Never say die or too little too late? : Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:02 am  

Last night was in some ways a very typical defeat for Leeds. Over the last couple of seasons I have seen them have a signifiacnt defecit coming into the final quarter, and then turn it on.
I can think of two occassions last season where we have found ourselves well behind, and come back, and only just losing, Wigan and Quins away. Last night was the same.

On the one hand, you have to admire the backs to the wall attituide of the players who never know they are beaten. You also have to look at why they got themselves into that position. Last night we were cut open by an excellent side, and we can have no complaints at the loss, but in some games we have sloppy periods, and leave ourselves too much to do. I would like to see us more clinical, and try to play at a better tempo for more of the 80mins, even though most games can be won by playing below 100%

Sometimes we get away with it like against Hull, other times we don't like Wiagn and Quins.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:09 am  

Too little too late for me. If Leeds would of played like that all the way through the match and we could of beaten them. I just hope that the rest of Burrows career isn’t blighted by concussions during the game. However I bear no excuses.

We could play ifs and buts all day.

The right team won and Leeds gave it they best for the day.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:11 am  

It was definately never say die for me.
After the error early in the second half we didn't touch the ball for nearly 7 minutes when manly put 3 tries on us,we've done it to many teams and highlights the need to at 100% in everything you do against the best teams around.

Re: Never say die or too little too late? : Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:08 pm  

leicester_rhino wrote:

Last night was in some ways a very typical defeat for Leeds. Over the last couple of seasons I have seen them have a signifiacnt defecit coming into the final quarter, and then turn it on.
I can think of two occassions last season where we have found ourselves well behind, and come back, and only just losing, Wigan and Quins away. Last night was the same.

On the one hand, you have to admire the backs to the wall attituide of the players who never know they are beaten. You also have to look at why they got themselves into that position. Last night we were cut open by an excellent side, and we can have no complaints at the loss, but in some games we have sloppy periods, and leave ourselves too much to do. I would like to see us more clinical, and try to play at a better tempo for more of the 80mins, even though most games can be won by playing below 100%

Sometimes we get away with it like against Hull, other times we don't like Wiagn and Quins.

Manly clearly came out with a plan to blow us out of the game in the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half, which they carried out to perfection, then they knew they could play out the rest. They might have been a bit surprised that we came back so well, so it's credit to our players that we played right until the last minute, but Manly knew they were never in danger and had more points in them if needs be. We got in that position because they were far too good for us.

Re: Never say die or too little too late? : Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:13 pm  

GCM1980 wrote:

Manly clearly came out with a plan to blow us out of the game in the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half, which they carried out to perfection, then they knew they could play out the rest. They might have been a bit surprised that we came back so well, so it's credit to our players that we played right until the last minute, but Manly knew they were never in danger and had more points in them if needs be. We got in that position because they were far too good for us.

My comments were more general than just last night, although clearly it they are in the contaxt of last night. We were blown away by a better team last night, and staged a good comeback which was admirable.

Last season we played some games a bit dumb, and left ourselves too much to do. Its great to get a win from a position of heavy defecit, but if it happens to much there is a pattern of sloppyness which could get taken advantage of by a better team.

Re: Never say die or too little too late? : Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:33 pm  

leicester_rhino wrote:

Last season we played some games a bit dumb, and left ourselves too much to do. Its great to get a win from a position of heavy defecit, but if it happens to much there is a pattern of sloppyness which could get taken advantage of by a better team.

My abiding memory of that Quins game was the disallowed Burrow try caused by the imaginary (Sinfield?) obstruction and being stitched up as usual in London by Klein and Thaler. Has Thaler been sacked yet after Saturday night? If not, why not?

I always felt last season that that defeat was slightly suspect and the one that gave St Helens a sniff.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:47 pm  

Manly we're the better team IMO and I wish to god Leeds won but they didn't deserve to on the whole. At the End of the Day it was too little too late from The Rhinos, but kudos needs to go to Manly's game plan and how they executed it. Leeds creditied there defence as the stongest thing in the run up to the game. It had been poop hot in the 3 previous games and it had worked really well and strong as a unit. It was however exploited greatly yesterday.

Leeds use a Man On Man Defence, trusting each player in the squad to be able to stop the man opposite them in the attacking line....How to get through this? Crowd the ruck area Manly style! Manly had dummy runners, inside balls and plenty of short passes in the middle of the field to create confusion within Leeds' man marking.

I get the feeling that Jimmy Lowes and the rest of Warrington will be creaming their pants and trying to exploit this on Sunday. Im hoping Manly were just superior with handling, speed and steps and that Leeds' defence will return to what it was before the WCC.......If not; interesting times for the Rhinos! I wonder how many times the video of this WCC will be shown at other Super League clubs in the week before they play Leeds......Lets hope it wont make any difference and Manly we're btter opponents that caught Leeds on a possible of day!

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:51 pm  

Warrington don't have the players or the skills to approach anything like the standard Manly played to.

A point amply illustrated that it took Manly getting rid of someone who is now Warrington's best player for them to kick on and win it all.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:54 pm  

SDB wrote:

I get the feeling that Jimmy Lowes and the rest of Warrington will be creaming their pants and trying to exploit this on Sunday.

I'm sure Jimmy Lowes will be doing something in his pants with the consequences of yet more losses...

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:55 pm  

I didn't mean to Imply that Warrington we're on a par with manly mate....Just that they might learn from their breaking down of Leeds..