Match tonight.

[Big Mac]

Least hailbert didn't spot forward pass for pats try so not all bad:)

[cpwigan]

I'm not sure how Finch was given man of the match. He was our own worst enemy as usual when things were going badly and his kicking game was just shocking.

All our kickers were poor but he probably got it for that pass to Carmon for his try. Fantastic.

Deacon was also very poor and I'm not surprised he got taken off, I think Madge needs to leave him out against Cas and I really hope he doesn't just stick Lockers at 6. It's a big squad and he should use it.

Leeds targeted Deacon and pretty much made Sam anonymous at full back (good sides do this and its why he's not a 1 but a 6....). They had done their homework and some credit must go McDermott. He must have watched the Hudds game and made a plan.

Add that to Albert and him letting Leeds get away with murder around the tackle and PTB and for me thus was like Hull FC at the DW MkII.

It's a shame that Prescott got injured, he was looking like our best prop only to hobble off straight from the kick off in the second half. I think Hock should replace him at prop and Farrell should come in for Tuson. Our 3 remaining props having to work extra hard doesn't help when there's a midweek game though.

I agree I think both those should play and I also hope its not Lockers at 6 if Deacon does not play.

O'Loughlin would be my man of the match.

He was very good and got through a mountain of work as usual.

OMG Dave you really are stupid. Sam had a very good game, was still our greatest danger and for YOU he caught every kick, made an amazing last line of defence tackle. If you decide something, you are blind to whatever is in front of you staring you in the face.

Was anybody amazing last night? Hansen was far worse than v Hudds but you never mention that Pat made some big blunders but you never mention that YOU need to get odd your hobby horse.

Nobody has mentioned it but when he came on MIckey Mac made a difference, his tackling was very tight and he made lots of yards. Personally, I think Mickey Mac supports the notion of keeping players fresh hence why we should do the same with 2 to 4 others v Cas but I doubt we will other than the known return of Hock.

[MarkD]

A real mixed bag;

Thought we were well below par and seemed hesistant and a little slow with ball in hand.

They played at a higher intensity than of late and we seemed a little surprised/caught out by it.

Our handling was sloppy and 3rd manning running play seemed very predictable.

The referee seemed to forget the actual rules and some of decisions were confusing for the players. This causes players to push boundaries regarding tackling and high shots because they feel they can manage the referee - Leeds did this throughout and we became embroiled in their game.

Deacon needs a rest against Cas - a few too many blows and he was negated too easily. Move Finch to 6, Tommy to 7 and Mac to 9.

Hock and Farrell into the team too.

Whilst I enjoy Charnley's attack and drive and feel he is worth continuing with, his positioning in the defence line continues to be porr and is the main point of attack for the last play for a number of teams.

We got 2 points (!!!) and I'd suggest Cas are on for a real hammering.

[Owd Codger]

One of the most blatant one sided displays of refereeing you will ever see on a Rugby field.

But what else can you expect with Cummings in charge?

[bendy hendy 5]

I'm not sure how Finch was given man of the match. He was our own worst enemy as usual when things were going badly and his kicking game was just shocking.
Deacon was also very poor and I'm not surprised he got taken off, I think Madge needs to leave him out against Cas and I really hope he doesn't just stick Lockers at 6. It's a big squad and he should use it.

It's a shame that Prescott got injured, he was looking like our best prop only to hobble off straight from the kick off in the second half. I think Hock should replace him at prop and Farrell should come in for Tuson. Our 3 remaining props having to work extra hard doesn't help when there's a midweek game though.

O'Loughlin would be my man of the match.

Finch had a very good game IMO. Some of his touches such as delayed passes are pure class.

I agree. His timing and acuracy with his passing was a pleasure to watch tonite. Thought he put some gud tackles in, in defence as well. Deserved his MoM in my opinion :eusa2:

[the winky one]

We were very lucky last night managing to hang on.I've never wished 10 minutes of my life away as much.
I'm pretty sure that the players can't be brilliant every week,it's so easy to pass judgement when it's not you that's getting knocked from pillar to post.

The Halibut was awful and the linesmen were no better, don't they know it's two-for-one at specsavers?obviously not.

Did there seem to be a poor turnout from the Leeds supporters.?I was in the East stand and behind the Leeds
posts seemed was like a ghost town.

Castleford up next..think Hock will play in that one,
my throat hurts from screaming..We won though...just..YIKES!!!

[OJ]

I'm not sure how Finch was given man of the match.
It's a shame that Prescott got injured,

MOM had me baffled too although he is much much better in these last few games.

Three weeks on the trot now that Prescott has been on the field early with some thick rubber band like contraption around his ankles so obviously been having fitness tests - hope he gets a rest this week for his own sake

[the winky one]

We were very lucky last night managing to hang on.I've never wished 10 minutes of my life away as much.
I'm pretty sure that the players can't be brilliant every week,it's so easy to pass judgement when it's not you that's getting knocked from pillar to post.

The Halibut was awful and the linesmen were no better, don't they know it's two-for-one at specsavers?obviously not.

Did there seem to be a poor turnout from the Leeds supporters.?I was in the East stand and behind the Leeds
posts seemed was like a ghost town.

Castleford up next..think Hock will play in that one,
my throat hurts from screaming..We won though...just..YIKES!!!

P.S...Nathan Brown gave Leeds a boost by saying O'loughlin
was better than Sinfield...think that spurred him on...Crafty Nathan Brown eh?

[OJ]

You'll all love reading some of the comments on their version of the match report :
http://leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1646
A Big Improvement
Posted by southstander on July 01 2011 - 23:51:04

Brace The bookies gave the Rhinos an almost unheard of sixteen point start as they travelled to the JJB to take on the side who fought back for an historic draw in the home game back in round eight.
Perhaps they'd listened to McDermotts confession that he wasn't sending his side to Wigan to win, but to put in a good performance. Even for the noticibly diminished travelling Rhinos supporters, the hope was that we'd save embarrassment and keep the losing margin to a reasonable level.

We bring you all of the action here......




24 Rhinos v Warriors 26

Superleague XVI - Round 20

1st July 2011



A Big Improvement
Rob Burrow was dropped to the bench and for some reason, known only to the chuckle brothers, Paul McShane was missing from the Leeds seventeen. Jones-Bishop made a welcome return on the wing in place of the still injured Ryan Hall and Zak Hardaker was back on the opposite wing. On paper it looked like a weak Rhinos side but mercifully the home side were without their returning prodigal son, Gareth Hock.

It took the Rhinos just ten seconds from the Sinfield kick-off, and on the first tackle, for Leeds to conceed the first penalty of the night. A McGuire fifty metre break later and Leeds were the beneficiaries of a penalty for hands in and Sinfield goaled from twenty out. A lead...against the Warriors...at the DW. Steady on!

Thirteen minutes in and Leeds gifted the Warriors the games opening try. A Webb forward pass was penalised by Halibut and Webb decided to turn a scrum into a penalty through back-chat. The Warriors used three tackles before Charnley went over. Richards slotted over the extras for 2-6. Stupidity costs the Rhinos, it is beginning to sound like a broken record.

Four minutes later and the returning Ben Jones-Bishop got on the scoresheet. A Wigan knock-on gave us posession and on the fifth tackle Webb made some amends by sliding through the grubber to be grounded in goal. Sinfield converted beautifully from the touchline and we were back in a shock lead at 8-6.



4 from 5 On twenty-five Sam Tomkins prevented a Leeds try by tackling close from not square. Leeds got the penalty but incredibly Halibut failed to show the Wigan cheat a yellow card for a professional foul.
A minute later and Webb stepped out of a tackle to score one-handed on the line. Sinfield added the extras for 14-6. I pinched myself, but the scoreboard looked the same, we were still in the lead.




It was like a different Leeds. We were fast in the play, tackling hard, and we'd put the Warriors on the back foot. It wasn't the same team that lost to the Bulls last week.

On thirty-two a cross field kick from Finch which seemed to be knocked-on by Richards before being collected by Hoffman who walked over the line to score. Richards was solid with the boot and the home side were back within two at 14-12.

Two minutes from the break and the Rhinos were over again this time throught try machine, Zak Hardaker. It was the last tackle and Burrow put in a long ball, palmed on by Ablett into the hands of Hardaker who went seven metres to score in the corner. Sinfield slid the kick wide but we had a six point margin as the half time hooter sounded.

A very satisfying first half, now we had to do it all again for the second forty.

With the second half just a minute old the Warriors got over the whitewash. Leeds had failed to collect the kick-off and the Warriors used their tackles before a massive forward pass put Richards over in the corner. He converted his own try to level up the scores. The referee had missed a shocker and Leeds had paid the price.

Four more minutes had elapsed before Wigan went in again. A rolling passing move down the left wind ended with Carmont scoring in the corner. Richards added the extras with his ultra-reliable right foot for 18-24. We'd been blitzed, conceeding twelve points in four minutes.
On the hour Leeds, having weathered the Warriors onslaught, condeeded a penalty for offside and Richard slotted over the penalty from thirty metres out. The home side were now two scores clear at 18-26 and the first half Rhinos lions had turned into lambs.



Winning Try Ruled Out


There were eleven minutes remaining when a pinpoint McGuire grubber was grounded in the corner by Zak Hardaker for his second of the match. Sinfield converted brilliantly from the touchline and we were back within two at 24-26. We needed to play the last nine in the Warriors half and force the mistake.

Five minutes to go and McGuire dribbled the ball forwards and touched down. Halibut went to the video referee and Steve 'Saint' Ganson ruled that the ball touched the ground before it hit McGuires boot and ruled out the try with a McGuire knock-on. Eagle eyes Halibut sees a split second decision to denies Leeds but missed an American Football style pass for Wigans first of the second half. It was the correct decision, but without the presence of the SKY cameras a try would have been given.

Three minutes to go and Leeds were on the Wigan thirty with tackles in the bag and Lauiti'iti offloaded to Wigans Leuluai. It was game over for Leeds.

Brian McDermott got what he wanted, a massive Leeds improvement in performance, and the loss that he'd suggested. While he might be satisfied, as supporters we are definitely not. You go into a game with a losing attitude and you vastly reduce your chances of winning. In the end we were hard done-by with a couple of decisions. Leaving Sam Tomkins on the field after his professional foul in the first half was refereeing cowardice, and how Halibut missed the Richards try forward pass at the start of the second half is beyond belief.

I'm gutted that we lost, and the lads looked shell-shocked at the end. But this is the kind of performance that we need to take with us into the rest of the games this season. At least then we'd be able to hold our heads high when we finish the season trophyless.

[i'm spartacus]

Finch had a solid game and his MoM was well deserved.
He dropped two perfectly weighted kicks onto Pat; the first one Sinfield took Pat out off the ball, the second Ryan Hoffman scored off.
He chased down and tackled McGuire when he was in the clear, which brought about the strange knock on decision where McGuire dropped the ball and knock on was given against us.
He pulled the tacklers in and made the gap for Carmonts try, and he did the cut out pass that linked Sam into the line from which Pat scored off the slightly forward pass. He was solid in defence and attack. I can't see how anyone can say it was a strange choice for MoM.