Leeds

I thought yesterday was a good game - close to being a great game but spoiled by too many handling errors and poor officiating.
I wish I knew what set off the handbags but I was so incensed at the referee (and both linesmen) missing what I saw as a definite knock on at the base of the scrum, I was looking skywards. On the knock-on, a genuine question, the best place official must have been the in-goal judge. Can they help the referee in general play or only on in-goal incidents?

As I have said Ian Blease twice run down and spoke to the referee's asseser in the second half.it's a wonder Brierley's head was still on is shoulders at the end That referee should not be anywhere near a game at weekend

I think Costello was on the bench as cover for two reasons
We had 2 in the second row who had not played there or a full 80 all season
We had 3 backs returning from injury

Hindsight is great but they all managed to get thro the game

In retrospect I went yesterday expecting a drubbing but came away with the feeling that we were cheated out of the game; the backs came thro and all played well, that our two new second rowers were effectively magnificent in the circumstances, that the ref should be put in the lower regions of the Conference…that Rowley with v limited resources continues to amaze me
We rely too much on Sneyd who’s played virtually every minute of the season and our pack held theirs but they got away with continual ‘professional fouls, cheating and off the ball incidents’.

Sneyd is a scrum half JJR he's supposed to play every minute of every game, just like all the 7 backs should, when fit. We're also supposed to rely on him as he's our general, game manager, and primary kicker in open play. The problem is, on several occasions this year, we haven't been able to rely on him to managed games or provide an adequate kicking game. He's been poor too often imo. But people remember things like the drop goal against Wakey in golden point but forgot how poor he was kicking the ball throughout that game, and in most games this year. I know it isn't an easy job but it's what he's paid for and he doesn't get his eyes up or execute well enough. He's been panned for his kicking game on Sky a few times this year when in the last he earned plaudits for it. Look at some like Harry Smith, young lad, not a lot of experience, playing without a proper 6 and an average number 9, yet his open play kicking game is generally excellent. Maybe it's his age and he's struggling with fatigue during games, maybe it's confidence, I don't know. I've always been a fan of Sneyd and was gutted when he ended up going to Hull after his loan with Cas. His game management and kicking was something we missed - look at his to CC performances for Hull - until we signed Dobson, but he's showing signs of being past it.

On the game, I genuinely thought we'd get beat comfortably yesterday. Leeds how put in two very good performances and we've been poor. However, the lads clearly dug in and rallied around each other and should have had the two points. As I always say, I don't mind losing, it's how you lose. Yesterday, the ref had a shocker and it's a tough loss in that regard, but the lads played well as a group on adversity and I'm convice a few are playing with knocks, which I know happens with all teams as it's impossible to be 100% every week in RL, but we haven't had the luxury of giving some of the guys in the pack a week off here and there.

I was a bit disappointed with the attendance at the game. Leeds must have taken 1500 at least.

Amone and Asiata that's it

Another top performer out, Leigh going be loving the game this weekend