Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:16 am  

Think it’s pretty much all been said about Friday, but too to the woe and doubt I’ll throw a couple of thoughts in

Cam smith was pedestrian and does not look like a captain to me. He has has developed a lazy habit of staying in the opposition line for 3 tackles after they kick to us, he needs to set an example

We must lose a player to HIA every 3/4 games, we did again. given that picking McCormack and Edgell as 18th man is very strange. If a forward had broken down in the warm up or been taken ill we would have had McCormack and Alfie on the bench , which is madness

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:05 pm  

We'll probably get the Hudds game thread later but would anyone change selection for that game? Looks like Handley out, Fus and Sangare in? Not sure when Bentley will be fit again.

Again, given the importance of this game and it being at home, this is about as first choice a side as we could hope for at this stage in the season.

Miller, Fus, Newman, Martin, Momirovski, Croft, Frawley, Mik, Ackers, Sangare, McDonnell, Goudemand, Smith; Lisone, Holroyd, O'Connor, McCormack.

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Mon Apr 08, 2024 6:52 pm  

Don't see what the hype is about McDonnell he doesn't get in any of the top 4/5 teams for me just ok no more.

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:23 pm  

He's a hard worker and runs good lines. Has the ability to tackle players onto their back to slow ptb ( legally).

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Tue Apr 09, 2024 1:08 pm  

RAPIDO wrote:

Don't see what the hype is about McDonnell he doesn't get in any of the top 4/5 teams for me just ok no more.

I am also equally underwhelmed by McDonnell. I think someone posted stats of 4 drives for 23 metres against Warrington which is shocking.

Is it him choosing to not be involved, or is he being advised / coached not to do the hard yards?

Bizarrely it seems the backs have to do most of the dirty work these days (as well as score long range tries), and the forwards don't seem to do much more than tackle (passively).

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Tue Apr 09, 2024 1:32 pm  

McDonnell is good but his game needs to go up another notch for a club with our ambitions. He's not the only one mind - the same is true of the likes of Cam Smith, Oledski, Holroyd, O'Connor etc.

A player like Handley has improved significantly this season - others need to do so too, and impose themselves on games more often for longer periods. All are young enough to do this, if the desire is there.

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Tue Apr 09, 2024 1:50 pm  

Made no secret that I really rate McDonnell, and he has his best years ahead of him. For me he's the grafter, and I think he is physically bigger and more technically sound than Bentley in that role; although Bentley is probably more mobile and fills gaps in very well. Like a few other players, he would benefit from us signing one or two other really high quality forwards to distribute the load.

One of RS's better signings IMO.

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Tue Apr 09, 2024 3:46 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

A player like Handley has improved significantly this season - others need to do so too, and impose themselves on games more often for longer periods. All are young enough to do this, if the desire is there.

There was a fabulous interview with Handley on Radio Leeds on Sunday. The work he is putting in mentally & physically is incredible. It's no wonder he has improved so much.

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Tue Apr 09, 2024 4:53 pm  

Yes it was excellent , a few others need to do the same !

Re: RD 7 | Warrington Wolves (H) : Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:32 am  

I don't think its individual players alone though, its the whole tactical setup which isn't working. Peter Smith, in his usual 'I don't want to upset the club/coach' way alluded to that today - including the short kick-off nonsense.

Some of what Rohan wants to see is laudable - open, free flowing games - but he needs to stop hoping that everyone else will come round to his view of the world and adapt to what actually happens on the pitch, where, rather unshockingly to anyone who has watched more than one game, possession and field position matter. That means not making errors, not gifting possession and field position through short kick offs and the like, and trying to play the game at the right end of the field through defence and a good kicking game. Ask Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy or any other coach, and that would be where they'd start.

Rohan developed this style on the run in 2022 and it was remarkably successful as it was different and other teams couldn't quite work it out. But as we saw last year, giving away field position encourages even the worst teams to think they have a chance, and practically invites better ones to give you a thumping. Its been worked out, and now is a weakness rather than a strength.

If its not a deliberate tactic that's just as big an indictment on Smith (or even bigger) because it means the players aren't doing what he wants them to. Either way I don't see him lasting beyond this year if he cannot or will not make changes. We saw last year how the season can really slip away if you don't keep picking up wins, as we kept waiting for the magical turnaround, but it never happened. We were 'competing', or 'in the contest', but consistently losing too many games. Reading the room (i.e. this forum and elsewhere) the fanbase has zero patience for a repeat of last season's damp squib of an effort.