Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:05 pm  

As others have said, having Carlos, and Savelio back on that right edge will be a big plus and also having Ligi back will help our go forward too. I'd also have Mitch on the right wing too as think he's better defensively than Mcintosh.
No surprise they started getting a roll on when we only had one recognised prop in Fash on the pitch but the positive (apart some outstanding rugby in the first half) was that we would definitely have lost that game last season.

Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:11 pm  

Didn't see the game but listened on Radio Leeds.

They thought that the first half was more a case of Castleford being woeful rather than anything exceptional from Hull. Obviously they favour the West Yorkshire team so maybe that coloured their judgement.

But what a typical effort from a Tony Smith team. His teams love to play expansive rugby but are not nearly so keen on defending, He's been away from Australia for so long now I do believe he is out of touch with modern coaching methods.

Castleford couldn't quite pull off a remarkable recovery but had the game gone on 5 or 10 minutes longer they surely would have.

Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:12 pm  

2 mistakes in that second half nearly undid all the good work in the 1st half. Firstly, Smith taking Evans off and not putting another prop on. We had a pack of Cator, Lane, Fash, Lovodua, Houghton and Griffin, and we lost our control of the ruck, as a result they then scored 3 tries I think...before error 2 of the half...McIntosh pass to Hoy after collecting the kick. Absolute shocker and think they then scored twice.

Hopefully Smith thinks again about his bench, today it wasn't good enough. Brown must have been fit to be down as 18th man (HIA interchange)

Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:14 pm  

His Bobness wrote:

Didn't see the game .

says it all

could say the same about Wigan!

Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:17 pm  

Thought we looked really slick in attack. The passing was as crisp as I e ever seen us. We scored off two scrum plays, when was the last time that happened?!?. I've had my reservations about Dwyer and his distribution, but his running game caused Cas no end of problems.

Not to single out players but Mcintosh come up with two clangers. The pass to Hoy and a high tackle when we were under the pump. Think cas scored of the resulting sets. Thought Evans had a nervous start too.

Thought Smith got his interchanges a bit wrong today. Would've brought Dwyer, Taylor and Satae on a bit earlier to try and nullify them.

Glad we hung on but I'd make some changes for Leeds.

Not sure what Houghton brought. I'd take him, Scott and Cator out for Leeds and bring in Carlos,Andre and Ligi.

[Chris71]

Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:48 pm  

mwindass wrote:

Thought we looked really slick in attack. The passing was as crisp as I e ever seen us. We scored off two scrum plays, when was the last time that happened?!?. I've had my reservations about Dwyer and his distribution, but his running game caused Cas no end of problems.

Not to single out players but Mcintosh come up with two clangers. The pass to Hoy and a high tackle when we were under the pump. Think cas scored of the resulting sets. Thought Evans had a nervous start too.

Thought Smith got his interchanges a bit wrong today. Would've brought Dwyer, Taylor and Satae on a bit earlier to try and nullify them.

Glad we hung on but I'd make some changes for Leeds.

Not sure what Houghton brought. I'd take him, Scott and Cator out for Leeds and bring in Carlos,Andre and Ligi.

Fair assessment, like you just didn’t see what Houghton brought and don’t see the logic of playing him the whole 2nd half and having him, Lovodua & Dwyer on at the same time.

Listening to Smiths post game interview he intimated he maybe hadn’t helped with some of what he did. It was good to hear he wasnt happy even in the 1st half and thought there was some laziness etc.

Agree re McIntosh as those two errors were needless really and could have been much more costly. Thought the decision to have Evans, Satae & Taylor on the sidelines in the 2nd half also allowed Cas to make easy metres and get a roll on.

Didn’t sound like Carlos will be back on Friday due to a foot issue so Scott still in the 17 for Friday. Hopefully we’ll see Sao & Savelio back for Friday and Brown back in the 17.

Re: Cas home : Sun Feb 19, 2023 10:59 pm  

Conceding 30 points at home is not going to win any Comps so Tony is right to have a dig from day one !

We don't want Keegan-style matches 5-4, but rather Arsene Wenger 1-0 !

I gather we were playing a new style of rugby in attack - ' Tonyball'

Re: Cas home : Mon Feb 20, 2023 12:15 am  

Huge crowd rewarded with two points, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly disappointed with the final 20 minutes, but as Tony Smith said, it’s the first 80 minutes these lads have played for a while. When you walk away with a win, it’s forgivable, I have trust that this is something which will be worked on over the course of the season. Shame about Carlos having a setback, Sao and Savelio would be very welcome returns for Leeds on Friday

Re: Cas home : Mon Feb 20, 2023 2:23 am  

Smith On Humberside said pre game that he would accept the group competing as a successful season. He is either trying to nullify any preassure on the players from outrageous predictions or he has seen enough to know this squad isn't destined for great things. Unfortunately I think it is the latter and I guess us as supporters would accept the team just having a go and not getting hammered.

Post match he admitted he got a few things wrong but it is a concern we are hearing the word Lazy again and players crumbling under a bit of a rollocking. Be interesting to see who he keeps from the OOC list.

Re: Cas home : Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:38 am  

I think we have to be realistic, last season and a few beyond, the table doesn’t lie, we’ve been cannon fodder, capitulation was becoming almost inevitable, so yesterday’s result was very much a gain, Castleford did the double over us comfortably last season, so for me the two points were very welcome, and despite the exhilarating ending, and our decision making capitulating alarmingly, we hung on, result.

Considering our recent turmoil a fabulous crowd of over 15000 was absolutely remarkable, and shows just what would happen should we actually become the side we want to be, the long suffering supporters of our great club prove once again how steadfast they are.

Some superb passing from Tex creating a bit of style to our play, opening up Cas with ease, playing a clever brand of footy which has been missed for so long, for an hour with Dyer electrifying our go forward the two young Australians had solid debuts, and a strong Cas side were put to the sword, with a very nice brand of football, which was a joy to watch, it was at last, so good to be back, well for an hour anyway.

With again three hookers on the field, Westy was coming into his own, the more he was targeted by the crowd, the more it seemed to inspire him, and the rest of the Cas pack finally woke up, and after the withdrawal of Mahe, Cas destroyed our right edge defence at an alarming rate, this is one area of our play which must be strengthened.

Good result I’ll take it, small steps.