Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:21 pm  

I thought we were excellent in the first half barring creating more chances from the field position we gained far too often it was an easy read or when we called a move Burrow (mainly) or another in possession ignored the call and went the other way.
It's obvious but those basics they and ALL NRL teams do so well lay the platform for that 2nd half yes we were busted and down on personnel but once JT had that base to work from he put us to the sword albeit with a couple of lucky kicks thrown in.
Their 9 Granville also showed what we are missing around the ptb.
I don't think we disgraced ourselves overall but for 1 or 2 poor errors and hopefully we learn from it going forward but again as a sport over here the RFL/SL Clubs and the game as a whole HAS TO have a structural and financial re-think imo.

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:22 pm  

William Eve wrote:

The Aussie teams are only a few percentage points better than us in everything they do but they amount to a significant gulf in class when executed as a whole. Throw in the fact their halfbacks are streets ahead of ours and that gulf in class becomes a chasm! Those two Roosters kids (Nikorima and Hastings) are streets ahead of anything we've got.

Would more British halfbacks playing in SL make much difference? Probably not. Maybe we need to ship the young kids off to Australia and invite them to return when they've developed their trade to a professional standard?

At last a point well made.
You see WE can talk extreme good sense when he wants to, unlike some others on here.
Thurston displayed a range of kicks that most SL halves can only dream about. If you can't see that then it's no wonder we can't compete at this level.
As has been said his kicks were on the back of much better field position than we were able to create. Due to defensive line speed, forward physicality (& backs too) & playing the conditions far better than we could.
One thing that irked me constantly throughout the game was the continual presence on the field of the Cowboys support staff. The guy in an orange bib (the alleged water carrier(?) - he was carrying a blue bottle but I didn't see any of their players drinking from it) was on the field longer than their bench forwards. Surely the off-field officials can see that he was coaching their players, telling them where to stand etc.? Aussie teams seem to do this a lot without ever being pulled up for it.

[Bullseye]

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:43 pm  

DHM wrote:

Swimming has the same issues funnily enough. Swimming is an early developing sport so there are coaches who literally flig kids to death. Kids don't have an issue with lactic acid so you can theoretically work them almost to the level of adult internationals. We had such a coach when my son started swimming (a bit late at 10). When he was 11 he was regularly doing near 40k in a week, 13k on one day. His technique and his skills were awful. We moved him and all he did this last year was skills. There are British WC medalists - one in particular - who don't kick properly off the wall in turns (the fastest part of the race) and their turns are awful. That person funnily enough swam as s youngster at my son's old club.

Genuinely sad to hear this. Back in the early to mid 80s it was just the same. I was a promising swimmer but got bored with endless lengths and absolutely no technical coaching on anything. I remember giving it up for a few years and then came back for a one off competition. I happened to win my races that day but the coach said "oh you could've been great if you'd learnt to dive properly!" He'd not once said anything about this in the years I'd been in the team or offered any guidance at all.

Rugby coaching at school followed the "give it to the big lad" approach too. Not much good for an enthusiastic but shrimp-like kid like me at the time.

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:45 pm  

The question now remains as how we get participation up - surely this is the base point to increase competitiveness.

For me there are two ways:
1. a better international side that can win the WC
2. a better domestic competition that attracts quality players that kids can aspire to.

The quick fix is the former but are we prepared to have a competition that might be equally competitive allbeit at a lower standard because our top players are all playing in the NRL.

We already have half a side playing in the NRL - 3 x Burgess brothers, other Burgess, Reed, Graham, Cooper, Widdop and Hodgson if say Hardaker and Watkins were also playing in the NRL you would have a good foundation of a really competitive side.

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 12:57 pm  

As an aside to all the negativity, I enjoyed the weekend and the opportunity to see genuine world class teams and players strutting their stuff. It was the equivalent of dining out all weekend at five star restaurants. I guess it's back to Greggs pasties next week with Batchelors Mushy Peas!

In spite of the lopsided results, I'd like the game to persist with this WCC weekend. Scrapping it would be the Ostrich equivalent of sticking your head in the sand.

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:03 pm  

The poblems around youth come from the top I'm afraid.

At the basic level, the RFL has no cash. It hasn't for years. As a result, there is no money passed down to the grassroots clubs, who have no money to run a club on. If there's no money then you are relying on someones dad to do stuff. Based on the lack of knowledge about the game you hear on the terraces (wherever you go), its not surprising that kids end up underskilled.

At Outlaws we run a very decent youth section. We get players who are playing for our first team (and often the Uni teams to coach the juniors, and we pay for them to get coaching badges to improve the quality of coaching. we are now getting lads coming through and making it into our first team because they know and understand the game. Our main problems are that we are a non heartlands club, so recruitment is difficult, and finances. I don't think the RFL gives any support for the junior section. We pay for coaching courses and the like out of our own money because its important to us as a club. Many don't

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:08 pm  

Has Ryan Hall recovered from being bitchslapped by his opposing winger Kyle Feldt yet?

That was probably the biggest embarrassment of the whole evening.

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:20 pm  

William Eve wrote:

Has Ryan Hall recovered from being bitchslapped by his opposing winger Kyle Feldt yet?

That was probably the biggest embarrassment of the whole evening.

That was terribly disappointing. He should have knocked the guy into touch.
Even Lewis Tierney made a better fist of it against the Broncos winger almost preventing a score.

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:24 pm  

Old Feller wrote:

That was terribly disappointing. He should have knocked the guy into touch.
Even Lewis Tierney made a better fist of it against the Broncos winger almost preventing a score.

It was a poor effort but I think thats what he was trying to do. If he goes low he scores anyway. You have to go high there, but that increases the chances of getting bumped / spun, which is what happened and Ryan looked silly

Re: WCC : Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:39 pm  

For all those who seriously believe the appointment of Silverwood as referee was as good as handing the game to the Cowboys, the penalty count last night was 12-6 in Leeds favour.