I won't sulk over the fact I lost £5 betting that saints will win on Saturday. I won't defend myself for going over the top and saying Saints will put eighteen points past Leeds. But what I will say is that you cannot turn up to Old Trafford expecting to win just because you step on the pitch.
Saints did that on Saturday, and it cost them dear. They were outplayed by Leeds who let nothing get them down. A Saints try was immediately replied to. A few lucky bounces of the ball went Leeds' way as well as the character of the seventeen amber and blue players that was second to none all benefited the Yorkshire club. Saints - the best club in the competition? Don't make me laugh.
Championship winning sides don't gift their opponents easy ball possession, especially in their own half. What was Francis Meli thinking when he let that 40/20 find touch? Leeds killed off any Saints revival when they scored from that. Also a few individuals failed to perform, putting their England selection in doubt. I failed to see Leon Pryce all game, he simply let Long do all the hard work. James Graham, while he didn't have the worst of games, showed he is mortal being outplayed by Peacock.
Personally, I though the Saints game plan was all wrong. After listening to the team line up after placing another bet for Matt Gidley to be first try scorer (?) it was clear Leeds had shafted the inexperienced Hall and Ablett on the right wing. In my opinion, Meli and Talau should have took advantage, as Gardner and Gidley would have their hands full with Senior and Donald. As it was, they didn't and both Hall and Ablett had reasonable games with Hall scoring in the corner for Leed's other first half try.
Leeds didn't do anything special. There was no dramas, pieces of magic and no work of genius in attack. Simply, Leeds stuck to a simple game plan. The odd inside ball here, suck a defender in there and put the support player into the gap. Not tricky. Saints managed that only a few times and only scored off it once, which was in the first five minutes with Graham crossing under the posts.
As for a Leeds counter attack, Lee Smith, wheather you think he should be on the pitch or not (ie, not) he was the warrior that led it. A real contender for that left wing spot, I think he has edged Peter Fox for that number five jersey in England's first game. I also think Tony Smith may have a selection headache over the number six shirt as well. Danny McGuire performed his one game of the year, but he didn't half make an impact when he did it.
Saints may have gone twenty four games unbeaten, and many say they were the best side in the competition, but the same many are also forgetting Leeds' early season form. In fact, Leeds never left the top two all year. Are you sure Saints are the best side in the competition after twenty seven rounds? Yes, they won the League Leaders Shield, but by one point. So if anyone says Leeds don't deserve to win Super League XIII after a play off series, ignore them. Leeds have been consistantly at a high standard all year, wheras Saints had a poor beginning to the season. After ten rounds they wern't even in a play off spot. Its a long season, and I personally think their contribution to the competition was overhyped. Leon Pryce came out during the week leading up to the match and said the rest of the compatition is not at a high enough standard to compete with Saints. Leeds are now Super League champions for the second year running.
The moral, Leon, is to never underestimate a side that lead the competition for twenty consecutive rounds. No matter where they finished afterwards.
Which brings me onto Brian McClennan. This guy is an outstanding coach and gets the best out of his players on the day. The lucky few that witnessed New Zealand thrash Australia in Leeds on the 26th Novermber 2005 know he can pull the rabbit out of the hat when it matters. Which at the end of the day, is all that matters in Rugby League. Twenty four consecutive wins does not guarentee you championship success.
Not in this sport it doesn't.
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