Re: Hopes for 2019 : Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:18 pm  

For sure, especially as it's now top 5.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:01 pm  

LeedsLurch wrote:

To be Frank I really don't care where we finish this year, all I want is to see entertaining games and come away from Headingly with a smile on my face. I think silverware may be a little too ambitious but to be challanging will be a "right result"

I get what people mean with the style of play, but I don’t think it’s possible to play beautiful rugby whilst getting beaten most weeks. In order to play, we still need a platform set by the forwards and momentum established, and to be winning basically.
It may well take another season to complete the transition but we should be competitive even next year.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:49 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I get what people mean with the style of play, but I don’t think it’s possible to play beautiful rugby whilst getting beaten most weeks. In order to play, we still need a platform set by the forwards and momentum established, and to be winning basically.
It may well take another season to complete the transition but we should be competitive even next year.

We haven’t played good rugby in a number of years, even when winning. I think that is more what is spoken of.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Sun Nov 18, 2018 2:57 pm  

I too would have liked us to have signed two big props. However the new recruits are quality and under Furner we could adapt our attack to major on the backs and be less reliant on the big middle men which we really have not had since JP and Kylie left.

I remember the days of coach Roy Francis and what many consider to be the the most entertaining rugby Leeds have ever played. We went for speed, handling skills and great back up and destroyed opposition with this approach. With the current game mired down with congested defense and one up rugby the game it is crying out for a change.

Perhaps some deeper attacking lines, especially from scrums, and longer missed passes will release the backs into space and we can then run opposition big men breathless.

I remain an optimist.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:25 pm  

I also hope that these new signings don't sustain long term injury's early on and "out for 12 weeks "etc and turns into season ending. Hope we have better luck with injury's in general basically

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:20 pm  

Lots of valid points in this thread and also a lot of things I agree with. In terms of hopes I think the following for me, appreciating a lot are interlinked:

1. We play a better brand of rugby. What I mean by this is rugby that is entertaining to watch and makes me look forward to going to a game or watching it on TV. Some part of this involves an attacking structure of some degree which I think Furner will bring.

2. We have far less injuries and look a much fitter team. Accept that injuries happen but would hope we generally have better luck with injuries, we look much fitter generally and we don’t have half injured players turning out.

3. We get some spirit and toughness back. This is mainly forward based but I can’t stand watching us getting completely battered in the forwards and generally looking like we are soft. This could have been number one but I would rather watch good rugby, thinking if we play good rugby some level of toughness would need to be involved. I think Merrin could play a huge part in this.

4. We play players in the proper position. Not sure if Merrin is a 13 or 10 in SL. We shall see, but generally players playing in the correct position and using the skills they have. Thinking Ward, Cam Smith and how we use them moving forward.

5. We see more of the exciting youngsters, maybe they get a bit of game time. In and around the first team, pushing up competition and giving us some youthful enthusiasm.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:45 pm  

Guys this year will be 100% better, maybe winning the GF in 2017 turned out to be our enigma, it gave us a false sense of security for last season and even with RB and DM moving on McDermott believed we had sufficient talent for last year The biggest changes from last year is in the back room, from the start we simply was not fit enough yet we were losing games by one point or winning games. When the injuries came it all went downhill, replacements coming into the team was not good enough, How many of the fringe players were given pay rises on the back of the last GF win, the worse problem was attitude and the rumours that was going around the place regarding fitness and players unable to play. Whatever happened behind the closed doors the good thing to come out of it was the sacking of McDermott. We now have a back room team who are all pulling in the same direction, quality from the very top with Sinfield and Furner, qualities players now getting back to full fitness and will be ready for the start of the season, some fantastic signings and one more signing to come in should we get rid of some players on the wage roll, Mulalley, Walters, Omondroyde etc. Last year we had a lot of players playing out of position square pegs in round holes this year it will be different, we may not get to the GF or win the CC, but expect a good season. Guys don't expect too much out of our first three games if we win one then great, but if we lose all three lets be patient before we start shouting for Furner to be sacked, it will take time for the team to gel, remember its not how we start its how we finish next season.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Mon Nov 19, 2018 3:43 pm  

I reckon for Mullally, Ormondroyd or Walters to move on, someone's going to have to offer 2 years minimum or a decent pay rise for this year. Is either that likely?

[Bullseye]

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Mon Nov 19, 2018 4:07 pm  

On the “wanting to see good rugby” wish that a few people have. It’s a lot easier to do that if your players are fit, the forwards are on top and the halfbacks are providing a lead. On the first point I’d expect players to be fitter than in recent years. On the second I believe you’re two decent props away from top 5, if you’re not dominating the collision and getting a quick play the ball you simply cannot chuck the ball around and “play good rugby”. The days of Roy Francis are long gone, the space just isn’t there on the field anymore for that brand of rugby unless you’re bossing things up front. On the third it depends how players gel. Lolohea is a bit off the cuff and Myler isn’t really a playmaker. It’ll be interesting to see how they go. I believe they’ll be an improvement on what you had last year.
On whether you can offload Mulally, Ormondroyd or Walters you have to ask who’d take them now? I think you’re stuck with them until someone has an injury crisis come Easter.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Mon Nov 19, 2018 4:51 pm  

Walters and Ormondroyd are championship standard at best. I'm sure there would be takers down there but it's down to the players whether they would be willing to go down a level. I'm sure one of the lower end SL clubs could make use of Mullally.we will have to see what happens over the next few weeks.