The point is getting the right people there - to do that you have to have a game that interests them - not sure Leeds v Batley would make me want to spend my corporate £. Much rather spend it on YCC 20 over game - much more likely to get the people I want to that?

I'm not convinced the Middle 8's would be a succession of large victories for Leeds. They've not convinced me this season they are capable of large victories against say Huddersfield, Wakefield, Hull KR or Salford. I'd also expect Leigh and Bradford to treat the fixtures as their Cup Final. Perhaps a couple of large victories against a Batley, Fev or Halifax at best?



I'm not sure what point you're trying to make regarding playing 3 games against teams Leeds have already played twice? Is that somehow more interesting than playing 7 games against teams they've already played twice or 3 times?





And what is meaningful about playing 7 games when the possibility of earning a Top 4 place at the end of 30 Rounds is a remote possibility or even a mathematical impossibility? Wouldn't the Middle 8's be more meaningful and much more interesting a prospect in comparison?



Is there a more meaningless and unappetising scenario than scraping into the Top 8 with little to no prospect of advancing into the Top 4?



I'd also suggest that Leeds in the Middle 8's would be a huge boost to a division still finding its feet.

alan tait never invented injuries gotcha



we may have a mix of some not bothered enough and some too eager

I agree with your last point - having Leeds in the middle 8s would be a huge boost for that division - I just can't see that happening tbh



It is far more interesting to see better teams and better players than a group of part time players trying to compete with elite full time athletes in fast warm conditions. I would much rather see Gidley, Sandow, Tomkins etc than the likes of Ridyard, Brambani and Murrell. That's a personal preference which if most people were honest they would too



If Leeds do get all their main players fit they should be in a position to put away the likes of Wakey, Salford, Hull KR easily, if they can't then things really have regressed further than most on here are prepared to accept. As for Leigh they showed their true colours in the middle 8s last season why does anyone think it will be a lot better this? As for Bradford they will struggle even to make the middle 8

Make your mind up. Players are either injured, or not producing.



The first one isn't the player's fault. The second one definitely is. I've yet to see a coach make a poor read in defence, make daft handling errors or drop off a tackle on a half-back four stones lighter than you are, but I saw plenty of Leeds players doing both on Friday. That's not a coaching issue, that's a player performance and attitude issue.

Both of which are a coach's job to make sure are not a problem.

And both of which are entirely out of his control once the player crosses the line.



Unless we're saying McDermott coaches Achurch to hide, or Ablett to continually make poor reads?

Quite right and if the coach is unable to field 17 players who are not totally fit then dropping players that are not performing is also not an option. Young forwards that are not physically or mentally ready will also be classed as not fit.

The coaching off the field should minimise such things on the field. That's their job. I don't remember Ablett's poor reads being such a big problem before. If they are now, it's up to the coach to recognise what's going wrong and take steps to change it.



In my opinion, it's nonsense to say that once the players are on the pitch the coach has no responsibility for what's going on. That's why certain coaches make such a difference.

Agreed. Surely they go through video and Mac points out to certain players their shortcomings and what improvements he wants to see in coming weeks.If he has addressed this off the field to them and the players still fail to address on it, then its down to the coach to take action and the responsibility then falls squarely on his shoulders, especially if he is still allowing these players to make the same mistakes week on week by selecting them.



I may be wrong, but evidence so far this year to me points to a coach who is just going in with a wing and a prayer from game to game and that his trusted old guard of years gone by will dig him out of the hole we are in and not much is being done about things off the field.

So what value is the coach adding if it is not to improve the players he is coaching?

Which IMO is directly linked to the quality of coaching/management.