Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sat Aug 12, 2023 5:04 pm  

It’s an absolute disgrace what’s happened to the club. Problem is, it’s terminal.

Remember when Wigan were a disinter circa 2006? It wasn’t until Uncle Mo left and IL came they sorted themselves out.

The club, from a competing for trophies point of view, is all but dead.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sat Aug 12, 2023 5:23 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

Leeming was a good player for us but there were flaws to his game. He wasn't helping the ball get out to the outside backs (and it speaks volumes that a 20 year old loose forward was able to do a better job in this respect), and Wane wouldn't pick him for England because of his soft defence.

For me the big issue with Leeming leaving was that the club didn't do anything to fill his place in the squad closer to the time, relatively early in the season. Perhaps the right players weren't around, and perhaps Smith and GH felt that we had adequate players in place to play at hooker to deal with his absence. But at this point of the season it is another quality player we can't count on, which after Austin's departure and Myler's injury (amongst others) further undermines our play-off chances.

Wow, with so many flaws I wonder why wigan signed him? No doubt they’ll win trophies “in spite” of him whilst he’s there.

Most players have flaws. Leeming was a good player, one of many who don’t seem to like it at the club these days.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sun Aug 20, 2023 9:52 am  

Brodie123 wrote:

I rarely come on here anymore, you either get shot down by the fans who believe everything that is said by the club, or in most cases you’re not able to speak because you are shouted down. Leeds are a club in crisis. I June I spoke to one director telling him that with Smith as coach we are going nowhere, just after we had lost to the bottom two teams, one of those teams had lost 14 games on the bounce. I said Smith is way out of his depth. He replied, he totally agreed and that they were on with it.
In August I said to GH that Smith should be sacked, his teams when playing have no idea, they play as a bunch of individuals not as a team, GH replied we have a coach, it’s not his fault the team are playing like this.
Since then how many players who were out of contract at the end of the season were going to have their contracts renewed. They have cleared out players who they believe are not part of the coaches plans. What is happening I have no idea,
I see the front 3 for Wigan next season are all ex Leeds players. We have given an extension of one year to a winger, who is injured most of the time I can’t remember his name. We are letting young players leave to Hull and Wigan, what happened with Cruise Leeming, probably one of our better players.
The only way out of this is to employ a Director of Rugby, a person who is up to date with players as opposed to GH and his old fashioned views.
In addition Someone who has the money has either got to buy either GH shares in the company or Caddick shares, before we end up with a great stadium but a crap team. The only person with this wealth who I know is the Chairman ( I may be wrong here) the chap who owns the equity release firm in Leeds, I believe it’s age partnership. Someone with money and clout needs to get on the board .
I’ve no idea what team we will have next season, I’ve stopped going this season, I am so downbeat with this whole situation I am totally vexed off. No other football club or rugby club would put up with this rubbish that is being played on the park. Smith sees things that no other person does, his back room team, full of has beens, why we can’t get DM as a support coach I don’t know.

Spot on post

The ineffective mods and the Hetherington bully boys (or is it just him and Kath pretending to be RL fans) do slam down on anyone who says anything negative about Hetherington or Smith or their cronies

If that is true about board and Gawwy then the club is on a downward spiral to mediocrity. I and my family are probably not going to renew our membership of last 18 years and return to watching Amateur RL.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:35 am  

That's just not true about negative comments not being allowed or shot down, is it? I for one have had a go at GH for quite some time, as have others. He is 100% responsible for the mess since the Golden Generation retired. I have more sympathy for Smith than some, as he's been brought in to revamp the team, meaning replacing many of our big earners. I am very disappointed in this season. However, unlike people who live in cloud cuckoo land, I just don't see how this could have been done much more quickly than it has (due to salary cap limits) or without causing significant unrest in the squad, including some players leaving who we may have wanted to keep.

What none of us know (yet) is who is coming in to replace the serial underperformers we're currently getting rid of. I will be just as hard on GH if we sign some of the no-names that have been bandied about. Now is the time for the club to make a statement about the way forward. If we do bring in some star quality, we can all then judge Smith fairly - if we keep being rubbish he will be gone.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sun Aug 20, 2023 4:59 pm  

Once were Loiners wrote:

That's just not true about negative comments not being allowed or shot down, is it? I for one have had a go at GH for quite some time, as have others. He is 100% responsible for the mess since the Golden Generation retired. I have more sympathy for Smith than some, as he's been brought in to revamp the team, meaning replacing many of our big earners. I am very disappointed in this season. However, unlike people who live in cloud cuckoo land, I just don't see how this could have been done much more quickly than it has (due to salary cap limits) or without causing significant unrest in the squad, including some players leaving who we may have wanted to keep.

Why should getting rid of underperformers cause Sam Walters to leave?

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sun Aug 20, 2023 8:56 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

Why should getting rid of underperformers cause Sam Walters to leave?

Absolfeckinglutely. Brilliant observation.
Walters has got more potential than the majority of current 1st players

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:15 pm  

Bobtownrhino wrote:

The ineffective mods and the Hetherington bully boys (or is it just him and Kath pretending to be RL fans) do slam down on anyone who says anything negative about Hetherington or Smith or their cronies

Jeez how much of a snowflake you are? Some people disagree with you and it's "boo hoo, bully boys"?

Bobtownrhino wrote:

If that is true about board and Gawwy then the club is on a downward spiral to mediocrity. I and my family are probably not going to renew our membership of last 18 years and return to watching Amateur RL.

OK, see ya then. I trust you wouldn't magically change your mind if Leeds started winning again.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Sun Aug 20, 2023 10:38 pm  

MjM wrote:

Jeez how much of a snowflake you are? Some people disagree with you and it's "boo hoo, bully boys"?

OK, see ya then. I trust you wouldn't magically change your mind if Leeds started winning again.

Give the poor guy a break. He's only seen 7 winning GFs (2 losing ones) 3 CC wins and 3 WCC wins. It's been a rough trot.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Mon Aug 21, 2023 6:18 am  

FlexWheeler wrote:

Why should getting rid of underperformers cause Sam Walters to leave?

Without knowing the ins and outs, what annoys me about the Walters situation is people are being so black and white with it.

I think ultimately had the kid had a bit more patience, if he’d have wanted to stay, he’d have got the offer he wanted, because he’s earnt it.

As it was he clearly wanted to get his contract sorted very early doors (which he’s entitled to) and things fell the way they did. It’s a shame, but I don’t think it’s the stick to poke the club with that some people seem intent on using it as.

Re: Have Leeds lost hunger, as a club? : Mon Aug 21, 2023 7:08 am  

Auden Sezer confirmed as joining West Tigers. That’s officially going into next season with no starting halfbacks. If we don’t sign one (preferably 2) established halves who have a kicking game, athleticism, and leadership then we will serve up much of the same next year. Replacing 2 halves in any off season is a big enough ask in itself. I wouldn’t be surprised if Myler has suddenly become our starting half for next season now. The club’s ambition will be clear to see based on these signings.