How will the club call affect catalans motivation? : Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:12 pm  

At first I thought 80 minutes from a grand final a team can't get more motivated but now I'm not so sure.

Comments from catalans officals about us seeing them as easy beats and them letting their players know about it makes me think they going to come out and play like they're posessed. Certainly for the opening 20.

I think it's going to be a real tough game If we get to old trafford I don't think theres any danger of going in ''underdone''. Catalans big men will be making their presence known.

: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:22 pm  

Club call will be irrelevant when the players take to the pitch. Any player with club call in his mind after kick off are stoopid.

: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:23 pm  

It shouldn't make any difference one way or the other, it's a cup semi final.

: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:29 pm  

Catalans will be highly motivated, but I would say that given Blueys reputation Leeds will also. You don't need much more firing up than qualification for a final, and Leeds have the quality and experience.

: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:29 pm  

What more motivation do you need than knowing your 80 minutes from a Grand Final. The Club Call will not have them anymore motivated than they already are IMO, there was only two teams and one had to be picked so they'll be fully motivated by trying to reach Old Trafford, not by trying to win because we picked them.
I think the first 20 minutes will be an arm wrestle but they've got alot of big players and i think Leeds will tear them apart with the quick men as the Dragons start to tire, the likes of Burrow, McGuire, Webb, Smith, Donald will hurt them and around the ruck Leeds will be trying to get quick PTB's which could lead to plenty of penalties as the Dragons are very poor when it comes to discipline.

: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:56 pm  

Every single Catalans player and official knew we were going to pick Catalans for the game. Every single Wigan player and official knew they were going to Saints. We were just picking the obvious when we picked Catalans, it's ridiculous to think that Catalans are going to be offended and further motivated to beat us by this.

If however GH had persuaded McLennon to increase our bar takings and shocked everyone by picking Wigan that would have increased Wigan's motivation. Choosing Catalans was a no-brainer, but picking the stronger of the choices to increase our income would've been an arrogant and offensive thing to do.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:50 am  

As Tvoc has said, it is a semi final ...

- We're at home, in front of a big crowd and the chances are very few of the opposition fans present.

- In terms of atmosphere, this is Headingley we're talking about, not Belle Vue. It can be couldron that is rarely found domestically anywhere. Let's do our bit to keep our team fired up all the way to Old Trafford.

- Let Catalans worry about us, not the other way round.

- If the game itself isn't enough, consider the additional 'John Holmes Factor' and trust that the coaching staff will be able to turn the tragic events of the week into something positive and galvanising for the seventeen out on the park .... A Win it for John mentality.

- The Dragons have never won at Headingley ... Let's keep it that way.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:22 am  

AdmiralHanson wrote:

As Tvoc has said, it is a semi final ...

- We're at home, in front of a big crowd and the chances are very few of the opposition fans present.

- In terms of atmosphere, this is Headingley we're talking about, not Belle Vue. It can be couldron that is rarely found domestically anywhere. Let's do our bit to keep our team fired up all the way to Old Trafford.

- Let Catalans worry about us, not the other way round.

- If the game itself isn't enough, consider the additional 'John Holmes Factor' and trust that the coaching staff will be able to turn the tragic events of the week into something positive and galvanising for the seventeen out on the park .... A Win it for John mentality.

- The Dragons have never won at Headingley ... Let's keep it that way.

spot on

2 points spring to mind, it's headingley our midden with our fans with hardly any opposition fans (apart from neutrals) and against a team that have never beaten us at home

also have a healthy respect for Catalans but why worry about them? we have won the grand final the last 2 seasons contested 5 finals since 2004
we know all about winning I'm sure all the Leeds players will be highly motivated knowing they are potentially 160 minutes away from winning an unprecedented 3 grand finals on the bounce.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:59 am  

totalloiner wrote:

spot on

2 points spring to mind, it's headingley our midden with our fans with hardly any opposition fans (apart from neutrals) and against a team that have never beaten us at home

also have a healthy respect for Catalans but why worry about them? we have won the grand final the last 2 seasons contested 5 finals since 2004
we know all about winning I'm sure all the Leeds players will be highly motivated knowing they are potentially 160 minutes away from winning an unprecedented 3 grand finals on the bounce.

As long as we don't show the same complacent attitude towards them we had in France in June .... However, we're playing far more effectively now as a unit, than we were then.

: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:12 am  

If Leeds start the way that they did against KR the Dragons heads will soon drop. Leeds kick chase was awesome and KR simply couldnt get our of there half. If the Leeds forwards restrict them the Catalans will definately start to lose heart. All the non-sense about them not been affected by 4 consecutive away games is well... completely non-sense, there going to be shattered if Leeds force repeat sets.