Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:29 pm  

Success is cyclical.

End of debate.

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Sun Aug 29, 2010 11:01 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

The problem is the Leeds U20 side has nothing in it, and hasn't had for three or four years. As you know I've had this discussion on your message board earlier in the season. For some reason, the Leeds academy sides have been terrible for a while. What is the reason?
You are in a better position understand than we are.

I aren't really into watching the young uns game what with work commitments etc. But you say three or four years ago. A certain Mr Mcdermott left the club in 2007 to take up his coaching role with Quins. Rumour has it he worked alot on the Rhinos' youth policies and we saw success with the youngsters whilst he was at the club.

Hopefully, things will pick up again when he takes over at the end of 2011.

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Sun Aug 29, 2010 11:14 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

wuss!

Nothing wussy about not wanting to be tarred with the arrogant, cocky or dumb brushes

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Sun Aug 29, 2010 11:19 pm  

Tony Stark wrote:

Nothing wussy about not wanting to be tarred with the arrogant, cocky or dumb brushes

Seconded.

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:24 am  

Leeds have hit a bit of a blip but they are still a top side and always will be. Getting to a cup final is hardly a sign of a failing team.

The three big clubs are Leeds, St.Helens, and Wigan.
These clubs have for most of their history been in the running for the major honours.
Sometimes Wigan are on top, sometimes Saints, and sometimes Leeds.
Every so often a blip occurs and another team interlopes, and has a brief period of success eg Widnes, Bradford and Warrington.
At the end of these blips however normal service gets resumed and one or more of the aformentioned three start to win trophys again.

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:09 am  

i wouldn't go as far as to say that its the end of an era. the facts are that(as predicted) wire exposed leeds big time on saturday with lots more skill and brains. leeds did the predictable thing and came out CRASH,BANG,WALLOP! hoping to gain the upper hand immediately and once they do they are pretty hard to contain(as we know all too well..) after wire stood up to them leeds became more desperate throughout the match i.m.o

i hope it inspires the rest of the teams that play leeds that skill,offloads and a bit of bravery in doing something different can disjoint them and they can be beaten soundly as wire showed many fans on saturday!

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:39 am  

no,leeds era has not come to an end.on saturday warrington had the luxury of having to decide who to leave out,much like saints in 2006.leeds had trouble deciding who was or was not fit to play.a fully fit leeds side will still take a lot of beating.perhaps they have made a mistake renewing so many contracts but thats for another day.beware the wounded animal.

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Mon Aug 30, 2010 3:40 pm  

I don't buy into this end of an era thing, its like with saints at the min where you havn't won a trophy for around 2 years. Does that mean that your no longer a team that has a chance in the play-offs because you havn't won a trophy for a while ? No it doesn't it just means that a couple of other clubs have improved in recent years to a similar standard to what Saints and Leeds were a few years ago.

At wembley on saturday we played like the Saints and Leeds of old where it looked like our defence was almost impossible to break and when we attacked we made the most of our posession, you will never keep a dominant team together forever as it will eventually dispand due to age, new coaches looking for a different type of player and also player beying forced to retire through injury.

Both saints and Leeds need a few players but nothing more, both of you have a decent youth setup which is bearing fruit at Saints at the min. I don't call it the end of an era for a team that loses in a final for the first time in a while, its just a shock to the system and its telling you that you have work to do in training.

Its not as easy to win a trophy these days compared to what it used to like be when 2 teams dominated the silverware, now you have 2 more teams that are capable of winning the grand final.

If your capable of winning a grand final then their is no such thing as a team has come to the end of its era, anyone of Saints, Leeds, Warrington or Wigan can win at Old Trafford so its just about who turns up with their A game throughout the play offs and in the final itself.

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:07 pm  

Rob Wire wrote:

I don't buy into this end of an era thing, its like with saints at the min where you havn't won a trophy for around 2 years. Does that mean that your no longer a team that has a chance in the play-offs because you havn't won a trophy for a while ? No it doesn't it just means that a couple of other clubs have improved in recent years to a similar standard to what Saints and Leeds were a few years ago.

At wembley on saturday we played like the Saints and Leeds of old where it looked like our defence was almost impossible to break and when we attacked we made the most of our posession, you will never keep a dominant team together forever as it will eventually dispand due to age, new coaches looking for a different type of player and also player beying forced to retire through injury.

Both saints and Leeds need a few players but nothing more, both of you have a decent youth setup which is bearing fruit at Saints at the min. I don't call it the end of an era for a team that loses in a final for the first time in a while, its just a shock to the system and its telling you that you have work to do in training.

Its not as easy to win a trophy these days compared to what it used to like be when 2 teams dominated the silverware, now you have 2 more teams that are capable of winning the grand final.

If your capable of winning a grand final then their is no such thing as a team has come to the end of its era, anyone of Saints, Leeds, Warrington or Wigan can win at Old Trafford so its just about who turns up with their A game throughout the play offs and in the final itself.

Well said mate for me any of these 4 teams(Saints,Wigan,Wire and Leeds) are more than capable of winning the GF.
As for Saturday Warrington on the day were just too good for Leeds but that is the explanation,on the day.
It's like the last 3 GF for Saints
2007,Leeds were better
2008,Leeds were better
2009,Leeds were better(marginally).

Re: Has the Leeds Era come to an end? : Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:16 pm  

cjhatesunion wrote:

It's like the last 3 GF for Saints
2007,Leeds were better
2008,Leeds were better (marginally - because they didn't have Meli)
2009,Leeds were jammy barstewards

edited for accuracy

I think I'd add Huddersfield to the list of potential Grand Final winners. I think they're dark horses. Not sure I'd write off Hull either, given that Longy and wotsit will be back this weekend. In fact - and I say this while stating I am in no way employed by Sky - I think this season's playoffs are probably the most competitive so far.