True, I'm thinking along the lines that everyone who sits in the stand can have an opinion on tactics and who should play where or what they should do with the ball in hand (and fook knows we see enough of them on here), but what is it that motivates a team of individual players to break their backs for each other and how similar is that man management and motivation to what is happening in every Army unit on every day of the week ?



Maybe he is or isn't the worlds best tactical rugby genius but you cannot doubt his ability to lift a squad at exactly the moment that its needed and more importantly to get that squad to follow him - anyone heard any rumours about dressing room cliques and whispering campaigns recently ?



No, thought not.

That's the thing though, you don't really have to lift this squad of players for the big games because they naturally lift themselves (as any team should do for the biggest occasions). It's when you have to go away to Wakefield on a Monday night, a few weeks short of a CC Final and Belle Vue seems a million miles comedown compared to do-or-die matches at Wembley and Old Trafford and minds may not be fully focused that the coach has to step in and make sure we approach it right.

On the contrary, I think there's a realisation that you can switch off for some games without having any sort of detriment to your season at all, some games are nothing short of a training session and the financials are still largely unaffected.



As a management team they have just about got the whole of Rugby League as a business, well under control, its probably as well a run Rugby League business as has ever existed at all.

YEP - 6th October 2008



Leeds had been crushed 38-10 at Saints in the qualifying semi-final 15 days earlier and skipper Kevin Sinfield said the way they bounced back made it one of his career highlights. [i"It's right up there because of what happened two weeks ago, with everybody writing us off,"[/i he said. [i"There were 17 warriors out there and Bluey can take a lot of credit because two weeks ago there were some lads with their heads on the floor; we were completely shot after the disappointment of what happened at Saints. I know that's what he's paid to do, but he has done a great job in turning it around and keeping a very special trophy at Headingley." [/i



Two-try hero Danny McGuire saluted boss Brian McClennan after Leeds Rhinos retained their engage Super League title. McClennan took over the defending champions from Tony Smith and steered them to a unique Carnegie World Club Challenge/ Super League double in his debut campaign. Speaking after Saturday's 24-16 Grand Final downing of St Helens, McGuire said:[i "We have worked hard this year, we've had tough times, but we've stuck together and the coaching staff have been outstanding. Bluey has been great. He's not tried to change things dramatically overnight, he's just added a few subtle things here and there. He's such a positive bloke and so enthusiastic, you can't help but want to win for him."[/i

See that's your middle ground party line between "he's rubbish" and "he's the best coach I've played for". That quote demonstrates the point being made pretty well.

I am sure Sir Kev meant what he said that Mcdermott is a good coach at that moment in time, over the years numerous professional sportsmen have said this, but once they are replaced it is the King is dead long live the King. We will never get anything like how Sir Kev feels till he retires and brings out his book. I am not a fan of BM, but yes we have got to the grand final again, but how much is down to the players and realising they let the club down or was it GH making that statement that things had to improve or heads will roll.



Over the season Leeds have been poor far to many times, and at times the coach does appear to have lost the plot, in many games he did not appear to know what his best side was. In any knock out comp a side with Burrows, Sir Kev, Danny, Ryan Hall and Watkins will have a chance. But to me we have gone backwards since 2009 when we topped the league and won the GF. The team needs radically surgery in terms of the forwards, and a new half back and I am not sure BM is the man for the job.



I do hope i am wrong but I fear this will be the last GF for quite a while, unless new faces come in.

Spoke to one of the player who told me that while they don't try and be poor in the regular rounds, they know that come sept they should be in the play offs and tapered to peak at this time. Winning the league leaders shield doesn't mean that much

Interesting but nothing in there to contradict Sinfield's quotes about McDermott.



FWIW I don't doubt the players like Brian McDermott. They're very qualified to judge but hardly objective.



My view remains he has severe limitations as a coach and, as he says repeatedly himself, he is very luck to have this group of players.



Whilst we keep reaching finals though it's hard to advocate a change notwithstanding the limitations I observe in the weekly rounds. I've a lot of time for Kevin, I probably rate him much higher than anyhone else on this forum, but on this occasion I will respectfully disagree. Of course his opinion is worth more than mine but mine as worth as much as anyone else voicing thiers on here.

But its the mid season games against Fartown and Wakefield that put money into the clubs and pay the wages of the players. If the players are not that bothered why should the fans.

I am not questioning a Pro players opinion directly i'm just offering my opinion on what i've witnessed at games and like when we succeed they ALL get praise when it fails then they all should get the negative criticism.

I buy a ST (yes by choice) to watch my team and all i ask is that we compete in 99% of the games yes there will always be the odd blip here and there and injuries etce etc but at times this year and last we have been dire and made the same errors lacked structure and been destroyed now i aren't gonna over-look that in the hope we make CC finals and GF's or because of past records.

I comment on each individual game as it comes and will continue to do so and if you check my comments they've included players and coaches alike whether praise or negative.

Rightly or wrongly its about exchanging opinions we disagree /agree on a regular basis i never boo the team or coach or shout abuse at them but i will alwatys comment on games and performance even the plasyers and coaches themselves have admitted when its not good enough so its not just me and a few on here.

It's great to get to another GF and congrats to ALL the staff and players they've earned it and deserve the plaudits but if they under-perform or get pasted next season in march i'll still say so.

Mainly references to his motivational abilities, which few doubted. I'd be interested if you could find many quotes from 2009 though.

I have and continue to be confused by some of McD`s team selections, interchange choices etc.



I recall not so long ago 6 players playing out of position in one game.



But I would draw the line at advocating changing the coach....it would only be remotely viable if there was currently a better replacement available.