Re: M8 RD 7 | Leeds Rhinos v Toronto Wolfpack : Sat Sep 29, 2018 11:52 pm
gulfcoast_highwayman wrote:
If Ah Van could catch a ball, the same would also be true. We needed a couple of slices of luck to avoid the MPG.
I agree but by the same token you could also say we had a couple of slices of bad luck earlier in the season that put us in the middle 8’s to begin with.
Fallon wrote:
Interesting that sinny is taking flack for perceived issues with the coaching. People are aware that sinny has not been brought in to coach aren't they? Or that sinny has never shown any interest in coaching. If you want to complain about the coaching then complain about Lowe's, chev and Robbie - none of which are good enough to coach a SL side.
Yep. Though I’d say McDermott should have seen the season out. The issues clearly weren’t as some have said in that half the players couldn’t get on with/didn’t want to play for/hated McDermott. If that were the case we’d have seen a significant improvement in performances since his departure and we haven’t. I don’t think we’ve actually got any worse, we just havent improved.
Now injuries aren’t the only factor but they also can’t be ignored. Had we had a better season in terms of injuries I have no doubt we would have finished in the top 8. Of course there would still be issues and it would have still been right to get McDermott out and Furner in but it takes away the urgency, nervousness and immediacy to win games which we’ve clearly struggled with this season.
I don’t see a problem with Sinfield as Director of Rugby and Furner as coach. Sinfield is clearly learning the ropes for a couple of years before replacing Hetherington. Furner will have the same level of responsibility over signings as any Leeds coach has had under Hetherington.
Obviously my confidence for next season will largely depend on the signings we make, I believe we could do with 3 - a prop, a second row and a centre or a winger. Now the problem being that I think all 3 of these need to be of high quality and that’s difficult to do these days. However bringing Furner in is a very good start and boosts my confidence especially if we can get Ward, Watkins and Garbutt fit for next season. They have been major losses for us this year in my view and had they played all season I have no doubt we would have been in the top 8.