Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:41 pm  

Well let's hope we do beat Bradford. There is a massive feel good about the club right now, thanks to all the effort and generosity of Matt and the people around him. They have worked hard to put the club back in a good place. Hard core support is not an issue, but newbies and returners can be fickle. Rubbish on the pitch can undo all the good work.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:17 pm  

Sounds like Hood may have picked up a knock and might not be available Friday, Hope Jowitt isn't too serious, when Jones slid into him when the ball went dead, looked at first Jowitt was hurt but seemed to carry on, ankle sprains usually you can do that but hope he's good to go Friday

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:59 pm  

asmadasa wrote:

Hopefully v Bradford it’ll be something like…

Jowitt
Walmsley
Pratt
Thornley
Croft
Lawford
Gale
Bowden
Doyle
Atoni
Ashurst
Griffin
Pitts

Subs
Vagana
Cozza
Uale
Smith

I'd go exactly the same. I imagine Lino will play over Lawford, mind. He's obviously a much more rounded, experienced player, and has bags of ability, but it's been painful watching him the last year or so, which is a crying shame because he's got the ability to tear these teams apart. If he strings together say 3 more poor games I don't see how Powell can justify keeping him in over Lawford.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:10 pm  

Yesterday doesn't worry me too much. We wouldn't have gone any further in the cup, it's just a bit embarrassing isn't it. The conditions just levelled the game, and some of Fev's less-praised players - Jones, England, Gale, Hardcastle - did a great job making it a 50/50 contest.

As the ground dries up I still think we'll be very hard to stop. Thornley and McGilvary would've really suited that game in a way that Franco and Walmsley just didn't. They're not powerful and as soon as they're hit they're easy to wrestle. But Walmsley particularly will be a weapon on a fast track when he can actually try and evade defenders in yardage. Franco was probably intended as cover but is going to end up playing most of the season - he'll be fine this year but I don't think he has much improvement in him sadly.

On a slight side note, I thought Harry Bowes had a 9/10 jumping in as a ballplayer. Fair play to him.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:51 pm  

We were pants, they were good and it still went to extra time. I thought Antoni and Vangana were the only forwards to look like making meters and none of our back line bar Pratt looked like doing anything either but I think a lot of that was down to the conditions. Fair play to Fev they were the better team and deserved it.

I think when were were on top and took the 2 to level it was a bit of a turning point. We were going well had just scored a couple of try's and had the momentum but we took the 2 rather than running it and never really got into their 20 again.

I thought it was also a strange choice of team with Doyle at 13 and booth on the bench. Nothing against them as they are both promising layers but I think yesterday was obviously going to be a big battle down the middle and another big body could have made the difference.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 5:00 pm  

altofts wildcat wrote:

We were pants, they were good and it still went to extra time. I thought Antoni and Vangana were the only forwards to look like making meters and none of our back line bar Pratt looked like doing anything either but I think a lot of that was down to the conditions. Fair play to Fev they were the better team and deserved it.

I think when were were on top and took the 2 to level it was a bit of a turning point. We were going well had just scored a couple of try's and had the momentum but we took the 2 rather than running it and never really got into their 20 again.

I thought it was also a strange choice of team with Doyle at 13 and booth on the bench. Nothing against them as they are both promising layers but I think yesterday was obviously going to be a big battle down the middle and another big body could have made the difference.

Yeah, said at the time that was a strange decision - we had them on the rack in their half and should have gone for the try.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 6:07 pm  

BarnsleyGull wrote:

Yeah, said at the time that was a strange decision - we had them on the rack in their half and should have gone for the try.

We had them on the rack after that it turned when Gale dropped the kick Fev put up. They got back on the horse at that time.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:23 pm  

Butcher wrote:

I'd go exactly the same. I imagine Lino will play over Lawford, mind. He's obviously a much more rounded, experienced player, and has bags of ability, but it's been painful watching him the last year or so, which is a crying shame because he's got the ability to tear these teams apart. If he strings together say 3 more poor games I don't see how Powell can justify keeping him in over Lawford.

Still out played Gale who as been bad over last two games ,so do you agree same rule for him

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:51 pm  

alegend wrote:

Still out played Gale who as been bad over last two games ,so do you agree same rule for him

Personally I would play Lawford and bring in a half from NRL (with a view to leading team over next few years). The new rule should have made some quality halves available. There was a list of players ready to break into nrl and I’m sure a 24 year old half was on that list and it was an impressive write up. Otherwise I’d try bring Hampshire in and play him with Lawford.

Gale and Lino back end of last year didn’t fire together other than 1 game and then playing together the limited times I’ve seen them this doesn’t inspire me with confidence. I don’t know if it’s the fact they don’t compliment each other or not but i really really hope that the halves can find something that works.

I will support Gale and Lino while ever they pull the shirt on and I really hope they prove me wrong (I welcome it) but I can’t see it. They will be fine against mid - lower championship but against the top teams where packs will match up to us I’m not sure.

Whoever gets the nod on Friday I’ll be cheering them on naturally. But I do worry a bit over the season.

Re: So what does that result tell us : Mon Mar 11, 2024 11:22 pm  

I can see Lino going out to Bradford or York in a similar deal to Torfua, at a push I think someone like Cas might take him if we were picking up part of his wage.
Before anyone starts, I’m not just judging him on the one game. I’ve watched him in almost every match he’s played since he arrived and apart from the match at Warrington where he looked really good attacking their line he hasn’t merited his place IMO.
I have no answer as for why Carter gave him a new 3 year deal, just lost for an explanation with that one!

I like the suggestion that we look for a really good overseas halfback, someone around the age of 22 to 25 who can do a Garen Casey and lead the team around whilst also possessing their own attacking threat. Let Lawford partner him and form a solid, young halfback pairing that can see us right for a few years. Gale as an emergency cover or play every now and then to rest one of the other two.

I’d take Hampshire in the short term, he can cover a few positions including Full Back where we really only have Max.