Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 1:43 am  

I would. Thought this would be an interesting question given leeds predicament.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 8:22 am  

Never forget Macs days at London! think it is time to leave Leeds now, okay with a solid team, but last night was embarrassing.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 11:55 am  

Great coach, London was his apprenticeship. Powell who everyone seems to want didn't have it nailed from day 1. There's still a part of me that hopes KC can get it right but I don't want to wait that long for that to happen.

Leeds have got themselves into a big rut and it's difficult to claw yourselves out of that. Getting rid of their coach isn't the answer though. They need to ride this season out, survive (which they will) and recruit better during the winter.

Let's not forget, they've lost a couple of massive props, a hooker and a brilliant standoff/loose. Take Roby, Walmsley, Amor and Fages out of our team and we'd be down that end too.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 12:03 pm  

Twentyman wrote:

Let's not forget, they've lost a couple of massive props, a hooker and a brilliant standoff/loose. Take Roby, Walmsley, Amor and Fages out of our team and we'd be down that end too.

Mute point. They had ample opportunity over the last few seasons to replace those coming up to retirement and in theory replaced them with players they deemed appropriate in their wage structure. The supposed paying massive unders to senior players was always going to catch up with them and it has.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 12:14 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Mute point. They had ample opportunity over the last few seasons to replace those coming up to retirement and in theory replaced them with players they deemed appropriate in their wage structure. The supposed paying massive unders to senior players was always going to catch up with them and it has.

In a crazy way I think Leeds will benefit in the future from this season. They have some good young kids who are getting game time and gaining experience the hard way but this will benefit them next year.

They have had to deal with lots of injuries this year and good players to like Hall, Briscoe, Moon, maguire, faloon (sp) , Cuthbertson etc.

This season is pretty much gone for them but I think next year they will come good again.

Imo you can't sack a coach that's won many many trophies as Leeds coach current league leaders shield, Challenge Cup and grand final winners.

Surely if any coach deserves another chance it's Brian mac

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 12:45 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Mute point. They had ample opportunity over the last few seasons to replace those coming up to retirement and in theory replaced them with players they deemed appropriate in their wage structure. The supposed paying massive unders to senior players was always going to catch up with them and it has.

We knew Long was going, and thought we might have a replacement but it didn't work out, resulting in years without a 'proper' scrum half and no trophies. In fact, there's loads of examples of trying to replace great players at Saints especially in last 10 years and it hasn't quite worked out. Graham is another prime example.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 1:40 pm  

If you look at KC in the coaching time frame he is very much similar to when Brian Mac started out at London Broncos, Tony Smith started out at Huddersfield and Daryl Powell started out at Leeds. KC is in the bottom pile for games/years at head coaching level along with this group of Lee Radford, James Webster, Chris Chester and Ian Watson all of them less than 2 years experience and less than 50 to 60 games in charge. Lee Radford has the benefit of good recruitment and Ian Watson has a mentor in the Oz National Coach.

The top pile:
Tony smith 8 + years and 359 games
Daryl Powell 9 + years and 245 games
Dennis Betts 5 + years and 130 games
Brian McDermott 8 + years and 303 games

The Middle Pile
Shaun Wane 4+ years and 150 games
Lau Fray'noss 3+ years and 120 games
Paul Anderson 4+ years and 120 games

Bottom Pile
Lee Radford 2.5 years and 60 games
KC 1.5 years and 48 games
Chris Chester 1.5 years and 44 games
James Webster 1.5 years and 44 games
Ian Watson 0.8 years and 22 games

I would put a portion of the blame to McManus and Rush with KC's predicament in not giving him the required guidance on recruitment and mentoring, we assume that is one of the reasons for the silence from the two mentioned.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 5:47 pm  

At the moment I'd swap Rupert the Bear for Cunningham.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 10:36 pm  

I'm not convinced by Leeds' woes. The players they have lost weren't that good. They used to win the odd games they missed due to injury anyway. I think as a club they've just taken a breather this season, collectively exhaling after so many years of high-stress competition for the trophies. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they win the first 5 games of next season.

Re: Swap cunningham for brian mac? : Sat May 28, 2016 10:45 pm  

no, would not have BMD under any circumstances.

This would be out the frying pan into the fire stuff.