Even the Great AP was momentarily taken in by all the negative outpourings on this forum WRT McClennan.



He ought to have known better and taken no notice of all the ts who are and were still pining for Tony Smith.

Brian McLennan got the tactics spot-on tonight. But I have to say that the Rhinos consistently seemed to played with more passion under Tony Smith.



Leeds can beat [ianyone[/i when they play to their best, but when they don't it's woeful.



Brian Mclennan has the ability to motivate the Rhinos to be even better than they were under Tony Smith, and that will come with time, I'm sure.



The one advantage ol' Cone Head has over Donk (see the movies "Cone Heads" and "Crocodile Dundee" and disagree with my nicknames if you dare!) is that he actually publicly acknowledges the achievements of his team. Tony Smith always seemed to be (and I stress "seemed"icon_wink.gif to value the achievements of the opposing side over his own team.



Privately he may have been different (and apparently was) but to a fan, he wasn't sufficiently proud of his team. Maybe this is why he got so much from the Rhinos? They were constantly trying to play to their best to seek his public approval



Leeds are a relatively young squad, so don't laugh it off. It's the young guys who play out of their skin. like Lee Smith, who make the difference in a game. The old warhorses (and they're getting younger by the day) know what they're doing and don't need the kind of ranting that Anderson subjected Saints to at half time (wise decision? with a bunch of prima donnas? Maybe not, you decide), but one thing's for sure: Brian McLennan got the tactics spot-on tonight.



Even the ol' warhorse Keef benefited from being shifted over to the right for the first half. Haven't seen him play so well for ages; he teamed-up with Ryan Hall better than I've ever seen him gel with Scott Donald since the glory days of him having the oh-so-reliable Franny Cummings on the wing. Senior needs to be part of a partnership to shine. He makes other people look good and plays better because of it. When he hasn't the support, he becomes an old man who hasn't the speed he once had, and that's a waste of an international talent. I hope Ol' Cone Head moves him to the right more often.



Burrow and Maguire have been relatively quiet of late, but if anything tonight showed (Maguire's try has to be the try of the season in my opinion) is that they are a constant threat. Yes, you can stifle them, but you do so at the detriment of the rest of your defence, and that means one of the Rhinos other stars will just pick you apart. A kick from Sinfield, a tackle-busting run from Senior, an impossible offload from Lauititi, a quick darting run from Diskin...the options are endless.



And that is why Leeds are the best team in the world - they have so many options to hurt their opposition. Their only weakness is themselves; when they allow their opposition to impose their game upon them they become rigid and mediocre. Brian McLennan knows that the best way to combat Saints (as it was with the Bulls when they were good) is to play the game in their half; you let them get near your try-line at your peril.



Tony Smith got the best out of Leeds, Brian McLennan is doing the same for the majority of the time. If he can do the same next season and improve on it, Rhinos will be unbeatable. We only need fear mercurial performances from the likes of Warrington, Catalans, Hull (both) and Saints; the rest are just plodders.



It comes down to who wants it most, and when Rhinos want it most there's no stopping them. I believe Brian McLennan can motivate Leeds to do that every game, and we have the team who are professional enough to do what they need to do, and more with style.



I believe! Do you?

Isn't this the first time a team has won back to back Grand Finals and the first Leeds side to win back to back championships?

Saints won back to back grand finals in 99 and 00 but first Leeds team to win back to back

I stand corrected

Those stats don't lie - pity the likes of Gareth and Danny were unable to comprehend them - shame their hero worship of Smith blinded them from McClennan's quality.



The constant sniping at his team selection and tactics thankfully you were both illustrated your lack of knowledge of team sport - Hopefully you will be a little more circumspect when attempting to illustrate your vast knowledge of the game (sic)



All of the above without a centre virtually all year and an injury list the like of which Smith never encountered.



The Cas game at home with a team of kids showed McClennan's true man management skills and his belief in his side. Something Smith can only look at in awe.



Just perhaps this is why all those so called "Hypocrites" have given McClennan the respect he deserved because - unlike you two - they knew when it came to the crunch he would pull it out of bag. The ability to man management/motivate is talent that very few have. As I mentioned on a thread on Friday McClennan's record more than stands up anything achieved under Smith - why you two could not see that is beyond comprehension.

Excellent - I've ben waiting for the next episode.



Sits back with a brew and awaits the reply...

big dibs

Jesus, that's one hell of a bite David.

Wow, after two years off from reading the same old crap by the same old people...I return to.....the same old crap from the same old people.

I love Bluey. Always have.



I publicly had £50 riding on the boys last night. Did you? Did anyone else on here have that confidence?



The point you spectacularly continue to miss is I have always question why people like you judged Bluey with very different values to his predecessor.



Danny and I have remained consistent with our support of Bluey, just as we did his predecessor.



You, will habitually support your select "favourites" and continue to pore bile and scorn and others within the Leeds camp that fall outside of your favouritism.



I reckon you adore Bluey because he's given you access to the in goal areas so you can shoot your muck.

Has Snake Eater been in touch?