Thur 11th Sept: SL: Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons KO 20:00 (SS+/SL+)

[Harry Stottle]

27 minutes ago, Padge said:

In your opinion.

 

Thought you didn't watch the game or have an audio feed?

 

[Harry Stottle]

23 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

He didnt drag him

No but the ball was on the floor with the ball carrying arm, when a defender connects with the attacker the play is deemed complete.

[Harry Stottle]

25 minutes ago, DoubleD said:

Sinfield is too good for academy but not good enough for first team, quite a dilemma. Might need a year in the Championship. He missed 3 tackles that I saw and I wasn’t paying particular attention and against the Dragons who didn’t have much ball. What’s more he didn’t create anything with ball in hand. 

Leeds won’t do much with 2 wingers who offer no offensive threat. Time Arthur makes up with Lumb.

This game could be the wake up call we need though, stop us falling in love with ourselves. Reality bites 

Diffencw between him and his dad is he hasn't got the kicking game, and much better player's around him.

[my missus]

expected a big leeds win tonight and a boring game got the opposite of both.

[Padge]

13 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Thought you didn't watch the game or have an audio feed?

 

...and?

[Harry Stottle]

3 minutes ago, my missus said:

expected a big leeds win tonight and a boring game got the opposite of both.

Had to make a mercy mission to Spain, went for something to eat then sat and wondering what to do so put on a game at half time I expected to be a forgone conclusion, must say I was totally enthralled with what I watched.

[Harry Stottle]

1 minute ago, Padge said:

...and?

You nake an opinion without any reference, suppose you Wigginers stick together.

[Padge]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

You nake an opinion without any reference, suppose you Wigginers stick together.

That makes no sense.

Put the bottle down and go to bed.

[Tommygilf]

Leeds really really bad and made Catalans look much better. If anything we lowered our standards to theirs - which has been bad this year.

Attack completely blunt. Croft had his worst game for ages and Sinfield was non-existent. Miller had a few flashes but was generally dire. A few forwards had good games but that really was it.

First 10 minutes epitomised the problem and it was a poor attitude. Playing like we were 30 nil up when we were 7 minutes in and hadn't scored. Total disrespect from the team and deserved to lose that one. Leadership almost totally lacking - that challenge was a joke.

Glad we got the kick up the backside now rather than in the play offs.

[Father Ted]

Never saw that result coming.

Said above that I thought Leeds would fill their boots.  Catalans kept trying as long as they were in the game and Leeds kept them in the game by being so dire.

In the end it was a deserved win by the Dragons.

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

9 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Catalans fans must be very frustrated tonight.

Been awful all year and put in an 80 minute performance with loads of effort and last ditch scrambling defence when the season has gone.

To be honest, Dunbar, no, I'm not particularly frustrated.

I accept that this is a season in which a major rebuilding process starts.  To be frank, I think the rebuilding is aiming towards 2027 at the earliest; I expect Catalans to just about hold their own in 2026, and no more.  The publicised intention to build a team of French youngsters, and overseas players - whether British or from the southern hemisphere - who are not much older, seems to be being implemented.  It is, however, a high risk strategy.

The heart, grit and determination displayed tonight by Les Dracs has been there quite a bit in recent weeks (hence my lack of frustration), but has not been matched by successful execution of good defence and successfully implemented, daring attack, which tonight included three 40/20s or 20/40s and a cheeky, Aispuro-Bichet, short, goal line drop out, which reminded me of an equally successful one by Tony Gigot some seasons ago. 

What Les Dracs managed to do tonight was not run out of steam in the closing quarter.  It's true that the Rhinos didn't help themselves, but that was, to a significant degree, because they were smothered by the visitors and couldn't cope with that pressure.

My only sense of frustration was that, for me, the best player on the field, Theo Fages, is not being retained.  (How Luke Keary was named MOTM remains a mystery to me; he was, at the very best, third behind Fages and Hugo Tison, whose infectious enthusiasm helped motivate the team for much of the game.)

[Chrispmartha]

6 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Leeds really really bad and made Catalans look much better. If anything we lowered our standards to theirs - which has been bad this year.

Attack completely blunt. Croft had his worst game for ages and Sinfield was non-existent. Miller had a few flashes but was generally dire. A few forwards had good games but that really was it.

First 10 minutes epitomised the problem and it was a poor attitude. Playing like we were 30 nil up when we were 7 minutes in and hadn't scored. Total disrespect from the team and deserved to lose that one. Leadership almost totally lacking - that challenge was a joke.

Glad we got the kick up the backside now rather than in the play offs.

We haven’t been great in the last two matches to be honest, this could be the kick up the backside they need

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

I always expected my team to win.  I just forgot to mention that on here before kick-off.

Edited September 11 by Wiltshire Warrior Dragon
spelling error

[Chrispmartha]

23 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

No but the ball was on the floor with the ball carrying arm, when a defender connects with the attacker the play is deemed complete.

Not if its one motion, the ground was wet

[Zilla Budgie]

An amazing effort from Les Dragons

[Tommygilf]

7 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

We haven’t been great in the last two matches to be honest, this could be the kick up the backside they need

I agree we didn't get out of third gear against Huddersfield (to which the scoreline flattered us). Definitely glad this happened now rather than next week heading into the playoffs.

Its worrying how bad we were attitude and attack wise though. I know our attack has hardly been stellar this year, but was it 5 repeat sets attacking, most of which were in their 20, and some with them a man down? It was infuriating how incapable we seemed to be at generating any attacking edge. It was poor from 9, but then got worse in the other positions too.

[Harry Stottle]

22 minutes ago, Padge said:

That makes no sense.

Put the bottle down and go to bed.

No bottle mate, you would be devastated if you knew why I was out here, I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

[Gooleboy]

1 hour ago, Chrispmartha said:

I wouldn’t want to be in the changing room with Brad Arthur after that performance 

Probably fell in love with themselves over the last few weeks.

[Loiner]

3 hours ago, Mark S said:

Missed about 5 or 6 forward passes by Leeds. Let Leeds slow the ruck down and then gave two penalties against Catalans for non-high tackles. 

Yawn, oh the irony from a saints fan.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Leeds were 100 to 1 on! 
In isolation that group of Cats players has some talent, but it made no sense against the backdrop of everything we have seen, plus the venue and context. I was watching the Cats Wigan game yesterday, which was only a couple of weeks ago, and saw nothing to suggest they had it in them. 
I am frustrated on their supporters’ behalf that they didn’t perform like that in any home games this year. There is mercurial and there is “what have I just seen”? 
Perhaps Cas will be similarly inspired? 

[dboy]

10 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

No but the ball was on the floor with the ball carrying arm, when a defender connects with the attacker the play is deemed complete.

No it's not, there's more to the tackle rules than just that.

You can thank any number of ill-informed TV commentators for the mis-conception.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

10 hours ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

What Les Dracs managed to do tonight was not run out of steam in the closing quarter.  It's true that the Rhinos didn't help themselves, but that was, to a significant degree, because they were smothered by the visitors and couldn't cope with that pressure.

One of the commentary team said something like "Catalans wobbling here" during that period when they were down to 12 men and Jack Smith was handing Leeds leg up after leg up.  I thought they looked incredibly strong and resolute.

[Chrispmartha]

5 minutes ago, dboy said:

No it's not, there's more to the tackle rules than just that.

You can thank any number of ill-informed TV commentators for the mis-conception.

Well quite, has Harry never seen a player slide over the line to score a try with another player touching him. 

[Forever Trinity]

4 hours ago, Wollo Wollo Wayoo said:

One of the commentary team said something like "Catalans wobbling here" during that period when they were down to 12 men and Jack Smith was handing Leeds leg up after leg up.  I thought they looked incredibly strong and resolute.

Embarrassing by the ref not disputing the penalties he absolutely caned the Cats but the number of forward passes Leeds got away with is nothing short of embarrassing by the officials

Edited September 12 by Forever Trinity
Spelling

[Chrispmartha]

22 minutes ago, Forever Trinity said:

Embarring by the ref not disputing the penalties he absolutely caned the Cats but the number of forward passes Leeds got away with is nothing short of embarring by the officials

That period where Catalans got the sin bin, they were doing everything to stop Leeds scoring, off sides holding down etc, I dont blame them it worked

 Catalans also got away with some forward passes.

The amount of ref bashing that goes on in here (and elsewhere) is getting stupid.