New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:42 am  

Whilst when first announced it seemed great and obviously it was a great money maker and a fitting send off to the season.......from the moment the hooter went at Old Trafford I couldn't help but think how much our squad could've done without that game and extending our already gruelling season by 2 more weeks. We've looked a couple of weeks behind in pre-season in our games and add to it the floods and the Sinfield SPOTY celebrations for the squad then I'm really not surprised by an opening day loss.

Compare and contrast to last year with an early exit in the playoffs and no fanfare and our preparations must be well off what they were 12 months ago.

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 8:37 am  

Considering it was a near reserve side with two players who don't even play for the club and another who has since retired, I would say that to suggest it has effected us, would probably be the worst scraping the barrel excuse ever.

Flooding, possibly could, although not many clubs have facilities as good as Leeds have used as back up, but not a game from October.

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:58 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Compare and contrast to last year with an early exit in the playoffs and no fanfare and our preparations must be well off what they were 12 months ago.

You don't think the impending WCC is a factor in that?

In the past, it's been a game we've tried to build up towards. Any reason to suppose that this year's approach is different? And if that is the aim, last night's performance was by no means the disaster that some would believe.

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:15 am  

Gotcha wrote:

Considering it was a near reserve side with two players who don't even play for the club and another who has since retired, I would say that to suggest it has effected us, would probably be the worst scraping the barrel excuse ever.

Flooding, possibly could, although not many clubs have facilities as good as Leeds have used as back up, but not a game from October.

agree. The match against NZ should have no bearing on the season. The flooding and lack of training and changing venue constantly will have had a bit of an effect.

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:17 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Whilst when first announced it seemed great and obviously it was a great money maker and a fitting send off to the season.......from the moment the hooter went at Old Trafford I couldn't help but think how much our squad could've done without that game and extending our already gruelling season by 2 more weeks. We've looked a couple of weeks behind in pre-season in our games and add to it the floods and the Sinfield SPOTY celebrations for the squad then I'm really not surprised by an opening day loss.

Compare and contrast to last year with an early exit in the playoffs and no fanfare and our preparations must be well off what they were 12 months ago.

And yet if we'd taken our goal kicks when we should have we'd have won against one of the best teams in the league.

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:31 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Whilst when first announced it seemed great and obviously it was a great money maker and a fitting send off to the season.......from the moment the hooter went at Old Trafford I couldn't help but think how much our squad could've done without that game and extending our already gruelling season by 2 more weeks. We've looked a couple of weeks behind in pre-season in our games and add to it the floods and the Sinfield SPOTY celebrations for the squad then I'm really not surprised by an opening day loss.

Compare and contrast to last year with an early exit in the playoffs and no fanfare and our preparations must be well off what they were 12 months ago.

WOW!

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 4:59 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Whilst when first announced it seemed great and obviously it was a great money maker and a fitting send off to the season.......from the moment the hooter went at Old Trafford I couldn't help but think how much our squad could've done without that game and extending our already gruelling season by 2 more weeks. We've looked a couple of weeks behind in pre-season in our games and add to it the floods and the Sinfield SPOTY celebrations for the squad then I'm really not surprised by an opening day loss.

Compare and contrast to last year with an early exit in the playoffs and no fanfare and our preparations must be well off what they were 12 months ago.

Silly

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:05 pm  

Clearwing wrote:

You don't think the impending WCC is a factor in that?

In the past, it's been a game we've tried to build up towards. Any reason to suppose that this year's approach is different? And if that is the aim, last night's performance was by no means the disaster that some would believe.

I don't think anybody has actually suggested it was a "disaster" have they? Leeds should have and could have won if Hardaker had worn better kicking boots ....and Burrow hadn't uncharacteristically 'chickened out' with the line beckoning.

With the return of Faloon, the FOUR great looking props we have and the back up of the likes of Lilley, Golding and Handley in our already illustrious backline I remain largely optimistic for this season.

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:09 pm  

oh....

Re: New Zealand Exhibition Game : Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:41 am  

nantwichexile wrote:

I don't think anybody has actually suggested it was a "disaster" have they? Leeds should have and could have won if Hardaker had worn better kicking boots ....and Burrow hadn't uncharacteristically 'chickened out' with the line beckoning.

With the return of Faloon, the FOUR great looking props we have and the back up of the likes of Lilley, Golding and Handley in our already illustrious backline I remain largely optimistic for this season.

Arguably, Sutcliffe dropping the ball with the line begging in the first half was even more a turning point since that would have repaid us for all the early pressure, given us the lead and given Sutcliffe the confidence that he seemed to lack (unsurprisingly given the length of time he's been on the sidelines) as the game wore on.