: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:24 am  

phillgee wrote:

i don't think we'd have been silly enough to get his signature on a contract before he got over here. i also don't think we'd have his registration either.

i was wrong about the contract. I read the program on Friday and Hood is quoted as saying he signed. how would this affect the registration process with the RFL?

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:54 am  

Adeybull wrote:

Yes you can't deny the facts. Unfortunately neither can you get away from the financial realities as I keep saying, nor the way the competition has leveled-up so much such that no team should now expect to have the dominant runs we saw in the past when we really had a competition within a competition. After all, this is the same Hull KR who beat Stains on their own midden last week, and the same Hudds who beat Cats on theirs - both teams who finished above us last season - so maybe - as their fans rightly point out - people need to recognise these are much-improved teams?
As I said, why can't we give the team some space for them to demonstrate they can indeed perform the way we continue to be promised?

When you reflect on Friday, this lot from the T&A - and Morro elsewhere in the report fully acknowledges shortcomings elsewhere but does also emphasise the disruptive start to the season - may have some bearing:



At least that helps answer my question regarding why we seemed to be losing it in the hooker department. Maybe those who took issue with Newton on here will take note?

Sorry I'm not bothered that we lost to Huddersfield and drew with Hull KR. What I'm bothered about is in truth we never really looked like winning the games. If we play to our best and are beaten by a better side then fair enough but so far that's not happened.

[Bullseye]

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:21 am  

Glen Morrison wrote:

“Huddersfield got men into the tackle and slowed us down. They got us in the wrestle, did it all pretty good and it worked for them. They slowed us coming at them and it did get frustrating.

“When we were defending our defence was pretty good too. When we hit, we were hitting hard but there was a few times when we didn’t get the numbers in.

“Huddersfield got some quick play-the-balls and we know that’s what sides will try and do against us. It’s something we can work on.”

The comment above at least shows that players and staff are aware of one of the problems (and my personal bugbear!)

This has been an issue for yonks though and if our pack is as good as everyone keeps saying then we'll need to start showing it.

Its the lack of progress made by the side on things like this that get me down. While accepting the financial realities I also know that many players are currently playing beneath their ability. This would test the patience of anyone. If those of us that care the most are getting frustrated then the "floaters" will just not bother coming. I really hope there is going to be some improvement soon as I really fear a long hard season.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:05 am  

Bullseye wrote:

The comment above at least shows that players and staff are aware of one of the problems (and my personal bugbear!)

This has been an issue for yonks though and if our pack is as good as everyone keeps saying then we'll need to start showing it.

Its the lack of progress made by the side on things like this that get me down. While accepting the financial realities I also know that many players are currently playing beneath their ability. This would test the patience of anyone. If those of us that care the most are getting frustrated then the "floaters" will just not bother coming. I really hope there is going to be some improvement soon as I really fear a long hard season.

Another thing that will stop the "floaters" is the negativity in the crowd. Particularly when a certain Mr. Platt gets the ball. Last friday was the first live game I'd been to for a while and it surprised me how some people were reacting to him getting the ball.

There was even a fella who made the comment "he didn't do much last week though did he?" when he saw worrincy warming up. needless to say his mate soon reminded him he didn't play.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:00 pm  

If Bird does manage to get into the UK playing for Catalans, I'd be encouraging your club to protest to the UK Border Agency.

On the one hand he's refused entry to the UK by the UKBA in Australia(which I reckon was due to his character because of the court case) but on the other, he can (or so Catalans think) be granted entry by the UKBA at Manchester airport without his character being taken into account). The whole thing stinks and as I say, you'd have every right to kick off about it.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:15 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

The comment above at least shows that players and staff are aware of one of the problems (and my personal bugbear!)

This has been an issue for yonks though and if our pack is as good as everyone keeps saying then we'll need to start showing it.

Its the lack of progress made by the side on things like this that get me down. While accepting the financial realities I also know that many players are currently playing beneath their ability. This would test the patience of anyone. If those of us that care the most are getting frustrated then the "floaters" will just not bother coming. I really hope there is going to be some improvement soon as I really fear a long hard season.

We seem to get these kind of remarks every week from one player or another as well as McNamara.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:21 pm  

dissapointing news this, looks like we are guna have to do with jeffries all season. isnt this the last year of his contract though? I hope he goes.

[Bullseye]

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:25 pm  

Richard_bull wrote:

dissapointing news this, looks like we are guna have to do with jeffries all season. isnt this the last year of his contract though? I hope he goes.

Let's hope he gets better first eh?

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:38 am  

However, Bird may yet find difficulty playing in England. Although the UK Borders Agency have no objection to him playing in France... How could it possibly matter if they did? ... they say it will be up to individual immigration officers at UK airports to decide whether he is allowed entry into this country. So he could be let in one week and not the next? The Catalans, who will unveil Bird at a press conference tomorrow morning, see him as a direct replacement for centre or second rower Sebastien Raguin Link

However, Bird may yet find difficulty playing in England. Although the UK Borders Agency have no objection to him playing in France... How could it possibly matter if they did? ... they say it will be up to individual immigration officers at UK airports to decide whether he is allowed entry into this country. So he could be let in one week and not the next? The Catalans, who will unveil Bird at a press conference tomorrow morning, see him as a direct replacement for centre or second rower Sebastien Raguin Link

: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:50 am  

the updated version of the above link has an interesting line tagged on to the end

"If he is found guilty, his contract with the Perpignan club will be cancelled."

I wonder if we had that in our contract with him