I saw this mate but I stand by my comment. I can just imagine the conversation. 'Tony Clubb is having a poor game, he must need a kidney removed!'
Seriously I don't know how anybody could have known but what an attitude the lad must have. To come back after 58 days and play like he did speaks volumes. Great to have him back.
A point of interest (glass half full), although our form is still scratchy, we haven't lost any of the last 3 games. The returning players are getting fitter and I'm confident we'll get a win in France next week.
If the Catalans of the first half vs Leigh turn up, we'll wallop them. Second, then we've got a game on our hands, returning players or not.
Having said, it's almost getting to a 'win or bust' stage if we want to get into the top 4, and that usually means we turn up, so I wouldn't be surprised to see us go unbeaten until the middle 8s now.
Nothing to do with recruitment. If we had the below team available I'm comfortable we would have won one or both trophies.
FB 22 Escare RW 2 Manfredi/35 Marshall RC 3 Gelling LC 4 Gildart LW 5 Burgess SO 6 Williams SH 1 S.Tomkins P 19 Sutton H 7 Leuluai P 10 Flower SR 14 Bateman SR 12 Farrell LF 13 O'Loughlin
S 9 McIlorum/16 Powell S 11 J.Tomkins/20 Isa S 15 Clubb S 17 Tautai
16 of those were in the 17 last night, and we were still poor. Still think its not the coaching staff's fault?
Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.
The_Enforcer wrote:
Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.
It was a general question to the Happy Clappers who think the coaching methods of SW & Co were fine and it was just a case of "When we got all our injured players back we'll thump the opposition".
I guess you sit with me on this one - we scraped our way through most games last season, found a bit of form at the back end when everyone else was losing theirs, just nosed the GF, and have been well and truly found out this season.
Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.
The_Enforcer wrote:
Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.
It was a general question to the Happy Clappers who think the coaching methods of SW & Co were fine and it was just a case of "When we got all our injured players back we'll thump the opposition".
I guess you sit with me on this one - we scraped our way through most games last season, found a bit of form at the back end when everyone else was losing theirs, just nosed the GF, and have been well and truly found out this season.
Somewhere in between I suppose. I thought we played terrible rugby for the majority of last season and would have wanted Wane out had we not won the Grand Final. However, since then we won the Grand Final whilst missing key players then won the World Club Challenge, so for me he now has enough credit in the bank to see how he goes next year regardless.
I don't think we could realistically expect the injured players to return and things to click straight away. They aren't used to playing together and morale must have been absolutely battered. Next season should the litmus test
Somewhere in between I suppose. I thought we played terrible rugby for the majority of last season and would have wanted Wane out had we not won the Grand Final. However, since then we won the Grand Final whilst missing key players then won the World Club Challenge, so for me he now has enough credit in the bank to see how he goes next year regardless.
I don't think we could realistically expect the injured players to return and things to click straight away. They aren't used to playing together and morale must have been absolutely battered. Next season should the litmus test
Grimy at face value your argument is valid however, we have played shoite rugby now for 4 consecutive seasons and personally my loyalty has has been shattered which is something i never thought I would say. Coaching wise playing wise something has to change otherwise ST sales will dive. Not knowing the stats but I'd wager a few bob that as reigning champions our ST growth after winning the GF will be the lowest in SL history because it's joyless watching us and gaining new fans has become almost impossible
Grimy at face value your argument is valid however, we have played shoite rugby now for 4 consecutive seasons and personally my loyalty has has been shattered which is something i never thought I would say. Coaching wise playing wise something has to change otherwise ST sales will dive. Not knowing the stats but I'd wager a few bob that as reigning champions our ST growth after winning the GF will be the lowest in SL history because it's joyless watching us and gaining new fans has become almost impossible
Id have thought that ST would if not exploded then significantly rose after the gf win,they didnt seem to though,no mind there was the WCC winthat had to have an the desired effect surely? yet it doesnt seem to have done,there are so many competing pasttimes nowadays the sport has to deliver both in terms of winning AND entertainment,the two are indivisible to me,the crowds seem at a flat figure unless theres plenty of giveaways such as the half marathon etc,i shudder to think at the "super" 8s and the pretty much meaningless games the side faces.
FB Escare RW Manfredi/Marshall RC Gelling LC Gildart LW Burgess SO Williams SH S.Tomkins/Woods P Sutton H Powell P Flower SR Bateman SR Farrell LF O'Loughlin
S Tautai (P) S Tomkins/Wells (P) (LF) (SR) S Ganson (Hooker) S New Prop?
...I like this, with some cap space to strengthen other areas?
FB Escare RW Manfredi/Marshall RC Gelling LC Gildart LW Burgess SO Williams SH S.Tomkins/Woods P Sutton H Powell P Flower SR Bateman SR Farrell LF O'Loughlin
S Tautai (P) S Tomkins/Wells (P) (LF) (SR) S Ganson (Hooker) S New Prop?
...I like this, with some cap space to strengthen other areas?
Have you forgotten about Club, replace Davies for Mashall as Davies is a right sided winger, who is Woods.
Have you forgotten about Club, replace Davies for Mashall as Davies is a right sided winger, who is Woods.
Josh Woods? Young half back?
I didn't forget, I just don't see Clubb, Isa or any of the other players above whats listed. Rotation/Squad players at best. The cap space needs to be used to bring in cover at centre?