Re: 9s : Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:21 am
I went to the under 9’s competition and it was thoroughly enjoyable and very well attended. I think that most of Wigan’s first team came down to watch along with their Chairman so it was a nice photo opportunity for the Wigan Fans.
The only down side to the evening was our own performance, we came last, this was down to poor discipline and we look ill prepared. We didn’t even win the fight! (In the last match against Widnes)
The other teams (Wigan, Warrington & Widnes) looked well drilled in comparison, I don’t like to be critical but I have watched the reserves over the last few years, especially in the Finals against Wigan, and the coaching has been abysmal. We have a plan A and if that doesn’t work we have no plan B, I have sometimes wondered if the coaches are watching the same match as myself as I have expected a change of tactics after the first half but we have played exactly the same way in the second half even though we were losing.
Wigan won the tournament; they had the players that are out on dual registration playing for them i.e. Mellor, Crosby, and Tomkins who seem to be really benefitting from their time at Widnes.
I personally didn’t think we had any stand out players from the match, but that is not to say that there aren’t any. Is this down to bad coaching, poor preparation (don’t think we have had a reserves match in ages) therefore are they not match fit?
Like the coaching at Saints I don’t think that we have a back up plan when developing our youngster, they either succeed in gaining first team game time through injuries or left languishing in the reserves. Wigan & Warrington have youngster dual registered or out on loan for their development and the benefits of that were truly highlighted last night.