: Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:54 pm  

Tough game tonight - especially without Burrow, Senior, Sinfield and Webb and Ali who looked like he had pulled a hamstring after 20 minutes.

The game was ruined by Ganson who gave more penalties in the first 20 than Thaler did the whole game last week.

Defence was excellent again tonight 4 halves of rugby three without conceeding a try - pretty impressive.

Leeds were far from their best and a number of players looked out on their feet after 60 minutes - Smith was switched to wing to give him a rest and Donald played FB for the rest of the game.

Peacock, Smith, Kirke, Diskin and especially JJB had big games with good performances from Hall, Donald and Buderus who looked pretty lively to say he had played for 6 months.

Allan defended really well and should have scored from his break - his throwing up in front of us we could have done without but shows testiment to his spirit that he played the whole game when obviously not very well

Whilst the second try was a bit fortunate Leeds never looked like losing - Wakefield gave it everything with Drew and Atkins their best players.

Good game to win in difficult circumstances

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:58 pm  

I agree that Smith was excellent again.
His kicks-off (kick-offs if you prefer) were I thought very good. Variety and caused chaos with the kick after they took their 1st penalty.
I said at the time that was a mistake but didn't imagine quite how bad it would turn out to be.
The mounting injuries are a major concern, defensivley we looked better than last week. Unsurprisingly the attack lacked direction at times without Sinfield & Burrow.
Ganson MOM for all the wrong reasons. The frustration was that for the most part he gets the decisions right but we want the game to flow not constant stop start. But he waited until 71st minute to penalise them for not standing square when they'd been doing it throughout the game. Seems he decides at the start what he's going to blow for this week and ignores everything else.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:59 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

Tough game tonight - especially without Burrow, Senior, Sinfield and Webb and Ali who looked like he had pulled a hamstring after 20 minutes.

The game was ruined by Ganson who gave more penalties in the first 20 than Thaler did the whole game last week.

Defence was excellent again tonight 4 halves of rugby three without conceeding a try - pretty impressive.

Leeds were far from their best and a number of players looked out on their feet after 60 minutes - Smith was switched to wing to give him a rest and Donald played FB for the rest of the game.

Peacock, Smith, Kirke, Diskin and especially JJB had big games with good performances from Hall, Donald and Buderus who looked pretty lively to say he had played for 6 months.

Allan defended really well and should have scored from his break - his throwing up in front of us we could have done without but shows testiment to his spirit that he played the whole game when obviously not very well

Whilst the second try was a bit fortunate Leeds never looked like losing - Wakefield gave it everything with Drew and Atkins their best players.

Good game to win in difficult circumstances

I think Ganson wants to be rememberd for most penalties EVER in a 10 minute spell. It wasnt rugby after Lauitiiti's try it was like a rave the ammount of times he blew his whistle!

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:06 pm  

Bit worried about Wigan conserving all their energy for Leeds again.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:08 pm  

Damo-Leeds wrote:

Bit worried about Wigan conserving all their energy for Leeds again.

Brian Noble will get the sack after a victory against leeds! They will keep him employed until that vital win!

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:09 pm  

I hope the players missing is a result of a policy of not risking anyone for any game, rather than actual injuries. I would hope that if it was a key game, that we'd have seen a stronger side this evening. Luckily we have4 or 5 youngsters who are able to come in and fill in when required.

If this is the case it will mean more game time for the youngsters, which has the short term benefit, of increased competition, and keeping players fresh throughout the season, and the long term benefits of giving young players a chance to shine, and prove their worth.

Wasn't at the match, but it is more satisfying to win with an understrength team, than score 60 points with a full line-up

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:12 pm  

I had to listen to the game on Radio Leeds, laid up in the country with a house that looks akin to the open episode of 'Survivors', you could tell which way the game was going ... Despite Radio Leeds making it sound that Wakey were making a game of it (they had to change their tune in the last 5 mins, when it was obvious they weren't going to get back in it)

We sounded well in control, despite having to deal with Ganson (who was clearly on one again) and no matter what Wakey did, they couldn't get through.

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:20 pm  

Sibbs Rhinos wrote:

Brian Noble will get the sack after a victory against leeds! They will keep him employed until that vital win!

Didn't you know its in his contract?

: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:57 pm  

I thought the size of the crowd was disappointing tonight, considering we got nearly 15K last week for the Crusaders in freezing conditions and Wakefield got their season off to a storming start at Wigan. To get less than 1000 more is poor.
A sign of the times maybe, credit crunch and all that?

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:13 am  

Old Feller wrote:

I thought the size of the crowd was disappointing tonight, considering we got nearly 15K last week for the Crusaders in freezing conditions and Wakefield got their season off to a storming start at Wigan. To get less than 1000 more is poor.
A sign of the times maybe, credit crunch and all that?

seemed a lot bigger crowd announced. south stand was just as packed, north & carnegie seemed to be same as last week