Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:13 am  

Barrie’s Glass Eye wrote:

I don’t have a problem with myler short term. He’s been good but is obviously getting up there in age. 9 wise O’Connor has gone well and there’s obviously still improvement to be had there, but for him to improve we’ll have to take the rough with the smooth. Johnson needs more game time, I think we’d be better when those 9 duties are shared. I can only assume they’re being cautious with a kid who’s not played a whole lot of first grade rugby for his age?

My main issue with the halves is Sezer. For me he lets the game pass him by, and yes while his NRL resume reads great, it was always interesting that he was let go at a prime sort of age (right after aforementioned grand final I think) and came to SL at that age. The way he flits in and out of games for me directly correlates with our form. Austin like myler is ok, but imo guilty of trying to do too much.

I get a sense with Austin that it's frustration to a degree. He gives everything (effort is the minimum expectation, I know) but his overplaying at times is, in my opinion, borne out of a lack of creativity elsewhere.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:17 am  

Les Norton wrote:

Lack of commitment or poorly coached, it’s one or the other or both.

Who specifically are you talking about player wise that lack’s commitment?

It just sounds like a typical knee jerk reaction after a loss to me.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:23 am  

I think we all know that this is going to take a few years to fix from when we actually start properly. We’ve had false start after false start since the end of the goldens, so it’s understandable that people (me included) can be impatient at times.

We cleared a fair chick of dead wood off last close season, and I’ve no doubts we will do again this, but getting the cap back under control is only solving part of the problem albeit a big part.

We need to be seeing the 21-25 year old local and British lads getting regular game time as they will be our future not the 30+ year olds who will be gone in 12 months or so. We built our last success on a great crop of young British players, sogning other top British players, and a sprinkling of good quality O/S players who added quality and experience. This is what we need to do again.

My only beef with RS, who I think is doing a great job overal, is that we are ridiculously inconsistent on the field and I think in part that’s down to playing a style that this bunch of players are incapable of.

We should continue on the journey with him for sure, but he also has some adjustments to make.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:26 am  

Be interesting to see how many away games we win this season. Can’t see this lot winning many. I’m at a loss as to why we seem so flat at the start of every game, even more flat when we’re away (saints the exception). It’s either down to the head coach or the poor attitude of players… or both ! But it needs sorting.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:28 am  

I'm away so didn't get to the game.
But this is a familiar trend. We're consistently inconsistent.
We're in a battle for 5th to 9th with HKR, Hudds, Salford and Leigh.
Unfortunately at the moment, we look the worst out of those teams.
I'm sure I'll be accused of being pessimistic, but this is where we are.
9th would be a dreadful season given the squad we have.
This squad should be capable of top 4, but we'll be nowhere near there.
So, there must be a problem with either motivation and attitude, or with the tactics.
Sadly mostly down to coaching.
Teams have worked out how to play our system and are countering it with high energy and fast starts.
Not sure I buy this 'innovation' stuff touted about Smith.
The game has been played for well over 100 years - the basics are fundamentally the same.
He's done a good job with the squad, but this is a results business.
If we do finish 9th, I'm not sure he'll be here next season.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:28 am  

GhostRunner wrote:

Interesting view, would you like to expand on the view, the players coming through are not committed to winning.

Just opinion but we're too easily outcompeted in the parts of the game that hurt. We're coming unstuck against a variety of sides more up for it. For a load of the better sides over the years, it's the system players who bring the desire (oh no, I'm turning into Tez ). Quotas may or may not; many seem to turn up on the basis they're being paid to do a job. Maybe I expect too much from our own crop. Maybe I'm just p****d off at wasting an evening. Or maybe, hopefully, I'll be singing their praises again next time out.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:36 am  

Simmo71 wrote:

I'm away so didn't get to the game.
But this is a familiar trend. We're consistently inconsistent.
We're in a battle for 5th to 9th with HKR, Hudds, Salford and Leigh.
Unfortunately at the moment, we look the worst out of those teams.
I'm sure I'll be accused of being pessimistic, but this is where we are.
9th would be a dreadful season given the squad we have.
This squad should be capable of top 4, but we'll be nowhere near there.
So, there must be a problem with either motivation and attitude, or with the tactics.
Sadly mostly down to coaching.
Teams have worked out how to play our system and are countering it with high energy and fast starts.
Not sure I buy this 'innovation' stuff touted about Smith.
The game has been played for well over 100 years - the basics are fundamentally the same.
He's done a good job with the squad, but this is a results business.
If we do finish 9th, I'm not sure he'll be here next season.

We’re not in a battle for 5th to 9th just yet, look at the table, were 2 points behind the 4th placed team.

The table at this stage can change quickly.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:38 am  

In terms of philosophy it seemed that contested restarts were going to be a major feature now this has tailed of to just the normal instance when far behind and the clock ticking. Let's hope this passiveness is a philosophy that goes the same way. It might have worked with a group he had relative the the competition at the bears, but not here. Persist and he will be gone in time which for many other positive aspects would be a shame.

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 9:54 am  

Think there are at least 4 high earning players who should not be offered new contracts next year snd we need 2-4 key players in.

Interesting comments from Smith regarding Sinfield, saying he is ready for Super League now and just awaiting his chance. Well lets not wait any longer, Sezar simply doesn’t want to know, and is likely gone by end of year

Re: RD 10 | Leigh Leopards (A) : Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:01 am  

I think the international break has come at a good time for us, Wane won’t pick many if any Leeds players so it gives the players and coach a couple of weeks to regroup and refocus.

If Sezer is injured I agree it’s time for Sinfield to get a go, it’s likely both halves will be gone next year (i think Austin will go home)

I think we’ll be looking at a whole new spine next year, Ive got a feeling we’ll go for a fullback and two new halfbacks.

For once our Pack looks ok which was a priority to sort, now onto the other positions.