Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 4:22 pm  

Pros: Some good last tackle options resulting in tries.

Cons: Out of form players still out of form. It seems Greenwood has to be picked as he has been paid wages sat on the sidelines for the year. Saltonstall should be at fullback. Maneely very average, B.Moore or C.Robinson make much more impact, Robinson is so much sharper especially with his distribution.

Ambler and Cahalane just not quite the players they were.
Ambler was smashing teams to pieces a few seasons ago.

Just a thought. Woodhead learnt his trade at St Helens referee society.
Same place as George Stokes! Allowed Dewsbury to niggle all game. Soon as Halifax did the same, we got pinged for it.

3 pivots Johnston/Morrell/G.Moore didn't quite work.

On another day, we could have lost this.

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 4:52 pm  

I thought Dewsbury were a a well-drilled side, which our lack of flair and imagination struggled to break down. Some fairly soft tackling and/or lack of concentration let them in for tries again. We need to create more chances to offload, but we need to have players backing up as well.

If we play that way against Widnes then it'll be another something to nil loss in the cup game.

Luke showed what's needed when he took the ball at pace just short of their line in the last few minutes, but doing that once a match isn't enough. Mitch the same - he does seem to be going through the motions a little and needs to get those arms and legs pumping like Adam T does. Same for Bennion. I thought Barber had a decent game with Manu putting in his usual 100% without really managing to stand out.

I'm not really sure why we need 2 hookers who interchange with each other? They way they both play, they should be able to manage 80 minutes and it feels a waste of an interchange player. Neither is really a game-changing impact player like Penky was when he came off the bench.

We have three good halves, but either one of them has to assume control in the middle, or they need to get things worked out between them to exploit their differing talents. They all had their moments, but none of them really clicked today.

Tommy needs to pin his ears back sometimes rather than coming inside all the time. Pottsy had a bit of a 'mare under the high ball, but credit it to him for sticking it out and not going into hiding. Thought he might have managed to get clear and go the full length of the pitch when he got his chance though.

All in all, 2 points in the bag which is good, but that sort of performance doesn't encourage support and it felt as flat in the crowd as on the pitch - at least until Farrell decided to give us a bit of entertainment towards the end!

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:24 pm  

Well its a win but it was a dull game on a dull day with a dull crowd, no atmosphere at all come on guys!
Dewsbury are not the team they were the last 2 or 3 years and were poor really they did what we do coughing up the ball at the wrong time.
Yet again some silly errors cost us tries with another knock on not under any pressure and a silly penalty we must cut these out!
We did keep them out though in the first half when a combination of errors and wrong calls by the Ref gave them field position in our half for long spells so well done for that but we look out of sorts and lack any cutting edge, hopefully we will gain some confidence from this and what should be a win next week to kick on, luckily Batley lost again and as expected Fev did too although they came closer than I expected against Leigh.

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:40 pm  

The table now has 3 distinct sections (discounting Workington on 2 points).

Leigh and London ahead and will need to throw it away now not to make the top 4.

Bradford, Batley, Fev and Fax battling for the 3rd and 4th spot. Given how tight it is, I'm going to revise my earlier prediction that we'll need 32 points to make the top 4 and say that 30 could well be enough. So, 3 more losses at most.

Sheffield, Dewsbury, Swinton, Whitehaven and Oldham all fighting to avoid the drop with Workington.

That's how things look now, but a few wins/losses could swing things round (up or down) for any team.

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:46 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

The table now has 3 distinct sections (discounting Workington on 2 points).

Leigh and London ahead and will need to throw it away now not to make the top 4.

Bradford, Batley, Fev and Fax battling for the 3rd and 4th spot. Given how tight it is, I'm going to revise my earlier prediction that we'll need 32 points to make the top 4 and say that 30 could well be enough. So, 3 more losses at most.

Sheffield, Dewsbury, Swinton, Whitehaven and Oldham all fighting to avoid the drop with Workington.

That's how things look now, but a few wins/losses could swing things round (up or down) for any team.

Sheffield going down - at least their ground will feel at home!!!!!

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:01 pm  

With a full-time team, I think they'll have enough in the tank to avoid the drop, but if we'd capitalised on our first-half performance earlier in the season and beat them then a) we'd be in a much stronger position ourselves, and b) they'd only be out of a relegation spot on points difference!

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:40 pm  

If I were a Dewsbury fan or player I'd be disappointed they didn't turn us over today, we were there for the taking. Well below par and what we're capable of.

I don't know what to make of us this year, the side that ended last season would be in the top 3 though, and we'd probably have had an extra 1000 down today.

It is a tougher league though, and I suspect were waiting for the middle 8s to start and have dropped off, and I also think the other sides have a sniff of the middle 8s and want a piece. Hence, the gap is closing in this league.

Richard seems to be searching for the right system and 17, the sides not been settled, the backing up isn't there either. We look nervous, a yard off the pace, and not aggressive enough at times, the side picked itself at the end of last season, that brought a unity we don't have now. Tangata and Fairbank are maintaining the level we know though, so we'll done to them two.

The squad needs to regroup, and realise this season could easily slip into obscurity if they don't get their mojo back. They have to start enjoying playing exciting aggressive Rugby league again, and playing for each other, they can still achieve something special, but it won't just happen.

I'd take the backs to one side for a couple of sessions though, some good old fashioned drills, catching, defending, line work, timing passes, drawing men. Not all need it, but catching and tackling must be a given in Rugby League at this level. We know they can, practice and confidence required.

We just look a little flat, and I'm beggared if I know why.

P.s a good point was made today about Gaz Moore standing very deep, he's been good this year, but I think he needs to play flatter, The Kangaroos or Leeds Rhinos 2015 we ain't, let's get back to nailing the simple stuff. Earn the right to play.

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:43 pm  

this! .... or that's what my kids would say!

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:47 pm  

A wins a win but there's more questions than answers again. Where's the intensity and aggressive play gone from last season. Our line speed is pedestrian, our back line is far too deep and spread out, the kicking game is average, our offload game has gone?

The gaffer is far more qualified than me but I think we need to stop tinkering and get a settled 17. I've found some of his selection and (today) interchanges a little strange, but it's all about opinions.

Can't put my finger on it but summats just not right.

Re: Today's game v Dewsbury : Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:48 pm  

As has been mentioned, a drab affair really. The main thing is, we got the 2 pts and both Batley and Featherstone lost. The Bulls seem to have enough about them to win games they should, so it looks like a straight shoot out between us, Fev and Batley for that forth spot, as London and Leigh look secure enough already.

We lack fluidity, creativity and any urgency at the moment. It could be down to lacking confidence, but after beating Bradford a month ago, I would have thought that wouldn't be a problem. RM is trying to find the solution and for some reason things just are not clicking. I for one, actually thought Murrell at 13 worked okay today. He played pretty well and they linked up steadily, it can hardly be helped by a constant lack of runners or options. Gareth Moore seems to take the line on more than ever, but who can blame him when he only seems to have Manning/Tyrer running the same lines off him every time?

Ambler showed up well again, Tangata too. They all did a steady job and matched the Dewsbury pack. We again have conceded out wide, which is a weekly problem. It seems like nobody wants to play on that right wing the amount of errors that come down there. Surely, sooner or later, we will start to click.....