Re: Problem players : Tue Jun 18, 2024 10:05 am  

Jrrhino wrote:

This isn't our problem players but we seem to have a problem with concussion with our players. Got an injury report from the Hull game and apparently we could be without Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Tom Holroyd & Sam Lisone for this week's game against Leigh, we'll see when tomorrow's 21 man squad is named.

Apparently all 4 players showed concussion symptoms after the game and will be stood down this week, it feels like Leeds as a club have a real strict procedure when it comes to concussion/ HIA this is probably due to the Stevie Ward saga and end of the day the players health comes first and the club will be extra precautious now. I'd imagine Tom Holroyd will probably miss majority of this season now due to his concussion reports this year wouldn't be surprised if he gets same treatment as Morgan Gannon and stood down til next season.

We do seem to have a stricter policy with head injuries compared to other clubs.

Newman
Handley
Ackers
Holroyd
Bentley
Lisone
Gannon

All out with HIA protocol all at the same time seems extreme but players welfare comes first.

To add insult to the injuries Leon Ruan is also injured got a hip injury playing in reserves at the weekend.

Im amazed Harry was allowed to come back on TBH he was taking a few pot shots throughout that game.

We are clearly being very cautious with Concussions, and as much as its frustrating to not have the players available their health has to come first and we need to make sure the whole squad is stronger to cope with these players being out.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Problem players : Tue Jun 18, 2024 10:52 am  

I'd rather be cautious and lose a player for a few week than lose a player permanently as we did with Ward.

I hope and it does look like we learned from that debacle at least.

Re: Problem players : Tue Jun 18, 2024 11:15 am  

Do other clubs have the same issues on the same scale that we do? Perhaps they do. But if not, and I'm fully supportive of player safety, but if we're applying a stricter protocol, does that mean the other 11 clubs are putting their players in danger. I'd assume not, and that the protocols being applied by others are mitigating the risk to acceptable levels ( it will never be zero). In that case, we are placing ourselves at a disadvantage for no gain elsewhere, are we not?

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 7:36 am  

I am a big Holroyd fan but he has been out of condition or form for a good while now, he can't seem to string a run together. Really disappointing season so far - not just the injuries but when he has played he has been a culprit of our error-a-thon.

There is still a very good player in there but for various reasons we're not seeing it.

Sangare - on the right money could be worth retaining as a squad prop. He is massive which has use. He gets terrible service sometimes (Cam Smith gives him the odd hospital pass). Also not really mobile enough to run his weight and be as damaging as we'd all like.

Newman is very athletic n but he isn't playing well, especially since his back injury and I wonder if he's carrying knocks.

I think generally the squad is in a bit of a funk, losing games can do that and the confidence has been affected. I think the solution is to sign a handful of higher quality players and probably change the coaching set up, but to do that we'd have to move a couple of players on early. Blease is going to have to be creative to get Leeds into a truly challenging position for 2025, but I don't believe the current squad is a title winning squad and we are all sick to death of Leeds being the laughing stock of SL after many years of this.

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 8:19 am  

I think with Newman with a better coach and attacking structure, he can be much better. I think if you put Newman in a Wigan, Saints or Salford side, you would see a far better player.

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 8:24 am  

You may be right re. Newman but the coach isn't making him drop the ball or try to beat the entire opposition on his own every time he gets the ball. Newman needs to learn how to play with his team mates better - maybe that's a coaching issue too but I think he's always been a bit of a glory boy. He just needs reining in a bit at times - he would look better running into space with some structure agreed.

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 8:43 am  

Almost all our players, Newman, Smith, Miller and others are all just trying way too hard. The team has no direction or concept of building pressure on an opposition. Rohan's style dictates a boom or bust approach to wonder plays that have such a low success rate with no plan B, so no wonder players are constantly trying to make something out of nothing.

With Newman, Oledski and smith, I think we're seeing players who care too much, but don't have a coach who is capable or willing to give them a framework to succeed from.

I've just listened to House of League with Matt Shaw saying there are lot's of players who don't believe in RS's style of play. You can see that on the pitch. We actually need a coach to come in and take the pressure off the players, give the players a really basic game plan, simplify things back to the basics of RL. Run hard, tackle hard, build pressure, build field possession, force an error, run support lines, commit more men to dominate the ruck, make space for the players around you. Don't try to score on every play.

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 9:09 am  

I don't disagree, however, he isn't getting early ball in space. I think he is trying too hard to have an impact and overplaying. I suspect if he played like he did for England where he simply waited for opportunities (because he was surrounded by good players) that he would be criticised for not digging in and trying to have an impact on the game.

I feel when Newman first broke through, he was bigger in size than he is now and is too lightweight. I wonder particularly in leg size whether he has reduced in size to lower his hamstring risks, which has had a knock on effect in terms of his power and line breaks.

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 10:02 am  

C Smith is also maybe doing too much defending, he’s top of the tackle charts.

Which will be partly due to the style we play

Re: Problem players : Wed Jun 19, 2024 12:51 pm  

C Smith needs to simplify it right down and play like a prop even if he's not picked there. Just run and tackle hard.