Re: Challenge cup final : Sun Jul 18, 2021 3:44 pm
Saints were nigh on perfect second half. Strangled the life out of Castleford and managed the clock outstandingly. We had two spells of about 12 minutes in the second half where Cas didn't even touch the ball, just didn't give them a chance. 20-0 second half without us ever really clicking or attacking well.Darryl Powell lost them the final. He panicked after the semi final and seemed obsessed with getting the strongest names onto the teamsheet. He didn't seem to care what state they were in, as long as they were named. They fielded weakened teams and pathetically conceded the game against us and chose not to field the first team players against Salford. So instead of carrying one or two players who haven't had much gametime, he was fielding 13 or 14 players who had barely played in weeks. Given the heat and the occasion it was always going to cost them. Had they played the Saints game, they would have had a week off, then played Salford. Then 6 days off before the final. It would have been much better preparation and worst case maybe would have cost one or two players a spot through injury or suspension. He could have had much more gas in the tank and chose not to.