Re: Half way point almost : Tue May 08, 2012 11:28 am  

I think our pack, in terms of players, can handle the opposition packs.
For an example - even when we were playing badly, i thought we were out mucsling the Hull pack and it was only a couple of individual flashes that broke the game intheir favour.
The only problem with the pack is our forwards are a little one dimensionsal in terms of them ebing unspectacular toilers. Given how much we thrive on a quick PTB, I think even poor teams boss us around to much on the floor.

I'm not sure about Magennis. He looks like a tank, but sees to be dominated too easily. I wonder if Forster will be better long term. I'd get him (Magennis) out on loan and see what impact he can make on another squad.

We're also looking like we've got a pretty short play book. I complained loudly about us playing one up rugby under Royce, and when we got back those extra runners around the ruch I was delighted. Whilst its still working to a degree (Clough's inside ball to Wello for Friday's opening try), it seems like that's all we're running with, with Lomax not really seeming like he's got much up his sleeve.

Wigan are a hungry beast at the moment. They dominate us mainly by being up quick in defence. The effectiveness seemed to wane as the season went on, perhaps as they became fatigued through their gruelling playing fashion,but at the moment they're still in full flight. If we are to beat them, we first of all need to match their commitment in defence and attack. They're also very slick out wide, so if we don't knock them down in the forwards they'll punish us.

Re: Half way point almost : Tue May 08, 2012 11:57 am  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Hooray!!! Meli made a single error in a game which allows us members of the clueless, knee-jerk, one-eyed, braindead numpty brigade to reinforce our bizarrelly formed world view and have some kind of limited justification for blaming everything bad that's happened over the season so far on our designated scapegoat!!!

He made two crucial and basic errors leading to the only two tries Wakefield scored. Against a good team, like the one we are playing on Saturday for instance, that could cost us the match. And he lets in tries on a fairly regular basis, usually in Grand Finals, the last one I will never forgive him for.

Meanwhile we can continue to laud the mostly ineffective Makinson with similar lack of justification or reason. Let us rejoice brothers!!!

Makinson defended his line when called upon to do so on Friday night and scored a try with the one ball he got virtually all evening. Makinson would be far more effective if our playmakers considered passing to the right. However, they continually refuse to do so regardless of who is on the right wing.

Makinson also scored a try in the GF which turned the game in our favour. Meli let in at least two which resulted in us losing our lead and going on to lose the match. I am SO glad Meli is leaving us at the end of the season and think it is just a shame McManus was daft enough to re-sign him two years ago. We might have won the GF last season had he not been the person shunted to the wing when it all went pearshaped with injuries. He is a liability in defence: always has been, always will be.

Re: Half way point almost : Tue May 08, 2012 12:01 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Wigan are a hungry beast at the moment. They dominate us mainly by being up quick in defence. The effectiveness seemed to wane as the season went on, perhaps as they became fatigued through their gruelling playing fashion,but at the moment they're still in full flight. If we are to beat them, we first of all need to match their commitment in defence and attack. They're also very slick out wide, so if we don't knock them down in the forwards they'll punish us.

aye it'll be very tough. A win will be great for our confidence against the only team to have bat Rush and KC.

Re: Half way point almost : Tue May 08, 2012 11:00 pm  

It will be tough but I think we can do it.

Re: Half way point almost : Wed May 09, 2012 12:34 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

:SLEEPY:

He made two crucial and basic errors leading to the only two tries Wakefield scored. Against a good team, like the one we are playing on Saturday for instance, that could cost us the match. And he lets in tries on a fairly regular basis, usually in Grand Finals, the last one I will never forgive him for.

Makinson defended his line when called upon to do so on Friday night and scored a try with the one ball he got virtually all evening. Makinson would be far more effective if our playmakers considered passing to the right. However, they continually refuse to do so regardless of who is on the right wing.

Makinson also scored a try in the GF which turned the game in our favour. Meli let in at least two which resulted in us losing our lead and going on to lose the match. I am SO glad Meli is leaving us at the end of the season and think it is just a shame McManus was daft enough to re-sign him two years ago. We might have won the GF last season had he not been the person shunted to the wing when it all went pearshaped with injuries. He is a liability in defence: always has been, always will be.

Oh, I don't know why I bother.... You carry on living in your own pre-formed little dreamworld and be happy love.

As for the game - usual rules vs. Wigan apply. If we turn up, the forwards take the game to them and we can play to our potential then we have too much class for them overall and will win. If we have an off day (and/or they have another pet referee) then they'll rough us up and grind us down ugly again. Let's hope it's the former.

Re: Half way point almost : Wed May 09, 2012 3:25 pm  

Northampton_Saint wrote:

Oh, I don't know why I bother.... You carry on living in your own pre-formed little dreamworld and be happy love.

As for the game - usual rules vs. Wigan apply. If we turn up, the forwards take the game to them and we can play to our potential then we have too much class for them overall and will win. If we have an off day (and/or they have another pet referee) then they'll rough us up and grind us down ugly again. Let's hope it's the former.

I'd say having 2 working halfbacks on the field will help against Wigan.

Cardiff Last year no Pryce, no gaskell
DW last year no Pryce, no eastmond, no gaskell and Wheeler taken out
LP this year lost Lomax after 16 mins.
loss of half backs against Wigan recently has been reaching epidemic proportions.

However I shall now duck and cover for the Lance comments.

I do wonder though whether both Lance and Lomax are fully fit as Gaskell has made a return to the 19 in the last 3 or 4 weeks. He was 18th man on Friday last week, I was wondering if that was a precaution in case one of them did not make it through training???

Re: Half way point almost : Wed May 09, 2012 6:10 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

Cardiff Last year no Pryce, no gaskell

But we did have Eastmond and Wheeler on the pitch, so we did have two halfbacks. However, you did say 'working' halfbacks and Eastmond wasn't really working at that stage.

DW last year no Pryce, no eastmond, no gaskell and Wheeler taken out
LP this year lost Lomax after 16 mins.
loss of half backs against Wigan recently has been reaching epidemic proportions.

I don't think our halfbacks are the problem. I just think our lack of bash is. Bring back Jammer. He knew what to do with Wigan!

On the point about Lomax going off, on GF not only did we lose Lomax of course but we didn't have Wello or Laffranchi (our best prop by some distance) as both were banned. This time we should have them all plus Wilkin on the pitch, which is bound to help. However, I still think the game will be won or lost up front.

So far as Gaskell is concerned, hopefully the present coaching team have continued what Royce was doing in that hopefully he is still training with Lomax and Lance so that he will keep developing and be in a position to step in when needed/appropriate.

Re: Half way point almost : Wed May 09, 2012 8:35 pm  

Defence will win this match, we need to get in there faces from play one. We,ve never this season played for 80 mins. Rush and KC needs to get inside there heads with believe that they can control and dominate this match. Putting lots of pressure (Soliola) onto Tomkins would severe the goons cutting edge.

Re: Half way point almost : Wed May 09, 2012 10:03 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

I'd say having 2 working halfbacks on the field will help against Wigan.

Cardiff Last year no Pryce, no gaskell
DW last year no Pryce, no eastmond, no gaskell and Wheeler taken out
LP this year lost Lomax after 16 mins.
loss of half backs against Wigan recently has been reaching epidemic proportions.

However I shall now duck and cover for the Lance comments.

I do wonder though whether both Lance and Lomax are fully fit as Gaskell has made a return to the 19 in the last 3 or 4 weeks. He was 18th man on Friday last week, I was wondering if that was a precaution in case one of them did not make it through training???

Don't forget O/T the season previous either with no Pryce, Eastmond or Wheeler (again)... By the law of averages we're due 2 halves staying fit for the whole 80 against them at some stage. I just hope Lance can finally pull a performance out of the hat to go with that bit of luck - Lord knows he's due one by the same law of averages...

Re: Half way point almost : Wed May 09, 2012 10:15 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

But we did have Eastmond and Wheeler on the pitch, so we did have two halfbacks. However, you did say 'working' halfbacks and Eastmond wasn't really working at that stage.

I don't think our halfbacks are the problem. I just think our lack of bash is. Bring back Jammer. He knew what to do with Wigan!

On the point about Lomax going off, on GF not only did we lose Lomax of course but we didn't have Wello or Laffranchi (our best prop by some distance) as both were banned. This time we should have them all plus Wilkin on the pitch, which is bound to help. However, I still think the game will be won or lost up front.

So far as Gaskell is concerned, hopefully the present coaching team have continued what Royce was doing in that hopefully he is still training with Lomax and Lance so that he will keep developing and be in a position to step in when needed/appropriate.

I'm glad you noticed the working element. Also that first game against Wigan I think was Wheelers first game at halfback for the first team.

I forgot about the halves missing in the Final against Wigan.

I know forwards lay the platform, but without a potent attack there is no pressure applied to the other side.. You can have all the big running forwards you like but with no plays a decent defence with hold them out. A team like wigan can match the bash in defence, it makes the game easy for them, they don't get run off their feet and have plently left in the tank to charge down field. Run at them with creative attacking plays and then they will have some work to do.