is exceptional.

TheEagle beat you to writing that.

I don't think that was the point of my post but I agree indeed they are not. One came after actually winning something.



I'm hearing plenty of excuses being lined up which is unfortunate if true. Squad size may well be down to the CEO but squad utilisation and rotation is down to the coach.

Points of Order.



"Sinfield's wish to only play in a certain position". Is this factual or are you simply re-hashing some of Bywater's ramblings? I can't recall anything of this nature being attributed to either Sinfield or his coach. Do you have anything in your archives or have you made that up?



Similarly, you've given Noble's reasoning for bizarrely leaving Sinfield out of the squad in 2004. Again, do you have any direct quotes in your archives or have you made this one up because this is quite bizarre given Sinfield has occupied many different roles for GB/England before, during and after Noble's reign as coach. If Noble really did say that, and I don't believe he did, then he's come up with some nonsense to justify an appalling selection at the time that had more to do with his personal prejudices than benefitting GB.

I'm surprised by Sinfield's comments re: McDermott. I was under the impression that he was a Tony Smith man through and through. Whilst I thought McClennan was popular with the players (at least in his first season or two), I don't recall Sinfield ever saying McClennan (or Powell for that matter) was the best coach he had worked with, unlike Smith and now McDermott.



It would be interesting to know how the other experienced players (especially Peacock, Buderus, Lauitiiti, Webb, McGuire, Burrow etc) rated the different coaches in their respective careers.

And that is basically why we will not be renewing ours after many yrs.



We miss 2/3 games through holidays, Monday night rugby is crap when you start work at 6.00am on a tuesday, and the team only turn up when they feel like it.



We are done with freezing our butts off in february and march watching crap games in february and march.



For £200 (£15.50 per game assuming we make them all) we get to stand for13 games in a rickety old stand with an obstructed view where it impossible to see the whole pitch.



In our house we have been referring to "rip off Rhinos "for many yrs and we have finally had enough.



We felt this way last yr but relented after the amazing play off run. NWin or lose on Saturday that wont happen again.



From now on we pick and choose our games.

I've found this [urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2004/oct/19/rugbyleague.trinations2004[/url where Noble talks about Sinfield (and Deacon) being really close and still being part of the set up but nothing to support TVOCs claims.



Then I found this [urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/3751450.stm[/url where it's much of the same. Interestingly also in this Noble talks about form being important. Obviously not recent form because the Leeds number 6, Sinfield, in the Grand Final the day earlier played the Bulls number 6 off the park. Guess who the Bulls, sorry, now GB, coach picked in the squad? Even if TVOCs claims of what Noble intimated are true (they're not) I wouldn't believe them if I heard Noble say them to me himself.



But I haven't been able to find anything to support what you're claiming TVOC.



PS, I also found this [urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/25/rugbyleague.leedsrhinos[/url which has nothing to do with the point but I like the journalist stating Sinfield proves a point to Noble as the Rhinos stuff the Bulls in 2005, with Sinfield at 6 again.

And so a lesser tribute given to Bluey after we won the GF, than given to Big Mac for getting to the Final. (after of course getting us the the CC final two years on the trot, winning last years GF and this years WCC)







Excuses are for failure. Forgive me for reminding you of BM's run of success. CC finalists and SL Champions in his first year. WCC winners, CC finalists and Grand Finalist yet again in his 2nd year and getting his team to peak at three different time this season including knocking out the very structured league leaders twice in knock out semi finals. For your term "excuses" you should read handicaps!



To continue to argue against the evidence of BM's success and Sinfield's very strong endorsement shows more than a hint of stubborn predudice and a closed mind.



If he could get the team to play every week at the same level and still get to all the finals then he would join the Gods but perfection is usually out of reach of mere mortals so why don't you cut him some slack?



In his handling of his first choice team, Brian McDermott understands the meaning of the saying 'Form is temporary......Class is permanent' and has applied it with some success.

OK well, ta-ra then.

You're failure to find something I remember being said at the time doesn't mean it wasn't said. My failure to provide evidence of said comment at this moment means people will have to judge for themselves the liklihood or otherwise of it actually being said.



The comment I recall was open to interpretation but Noble was basically saying that Sinfield had intimated which position he was interested in playing that International series and he hadn't included him on the basis that he had other players in mind ahead of him for that role.



As you'd imagine a coach would like to have the versatility that Sinfield could bring my interpretation was that there may have been an element of intransigence shown by the player which (again perhaps) was not appreciated by the coach.

The context I placed them in would I hope represent failure to the club, it's coaching staff and most importantly the playing staff.







Two fifth places should have provided the handicap such a finish deserves, unfortunately for the credibility of the Regular Rounds it doesn't under this Play-Off format.







There's that word again.



I can only assume your definition of success differs from mine. I'm not surprised by Sinfield's comments as I'm sure he's aware of the criticisms levelled at his current coach, indeed the comments may have been sparked by the negativity.



Perhaps McClennan wasn't subject to such noises as a former International coach that had won an International series including the nilling of Australia in the final and Leeds finishing 2nd and League Leaders while retaining their Championships becoming the first coach to do so in the SL Era and the first coach to win a WCC and Grand Final in the same season. Lots to be negative about there?







Unfortunately you've built an impression of my postings that doesn't allow you to recognise when I post compliments.