redjonn

yep agree, although I never said anything to do with IMG but rather the administration of the game's rules irrespective whatever grading. Although a side and different discussion could be how we have a club points system put together by IMG and the clubs & administration agreeing to such that doesn't more harshly deal with such situations. Never-the-less and to repeat irrespective of IMG rules should be in place by the administration, that is RFL for such unlikely circumstances... all-be-it in this case the situation with Salford.

more worried if your team can't do better with Saints slowing the ruck/PTB... really slow but Leeds couldn't manage the situation better and led to frustration leading to poor play and options. Its part of the game and hence need to find ways to remedy... maybe passing the ball more and less straight up...

yep Hall, not the first either either, as to me he has been a weak link in other games. I guess bringing out from defence is his main job nowadays. Not sure if in a stronger team he would be worth his place recently. Mind you Newman does often jump the line leaving gaps. I guess opposing teams must play to that anticipation as he does it so often.

don't see how you can say he went hiding... particular as he did some great tackling, which I must admit surprised, particular in one set of efforts, he brought a big man down and immediately went and tackled another stopping Saints momentum at that point. I say surprised because its not something I would associate with him. Anyway my points is I don't see how objectively you can say he went hiding. he was in the game as much as many, all-be-it he has a poor game for his recent standards. He fell into what seems a trap Leeds never really learn from, not patient at building pressure and lack of composure when opportunities are there with rushing or seeming to feel have to force the play. Something the coach has been hammering but it seems to happen too often, particular if behind early on, if not every game.

I have no idea of the rules. Never-the-less it would seem to me foolish not to be able to deselect a club irrespective of league standing or IMG grading points. Of course it would need to be because the said club was making a mockery or majorary damaging the brand of the competition. If Salford are not that said club then the administration rules would be a joke in my opinion.

the arm wrestle also includes aspects of Sumo wrestling, that is putting an opponent on his back thus helping to slow the PTB... or is it just the team I watch more, Leeds. I'm not one for just seeing a game of five drives and a high kick... as for me it often means run out of idea's how to attack and so a high kick creates opportunities of luck...

thought the sl clubs in the main work hard to maintain or increase their attendances, keep the stadiums maintained, develop pathways within their local area's, have academies putting in that hard work to develop players be as successful as possible within their means.... etc etc etc etc etc... the etc also covering the hard work of employee's of the clubs... with regard to imports specifically.... yep it could be a decision to use the salaries on home grown/pathways, although wherever the player comes from they need paying whether an import or not... the again it could be to make the team better to attract fans...or at least to get the balance right...

Leigh seemed to be making big inroads on that side, especially first half. They made quite a few opportunities but had handling error at key line break moments, which on another day they would have got more try's... was wondering what Leeds issue was on that side, thought it may have been Hall being a bit ponderous but I guess you see McDonnell as the main culprit... whatever it was it certainly needs fixing.

just with regard to your paragraph on loss of funding and the bigger clubs stepping into gap in London. I remember at the time that the loss of the funding impacted Leeds and having to lose a number of the staff that focused on the community clubs and pathways. In fact Gary H did a fund raising from sponsors/hospitality groups to match the short fall. I was one of very many that provided extra funding over a number of years to keep those staff employed. Subsequently a larger sponsor picked up the whole funding after the 3 years. I only mention this as I can see your point regards supporting the pathways in London but lest we forget it had a big impact on all clubs having to lose community/pathway staff. So I'm not so sure the funds were available to divert. I guess what Gary H did could have been replicated by the RFL.

he is a good experienced player not spectacular, strengths and weakness like all players and as you say much maligned. He was certainly not the reason why Leeds at times were poor but he was a scapegoat, which most teams fans need when their team is not doing well as distinct from identifying often the multitude of issues as to a teams poor performances... much easier to lay all the blame on one..

yep, then again coaches and players & commentators tell us how crucial defence is to being a successful team/winning silverware plus how important the spine is..... As a typical ball watching fan I don't always see the intricacies of the game plus organising aspects of defence thus will tend to vote for the players using the ball most, e,g, the halfbacks, etc.... I imagine the panel are not like me the typical ball watching fan and in my case missing most of the complexity of whats happening out there.

Maybe but my immediate reaction was the right decision and was shouting at the commentators they were wrong. Good to see differing opinions... Hope you enjoyed Magic... no matter what ref/VR decisions.

I would have thought given that it hard to get tickets for the soccer their musts be loads of locals keen to attend the stadium... great for taking the kids even if not soccer. Maybe an additional marketing message.

At the Leeds & Hull KR game both CEO spoke about Vegas and how keen both clubs were, but just awaiting confirmation from RFL following talks with NRL. They both gave very very strong hints they expected this to happen with very cheesy grins...

accidents happen for sure, but some are more likely to happen than others, especial if going in with a reckless disregard and hitting a player about a 3 feet beyond from where the ball was coming down. Of course he didn't mean to hit the player with his leading knee,,, anyway that was a different match...

both

Huddersfield unlucky with that VR decision, when they showed another angle it looked like the Hull player pulled ball... although the VR only looked at one view and didn't ask for any other, which if he saw the other he may not have overruled ref.. nowt can do now

yep, the other aspect if people watch is that Murphy had to reach quite a bit back to reach the ball... so to me I don't think he was aiming for the ball or at least was not aware where the ball was more focused on a reckless leap to where the opposing player was...

Thought the skill levels from Leeds were OK and quite good in parts. They lost composure when they had the opportunities, rushing the play or lacking the patience to build at times. They are constantly saying they need to be patient and build yet never change.

Well it is at least a penalty as it was dangerous with no concern for other player given the leap leading with knee and his studs high... if he hadn't hit the head who know where the studs landed... Problem for me is some of the commentators didn't think it should have been a penalty... I think they have been listening to the fuss in the nrl and wanting to mimic it here but for me chosen the wrong incident to push as nowt to see and games making wrong decisions.

yep that's true, the consolation being they would be relegated and another club have a chance of fielding a better team the next season... I guess one could argue the same club, in this case Huddersfield, could have the chance to build a better team with IMG. At least with P/R they couldn't sit back and not worry too much. Not saying P/R is the best approach just that their is a down side without P/R which seems to be playing out over the last couple of seasons...

thought it was amusing when the ref had to go all the way to the other end of the pitch to watch the big screen before his decision... and to add... even then he got the decision wrong.... according to some fans.... chuckle

Yep I think you are right... but to add their was a lot of frustration on the pitch coming through. On top of the arms waving their was a lot of players being pushed or tying to push or cause a stumble over when the ball was further along, saw it quite a lot on the side I was standing - obviously to create gaps in the defensive line. Maybe its normal but I haven't noticed it so much much before.

not sure I agree, Handley was not using his arm high and if he bent his back his head would have hit the opposition player given the height difference. I think the problem was more Handley pulling up his tackle as he wasn't really wrapping his arms anymore and more collided with the other player and that players head hit his chest area as Handley was more or less standing.... if he had bent his back their would have been the danger of hitting heads. Maybe Handley could have not been attempting any tackle at all... for me it was down to the impact of a much taller player and a little one colliding as he pulled out of the tackle... Did he have time to avoid the impact all together I didn't think so but officials thought otherwise. Anyway the ref made his judgement and that's that

I thought Ash actually pulled out of the tackle so i don't what else he could have done...