: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:44 am  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

You're up and down like a yo yo.

Last season it was all Saints are too good for Leeds, Saints will win the GF along with everything else, I don't see how Leeds can match Saints blah blah blah. This season its the opposite, let Saints knacker themselves out, Saints aren't very good, look at 2007 and 2008 etc.

Reality this season so far (which has surprised me as well) is that Leeds look a shadow of the side that has won the last 2 GF's. The loss of Ellis is huge, particularly defensively. You look light in the forwards and the backs don't look threatening. You have a problem with discipline and so far against Saints, you have looked easily second best, both at KR and Headingley. Saints OTOH look to have improved again defensively, look quicker down the left with the switch to centre of Gilmour and the forwards are a massive improvement with Puletua. The youth give us a good bit of pace down the middle as well. It has to be said that in the last 3 years, Saints look further ahead in all departments of Leeds than ever in the previous 3 seasons.

Now, this isn't to say that its a certainty because the last 2 seasons prove that. However, the improvement needed from Leeds to beat us is a big jump if Saints continue as they are. I still see a Saints and Leeds GF barring major injuries because the rest of the division are pretty average. Time will tell who wins that whether it be either of us. From where the sides are right now though, I do think if Leeds manage to win it again this year, it would be the biggest achievement of the 3.

You can't seem to comprehend that teams can improve and develop as the season goes on.

As far as leeds and saints go, you make an assesment a month or 2 into the season......and that's it. It's basically ''right i've seen all i need to see, saints are better than leeds and that's the way it will be for the rest of the season bar a choke saints will win the grand final''

Last season leeds really got out of the traps quickly, we were 6 points clear of you, but we peaked too soon. It was only a backs to wall rainy day effort that pulled the title out of the bag.

Just remember, in each of the previous 2 seasons you've felt saints have been superior to leeds. But who's ended up with the title?

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:45 am  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

You're up and down like a yo yo.

Last season it was all Saints are too good for Leeds, Saints will win the GF along with everything else, I don't see how Leeds can match Saints blah blah blah. This season its the opposite, let Saints knacker themselves out, Saints aren't very good, look at 2007 and 2008 etc.

Reality this season so far (which has surprised me as well) is that Leeds look a shadow of the side that has won the last 2 GF's. The loss of Ellis is huge, particularly defensively. You look light in the forwards and the backs don't look threatening. You have a problem with discipline and so far against Saints, you have looked easily second best, both at KR and Headingley. Saints OTOH look to have improved again defensively, look quicker down the left with the switch to centre of Gilmour and the forwards are a massive improvement with Puletua. The youth give us a good bit of pace down the middle as well. It has to be said that in the last 3 years, Saints look further ahead in all departments of Leeds than ever in the previous 3 seasons.

Now, this isn't to say that its a certainty because the last 2 seasons prove that. However, the improvement needed from Leeds to beat us is a big jump if Saints continue as they are. I still see a Saints and Leeds GF barring major injuries because the rest of the division are pretty average. Time will tell who wins that whether it be either of us. From where the sides are right now though, I do think if Leeds manage to win it again this year, it would be the biggest achievement of the 3.

Agreed. Agree with practically all that post.
We'd also be the first to win it 3 on the trot...there's a reason why no-one has done that before - it's because it's bloody hardy to do, especially given the salary cap, but we will see.

One thing is for certain though - given the squad strength of the Rihinos - had we beaten you in the cup we'd have had no chance of winning the GF.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:49 am  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

You're certainly doing this.

Out the cup and lost 3 games already ? Cruising is definitely a way of putting it.

We were cruising. We were top of the table without even playing well. But then, as i said above, we got knocked off a couple of times by you and that dented our confidence.

Had we not drawn you as well we'd still be in the cup and 2nd in the league without even playing that well.

It's cruising.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:56 am  

Snake Eater wrote:

Just remember, in each of the previous 2 seasons you've felt saints have been superior to leeds. But who's ended up with the title?

It's not just the last two seasons. His excuses for 2004 were spectacular examples of delusional denial.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:31 am  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

It's not just the last two seasons. His excuses for 2004 were spectacular examples of delusional denial.

Chronic.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:15 pm  

Snake Eater wrote:

LMAO

What's changed?

Same old sh*t different year.

Saints cock a hoop, the front runners and favourites, dangerous leeds biding their time in the background.

Do they ever learn? After last years grand final they were all beefing ''no no, let leeds have the hubcap, let them be front runners.....let's focus on old trafford, forget the cc and hubcap blah blah blah'''

But now

Once again, they are in the driving seat and their fans are cockyier than ever, almost oblivious to what has unfolded the past 2 seasons.

Yet again - its a small minortiy showing this behavoir.

We all know we are on a good run, but ahve a brittle squad and nothing is won in April.

I for one, will be making few statements about how good we are until November.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:03 pm  

Harborne Saint wrote:

Yet again - its a small minortiy showing this behavoir.

We all know we are on a good run, but ahve a brittle squad and nothing is won in April.

I for one, will be making few statements about how good we are until November.

'People'... and 'short memories' spring to mind.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:28 pm  

There is nothing arrogant in saying that right now Saints are looking better than the rest, its a simple assessment. The fact that every Rhinos supporter on here seems to conveniently ignore the part of a post which states that time will tell who wins the GF is indicative as to just how defensive they all are. All you read of any post is the part complementing Saints and the part suggesting Leeds have gone backwards.

For heavens sake you have won the last 2 GF's against us so nobody is going to dismiss any chances of that happening again. It seems unlikely right now unless there is a huge improvement. However, in both previous seasons, you have looked inferior to us all season and snatched the championship so nobody in their right mind would rule it out again.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:30 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

There is nothing arrogant in saying that right now Saints are looking better than the rest, its a simple assessment. The fact that every Rhinos supporter on here seems to conveniently ignore the part of a post which states that time will tell who wins the GF is indicative as to just how defensive they all are. All you read of any post is the part complementing Saints and the part suggesting Leeds have gone backwards.

For heavens sake you have won the last 2 GF's against us so nobody is going to dismiss any chances of that happening again. It seems unlikely right now unless there is a huge improvement. However, in both previous seasons, you have looked inferior to us all season and snatched the championship so nobody in their right mind would rule it out again.

Troll is to strong award to use against you these days imo but your posts are still only down to get a bite from Leeds posters.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:31 pm  

Stirlingshire Saint wrote:

There is nothing arrogant in saying that right now Saints are looking better than the rest, its a simple assessment. The fact that every Rhinos supporter on here seems to conveniently ignore the part of a post which states that time will tell who wins the GF is indicative as to just how defensive they all are. All you read of any post is the part complementing Saints and the part suggesting Leeds have gone backwards.

For heavens sake you have won the last 2 GF's against us so nobody is going to dismiss any chances of that happening again. It seems unlikely right now unless there is a huge improvement. However, in both previous seasons, you have looked inferior to us all season and snatched the championship so nobody in their right mind would rule it out again.

Not every Rhinos Supporter. For once, I actually agree with what you are saying.

Infact, I would say it was far more arrogant of the Rhinos supporters to make out that we will come good when it matters, without seeing anything to justify that so far this season.

Exactly what you said is true. This current Leeds team does not look a scratch on the ones that have won the previous two GF. Hopefully though it will be us that is smiling come October.