Gotta say.....Gary's email did the trick, or Mac and his players knew that they'd come good eventually. As Sal has said, there's still a long way to go, but we've come a long way since last seasons woes.

Everyone mentions the email, but is it not more likely that he gave the coaching staff (and probably the players) a big dressing down in private as well?

Im not sure we are playing that well, we are certainly not carving teams up, but as long as we stay in and around the top 4 Im happy, Wigan showed last year you can jag wins all year with poor performances and come good in the last few weeks to win the title.

The email was just a way of letting fans know that GH was concerned and being more active this year than last at signs the season could end up going pear shaped.

My feelings are similar. Kudos to everyone for the remarkable turn around, performances have been, in general solid enough to get some consistent results. Thing is, i'm not sure what the ultimate level is of this current group. Before, with JP and Sinfield we always knew we had more gears to go to when the big games and moments came but can this lot? What level will the y need to get to? barring a miracle i don't see Saints and Wire being in the 4 this year and the rest of SL is hardly stellar right now. for all Cas's great play they will still find the business end tough with no experience so that leaves us more than likely needing to get over Wigan who when they have something like their full team out will be a real force and tough to get over.

Anyway, whatever happens, good to be talking about the possibility of competing for trophies again after the doom and gloom of the first couple of months

A hooker!!

We heard a multitude of excuses for last years failings but not one of them was player recruitment. Leeds NEEDS a free thinking, free running hooker. Without one we look lost and clumsy. We need a quick PTB and a dummy half that can distribute sharply to our 'off the cuff' style of play.

Our form took 180 degree turn the second we signed Segeyaro and look at us this year with the only significant change being Parcell.

Burrow isn't a hooker, neither is Lilley, if we had signed Segeyaro at the start of 2016 I honestly believe we wouldn't have had such a dire season - we wouldn't have been contending, granted, but I seriously doubt we'd have been sat at the bottom of the table for a majority of it.

I agree, it would seem that whoever recommended/scouted Falloon has much to answer for.

It's the most important position in the modern game. I don't doubt for one second that McD, GH and everyone involved with coaching and recruitment at the club didn't know we needed a genuine 9 desperately. Hence the signing of the Falllloooooon in desperation.

How we ended up in that sort of mess in the first place is another question though.

In all fairness he didn't fully play did he? he was injured a lot. And in further fairness to the coach here, the deal he wanted wasn't Falloon, and that only happened due to the pull out on another deal to chase someting else. As you all say an hooker was definitely needed, so when things get desperate you take your chance, better that leaving it.

True.

Anyone else find it worrying that we don't seem to be able to produce our own 9 from within? not even one that seems capable of doing a job off the bench for spells. I know we have had a few flirt with the first team squad over the last decade like McShane (who obviously is now a good SL player at Cas but it has taken a lot of time) and Hood, but only Diskin stands out as really holding his own in the squad during the SL era for me.

Hopefully it is going to be an area, as well as in the halfs, we take a serious look at development over the next few years.

Hello..newish here. There was Robbie Ward as well who ironically gave one of his best performances in last match when Leeds played NZ...think Burrow rated him highly ,even Mac was impressed with performance after that game.

We do have a young academy player who I rate highly. Some say he was no good last season, but then he was injured for majority of it , took time finding his form so was not picked as first choice hooker. Seems though this season is showing signs of his early form. Harvey Whiteley..He has scored I think in every match with last against London Broncos getting on sheet twice. Think was coached by Burrow at U16s n has a similar running style. ..his physique reminds me of Shoey seems powerful player. Not saying he finished article but he getting better as each game progresses....I would prefer to see him on bench when we short at hooker than either Lilley or Hallas...also best place to learn would be in seniors have him come on for 10 mins as a sub to Parcell. Also hopefully with Moz in charge of academy we can retain some of the talent instead of seeing them vanish or get poached by other clubs. Mom needs to say to Mac..give these players game time..will do them good.