Halifax RLFC ?? : Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:38 pm  

As someone who is close to the club, I can tell you that it is very disappointing for us in the office to come in the day after a loss, and, remain positive and try to "Sell Halifax RLFC." It's even more disappointing to read some of the posts on this web site. Knocking the players helps nobody.
Rumours about why we are losing, for example Martin Hall hasn't left the club, he's actually taking advantage of school holidays to go on holiday with his family in Mexico.
The players are very upset, just like the rest of us, and, yes I get very upset.
It's a difficult time, but to read some of the things posted doesn't help.
Infering that this is the worst season ever is just stupid. I think this is one of the best seasons I've attended.
Lose by a single point to a Super League Castleford,and, being applauded by the Cas fans has got to be good.

If you think after losing four games that sacking the coach and the board is the way to go, we'll never achieve anything.
We should all be doing everything we can to help our players. See you all at Batley.
Malcolm P

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:43 pm  

Well said. Hopefully the players will realise that the majority are still behind them. Hence the decent amount we took to Sheffield last night and that those on here making the seriously nasty comments are in the minority not the majority.

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:12 pm  

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:20 pm  

Well said Malcolm

[triran]

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 1:22 pm  

Agreed Mal, kick those peeps asses!

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:01 pm  

I understand some of the sentiments in your post Mal, however effort and pride in my opinion have been lacklustre to say the least and for me it isn't about defeat, its how we lose or go about losing. The Whitehaven game was an utter shambles and the last 15 minutes of the game meerly in my opinion papered over the cracks and one of the worst and lazy performances of recent years.

It may only be four games on the bounce we have lost but is still 6 out of the last 8 games. But the manner of our defeat in these games or should I say the manner in which we have rolled over is my biggest issue. I have witnessed first hand players apparent disregard for their fans. I agree in the heat of the moment we all say and do rash things, we can all be guilty of that. The club makes great strides forward but failsm to deliver when it matters (so far). The fans are crying out for success, Hull KR fans had been in the doldrums for 12 years and more but when the club got on a more professional footing, by god did they deliver with aplumb. We sort of lit the fuse paper and have fizzled out as we are now.

Our coach though has failed in 99% of the games this year to get his side to play basic, error free and disciplined rugby league. He has failed to get the team to perform back to back performances. His squad selection at times leaves me baffled. However he has delivered a brand of exciting rugby. Would I swap this for professional performances when it matters . . . . . . . Hell Yes. We should have been at the NRC final, we should be clear at the top of the league, we should be looking foward to a Grand Final appearance based on our league form. Yes it is a competitive league I agree but are we really that poor to lose to some of the teams in the manner we have?

I can turn around and say the players are gutted, the players are upset etc, etc. The couple I spoke to after Whitehaven didn't appear too gutted and to be honest seemed put out at the fact that fans were speaking to them when they clearly only came to watch the Hudds V Saints semi on the screen in the South Stand Lounge. That to me is totally unacceptable.

I personally feel on reflection having thought about the last few weeks that Calland has come unstuck and due to him learning his trade has perhaps taken it the team as far as he can. Now I'm not saying that he has got to be sacked but I do think he needs an "old head" to take some of the reins from him, support him and install some fresh impetus into the training and psychological aspects of the game. You don't shut the door once the horse has bolted and this could be the case for this season unfortunately if we wait for things to repair themselves. We could be at the start of next season, no further forward, no boxes ticked and fans again disillushioned.

We hear rumours and fables of teams "off field" shananigans and I have been told personally by people within the club about some incidents. I always say there is no smoke without fire, especially when we have a coach who has been convicted previously for wrong doings. Does/Did he deserve a 2nd chance? . . . . . . Yes I think everyone does.

However what is happening is compromising performance, relationships or motivation then the club need to do something about it and quickly. I'm not always one for airing your dirty laundry but sometimes a club needs to be bold and say there are issues and we are sorting them. I think the club should release a statement apologising for recent performances and offer somehting in return such as discounted addmission for the last game or a bondng session with the players and coaching staff (end of season BBQ or something). I dont think i've ever felt so alienated from a Halifax team as we are now. The coach very rarely speaks to the fans in any capacity, players seem reluctant to speak in the South Stand Lounge and we sell ourselves as a "community" club, when we can't even talk to one another.

Sorry for the rant and I could go on. This is just the tip of the iceberg for what I would like to discuss or how I feel right now

Re: Halifax RLFC ?? : Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:26 pm  

Malfax wrote:

As someone who is close to the club, I can tell you that it is very disappointing for us in the office to come in the day after a loss, and, remain positive and try to "Sell Halifax RLFC." It's even more disappointing to read some of the posts on this web site. Knocking the players helps nobody.
Rumours about why we are losing, for example Martin Hall hasn't left the club, he's actually taking advantage of school holidays to go on holiday with his family in Mexico.
The players are very upset, just like the rest of us, and, yes I get very upset.
It's a difficult time, but to read some of the things posted doesn't help.
Infering that this is the worst season ever is just stupid. I think this is one of the best seasons I've attended.
Lose by a single point to a Super League Castleford,and, being applauded by the Cas fans has got to be good.

If you think after losing four games that sacking the coach and the board is the way to go, we'll never achieve anything.
We should all be doing everything we can to help our players. See you all at Batley.
Malcolm P

Well said Mal...doesnt matter whether its today or next year, there will always be negative feedback cos thats the nature of people with sport. A slight down turn and its sack the coach etc. The fortunate situation is that most people try to remain positive. We must all stay focused and hope that the team and all concerned turn the corner ASAP. Im sure that we can still win the Grand final even if its the hard way.

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:28 pm  

i think Chris the purpose of Mal's post is probably to try and reassure us there is nothing going on that we need to know about behind the scenes, other than we have lost form and people are working on it.

Re: Halifax RLFC ?? : Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:29 pm  

faxlad66 wrote:

Well said Mal...doesnt matter whether its today or next year, there will always be negative feedback cos thats the nature of people with sport. A slight down turn and its sack the coach etc. The fortunate situation is that most people try to remain positive. We must all stay focused and hope that the team and all concerned turn the corner ASAP. Im sure that we can still win the Grand final even if its the hard way.

I agree. The only problem is a downward spiral. Lack of confidence means a poor performance and a poor performance means a further dent in confidence.. on and on...

I hope they can snap out of it soon and get back to the players they were before the Widnes semi-final game.

: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:33 pm  

chris_smith wrote:

I understand some of the sentiments in your post Mal, however effort and pride in my opinion have been lacklustre to say the least and for me it isn't about defeat, its how we lose or go about losing. The Whitehaven game was an utter shambles and the last 15 minutes of the game meerly in my opinion papered over the cracks and one of the worst and lazy performances of recent years.

It may only be four games on the bounce we have lost but is still 6 out of the last 8 games. But the manner of our defeat in these games or should I say the manner in which we have rolled over is my biggest issue. I have witnessed first hand players apparent disregard for their fans. I agree in the heat of the moment we all say and do rash things, we can all be guilty of that. The club makes great strides forward but failsm to deliver when it matters (so far). The fans are crying out for success, Hull KR fans had been in the doldrums for 12 years and more but when the club got on a more professional footing, by god did they deliver with aplumb. We sort of lit the fuse paper and have fizzled out as we are now.

Our coach though has failed in 99% of the games this year to get his side to play basic, error free and disciplined rugby league. He has failed to get the team to perform back to back performances. His squad selection at times leaves me baffled. However he has delivered a brand of exciting rugby. Would I swap this for professional performances when it matters . . . . . . . Hell Yes. We should have been at the NRC final, we should be clear at the top of the league, we should be looking foward to a Grand Final appearance based on our league form. Yes it is a competitive league I agree but are we really that poor to lose to some of the teams in the manner we have?

I can turn around and say the players are gutted, the players are upset etc, etc. The couple I spoke to after Whitehaven didn't appear too gutted and to be honest seemed put out at the fact that fans were speaking to them when they clearly only came to watch the Hudds V Saints semi on the screen in the South Stand Lounge. That to me is totally unacceptable.

I personally feel on reflection having thought about the last few weeks that Calland has come unstuck and due to him learning his trade has perhaps taken it the team as far as he can. Now I'm not saying that he has got to be sacked but I do think he needs an "old head" to take some of the reins from him, support him and install some fresh impetus into the training and psychological aspects of the game. You don't shut the door once the horse has bolted and this could be the case for this season unfortunately if we wait for things to repair themselves. We could be at the start of next season, no further forward, no boxes ticked and fans again disillushioned.

We hear rumours and fables of teams "off field" shananigans and I have been told personally by people within the club about some incidents. I always say there is no smoke without fire, especially when we have a coach who has been convicted previously for wrong doings. Does/Did he deserve a 2nd chance? . . . . . . Yes I think everyone does.

However what is happening is compromising performance, relationships or motivation then the club need to do something about it and quickly. I'm not always one for airing your dirty laundry but sometimes a club needs to be bold and say there are issues and we are sorting them. I think the club should release a statement apologising for recent performances and offer somehting in return such as discounted addmission for the last game or a bondng session with the players and coaching staff (end of season BBQ or something). I dont think i've ever felt so alienated from a Halifax team as we are now. The coach very rarely speaks to the fans in any capacity, players seem reluctant to speak in the South Stand Lounge and we sell ourselves as a "community" club, when we can't even talk to one another.

Sorry for the rant and I could go on. This is just the tip of the iceberg for what I would like to discuss or how I feel right now

Spot on there Chris. I think thats sums up the feelings of most of the fans i speak to at the moment. All we want is good honest performances and we will get behind them, we always have done and always will, but it has to work both ways. Ball is in your court Fax !