As a Harlequins RL fan who was delighted to see Brian McDermott leave, I wonder how Leeds' fans are feeling about his appointment as your new coach?

Any thoughts?

I judge him week by week. He’s had good weeks and bad weeks. I’ve really enjoyed the Leeds v Saints/Wigan games under McDermott even though we lost/drew. But he’s encouraged far too much headless chicken displays at the start of the season – more of that and we’re doomed!

I think he's trying to get us to play a more positive style and with that comes some errors which i'd like to see reduced to a minimum.
Damo the headless chicken stuff by some seasoned pros is on their own head imo they can see when passes are on and some of the offloads are ridiculous for e.g see Sinny last night after a clean tackle count was called.
We should really be judging him more over the full season and when he has a full squad to select from plenty of +'s and also plenty to work on thus far.

Enjoyed the games so far but with so many forwards out we have not had the strength to compete in very structured games! So its throw the ball about and take the chances. Sometimes they come off and sometimes they don't! The time to judge will be when McDermott has had the chance to put structure and flamboyancy together. Hope that this is at OT or Wemberly. If not I don't think it will be boring!

Through a system of nerves that detect sensory stimuli ?

Bagging Brian Mc Dermott for what he did at Quins is a tad harsh. He was clearly working to brief - to turn a side full of Aussie journeymen into a side full of British players (Of a Southern Heritage of possible). He did this pretty well especially given the context i.e. he never had a fully squad to pick from. On the odd occasion Quins had a fully fit side out they played pretty well.

As for his coaching at Leeds...I guess time will tell, but once again he is clearly working to a brief from the chairman (entertaining style, new defensive approach) and once again he is fairly hampered by injuries to key players.

I think he's doing pretty well. Already think Leeds are better to watch than last year (not hard) and that as the 'project' unfolds we are in for some interesting times, Certainly get a sense that if and when it all comes together and we really 'click' some poor side are going to get one almighty shellacking - it very nearly happened last night even with a sick skipper and only half our 1st choice pack playing

With the style Leeds play they have to aim to convert a high percentage of their opportunities as there will be games where the ball is turned over alot. You also have to rely on the defense to be disorganised through the extra tackles they have to make after offloads. As a coach I like some of Mcdermotts ideas, however I still highly value completion to lay a platform and gain momentum. Leeds will be a very good side if they value this balance more.

That said Leeds were more patient at times and was a greatly improved performance .

Might be fair to say he has a similar brief at Leeds right now???

Take a previously succesful side, which is in decline, gradually separate the wheat from the chaff, and then, if all goes to plan, in 2 or 3 seasons, start winning trophies again?

It's only taken 8 rounds to see 65 minutes of glorious rugby. By round 16 that'll be over 2 full hours - well worth the price of my season ticket.

Nail on the head. He is to be applauded for his ideas but he needs to be more realistic. The laissez-faire approach to completion early is probably why we tired so badly late.

Gareth, would you not say that part of Tony Smith's appeal was that Leeds actually played with considerble flair when he was in charge? Sometimes we won spectactularly and other times we frustratingly lost. With Smith, he got the guys to open out when possible and then in 2004 we played one of the most skillful and intense, but ultimately tight GF's on record against the Bulls. I think Smith wanted Leeds to play attractive footy then tighten up come the business end of the season. I suspect (though I don't know) that McDermott wants something similar. He has less tools as well, he doesn't have Senior or Lauititi in their prime, he doesn't have McGuire at all at the moment, but he does have some promising youngsters who he maybe wants to see palying their natural game at whatever cost as this will benefit the club in the long run.

I understand that completion and mistake free rugby are very desirable in certain games, but just maybe we are playing the long game here and some of the guys are learning at the moment.

I hope you're right but my recollection is Smith's teams generally cut free and loose in the 2nd half of games after building up momentum and a head of steam and tiring the opposition with a more controlled approach in the 1st half.

If McDermott doesn't think the players have the skills set to implement his game plan he's an even worse coach for sticking to it, IMHO.

I hope we're playing the long game but if I were McDermott I'd be more worried about making sure I was involved in the short to medium game.

We're not a million miles away. He doesn't have to abandon his principals just get a more patient balance.