I believe that was Peets game plan and it worked a treat.
I'm not sure if it did work a treat. Ultimately we won, so that's a positive & the be all and end all.
That being said, we were poor in the 1st half and a lot of that was due to the poor distribution and general lack of effectiveness from Shorrocks imo. All ifs and buts, but if Wire take their simple chances, it's 18 - zip at HT and we've left ourselves with too much to do. Obviously, that didn't happen but we did get lucky. I doubt Peet's plan was to hold on by the skin of our teeth and then blitz them for 30 mins. If it was, then it's a crazy plan.
For me, in the big games, you pick your best team and against, for me, French - Field - Cust is a stronger 1, 6 & 9 than what we started with. Yeah Cust wouldn't have had run riot right from the start, but he's a better player than Shorrocks and logic would suggest he'd have made the team click better.
Apologies to pick on your post to view my thoughts on the Cust to 9 debate, I was getting frustrated with so many previous posts on the subject but didn't get chance to reply and now I have, yours is the one that has reminded me to reply
Pre game Friday we were in the local Chop House early on and an ex poster from here (ABP) was in and he was very concerned about the game. Keeping it simple we said 2 things 1/it's always more nervous against a rival like wire/saints because you dread the thought of losing to them more
But 2/ When discussing the game and before we knew the team we said to him play Shorrocks at 9, French wing and Field FB Plan should be to take them in down the middle for half an hour, and then do exact same thing again, and again, and again, because we would dominate in this area and tire them out. We then Said Cust to 9 and it also gives us the ability to then "change it up" with Field at 6 and French at FB with slight change in centre I.e. KPP moving there and Bibby wing etc. We didn't discuss Magos introduction, but that, along with changing things up around the 55min Mark changed the game
But
To change the game does disservice to the hard work and platform first 50mins or so and no way would Cust for example be able to play as he did last 20/25 in the first 20/25 He found that space etc due to the hard work in the first 50/55 Also, I would rather go that way, than start with Miski and play French at 1 and Field at 6 and then figure out how to take players off to mover Field to 1 and French to Wing, doesn't seem as easy and or provide a change up I believe that was Peets game plan and it worked a treat
Moving forward, is it an option, absolutely
But O'Neil, and subsequently Powell when he returns start the game every week for me.
I imagine Peet listened to Watson’s half time comment of Warrington collapsing. When you watch their games it’s completely true. They can’t hold a lead and can’t reclaim a lead when down. Their 1 dimensional attack of pass it to Ashton and run has been found out (waiting for Field and French joke) only upturn I seen is when Wardle joined them. Soon as the 2nd or 3rd try was scored it was clear to see Warringtons heads were gone
Regards to this game can see it being difficult but adding O’Neil in will be great. If we tot up a healthy score by half time I’d like to see us rest either French or Field. Maybe even just give Miski a start
I agree with Jukes in that it all seemed very much pre-planned to me, and that puts the first half into a better perspective. All that said, though, i still really like the idea of French at fullback and Field in the halves. At least some of the time.
I'm not sure if it did work a treat. Ultimately we won, so that's a positive & the be all and end all.
That being said, we were poor in the 1st half and a lot of that was due to the poor distribution and general lack of effectiveness from Shorrocks imo. All ifs and buts, but if Wire take their simple chances, it's 18 - zip at HT and we've left ourselves with too much to do. Obviously, that didn't happen but we did get lucky. I doubt Peet's plan was to hold on by the skin of our teeth and then blitz them for 30 mins. If it was, then it's a crazy plan.
For me, in the big games, you pick your best team and against, for me, French - Field - Cust is a stronger 1, 6 & 9 than what we started with. Yeah Cust wouldn't have had run riot right from the start, but he's a better player than Shorrocks and logic would suggest he'd have made the team click better.
Without wishing to send funny you have the advantage of hindsight (as do we all at this point). And Using phrases like we got lucky, skin of our teeth, blitz them for 30mins is a crazy plan etc isnt correct as that wasn't the plan obviously, and is also emotive to fuel the argument one way
I could turn round and say if we'd started with Cust he wouldn't have been as good defensively as Shorrocks and left more holes than a sieve and we would have been 24 nil down He didn't, We weren't, well never know Also, Cust is a better player than Shorrocks, but that doesn't necessarily make us a better team, because I could easily say French is a better winger than Miski so by bringing Miski in and moving French to FB etc and making 4 changes we are weaker so it makes the team worse. Doesn't work like that
Not going to get all eat up about it, and there is no doubt Shorrocks had an average/poor game (I think he's capable of much better than that) but pre game they don't have the advantage of knowing 100% what will happen.
I think Cust9, Field at 6, French at FB and Miski wing leaves us backed into a bit of a corner if it doesn't work, and imo isn't set up for the early part of a game where defense/stability is required more. The other way round I can see much more flexible options (plus it's the way we'll likely play when either of our 2 x real 9s are back) and it gives us an easier option to switch to if required and again imo, the switch this way gives us an extra step up/attacking threat at the point we may need it.
TBH All opinions
And my urge to reply Friday night/ Saturday when I didn't was as much to do with some of the predicted responses I saw mainly on the other site (why I look I don't know ).
Without wishing to send funny you have the advantage of hindsight (as do we all at this point). And Using phrases like we got lucky, skin of our teeth, blitz them for 30mins is a crazy plan etc isnt correct as that wasn't the plan obviously, and is also emotive to fuel the argument one way
I could turn round and say if we'd started with Cust he wouldn't have been as good defensively as Shorrocks and left more holes than a sieve and we would have been 24 nil down He didn't, We weren't, well never know Also, Cust is a better player than Shorrocks, but that doesn't necessarily make us a better team, because I could easily say French is a better winger than Miski so by bringing Miski in and moving French to FB etc and making 4 changes we are weaker so it makes the team worse. Doesn't work like that
Not going to get all eat up about it, and there is no doubt Shorrocks had an average/poor game (I think he's capable of much better than that) but pre game they don't have the advantage of knowing 100% what will happen.
I think Cust9, Field at 6, French at FB and Miski wing leaves us backed into a bit of a corner if it doesn't work, and imo isn't set up for the early part of a game where defense/stability is required more. The other way round I can see much more flexible options (plus it's the way we'll likely play when either of our 2 x real 9s are back) and it gives us an easier option to switch to if required and again imo, the switch this way gives us an extra step up/attacking threat at the point we may need it.
TBH All opinions
And my urge to reply Friday night/ Saturday when I didn't was as much to do with some of the predicted responses I saw mainly on the other site (why I look I don't know ).
Yeah that's all true. I'd stay away from that other site & Redvee too - just as toxic and unhelpful as eachother imo.
16 points is far from being over, but we can't start the second half in the same fashion. It feels like another Leeds game, where we think turning up is enough.
You could see this coming a mile away. Just didn't think we would have the same motivation that they would have today. Hopefully Huddersfield losing will mean it isn't costly.