Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:47 pm  

Terrible performance, we look like a championship team. Prior to today London scored 1 try in 2 games, today they scored 5, if they had a kicker they'd have won

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:47 pm  

Spine has to be

Walker
Hoy
Smith
Houghton
Brown

Balmforth on bench

Brown

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:48 pm  

Great work by Smith to back himself at the end there. Something we’ve missed for a long time.

Tried really hard to lose that one and I don’t think there’s much to be gained from a full dissection. Win’s a win.

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:48 pm  

The games afoot wrote:

No they didn’t,they are a poor team tbh and looked clueless at times,we didn’t look good either but we looked like we could play.

Despite us been lucky, I'd say that we were still the best side and the stats I'm sure back it up, their kicking game overall was outstanding. Not something to brag about though beating a team of that quality (as I said pre game, there have all the odds against them)

Would love to know the percentage of ex players who score against us.

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:50 pm  

Would have no complaints if we had lost today. A win is a win....but....

London came with belief they could beat us, we have to be thankful they missed 3 conversions I guess.

It shouldn't take 75 minutes for a team to show more enthusiasm in the last few minutes of a game than they did all match.

Another solid performance from Staveley probably the bright spot.

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:51 pm  

The games afoot wrote:

Won’t we win another game then?

On that showing no.
Even Castleford are a lot better organised team than we are
I agree with Smiggs apart from making us into the most undiciplined team in S/L for the second successive season,Smith has done nothing with this squad either in structure,attack or defence.
He is known by HKR fans as tinkering Tony.Last week with Smith and Hoy in the halfs and Brown at nine we looked better despite the loss, yet just to bring Houghton back he moves players around and drops Balmforth who seriously has to wonder what he has to do to get into the 17.
We know Houghtion is solid but offers no threat from acting half,so we have to play Brown at nine.
For me the clocks ticking for Smith

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:54 pm  

We showed something different in attack today but kick defence was woeful. Matty Russel had the most energy running the ball in and was a refreshing change to the standard plodding forward. Last season we would have lost that game so credit to the players for playing till the end. I will take any win at the moment and even a poor win has to be a confidence boost for the players.
I was mystified by some of the calls from the ref today for and against us, will watch it back later.
Also credit to the handful of London fans they made plenty of noise in the North stand whereas our fans were flat for most of the match.

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:56 pm  

If Tony smith didn't have his reputation and this was an inexperienced Aussie coaching us for the same amount of time Smith has, his position would be looking increasingly untenable. We're regressing compared to how we were under Hodgson, discipline is terrible and too many dumb plays like watching the ball bounce out from kickoff

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:06 pm  

Think we need to take the positives from what was a very trying nervy afternoon

1: We scored
2: We won (by playing a get out of jail card!!)
3: Think that's it!

We all knew, in our hearts, it was going to be a year when our faith is tested but, based on what we have seen so far, it doesn't look like there are going to be too many highlights for us to cheer!!

I haven't felt this downbeat about where the club is going since 1999, these are dark days indeed and we desperately need a boost from somewhere, but heaven knows where it will come from

Re: London at home : Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:10 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

If Tony smith didn't have his reputation and this was an inexperienced Aussie coaching us for the same amount of time Smith has, his position would be looking increasingly untenable. We're regressing compared to how we were under Hodgson, discipline is terrible and too many dumb plays like watching the ball bounce out from kickoff

Smith hasnt had the budget the others have had, not really sure what people are expecting. Hes being told to bring and develop our own players, something he is doing and you cant throw them all in at once. Hes also inherited a squad that has players with contracts they shouldnt have.

I think some of you have short memories, im under no illusions we will finish low but young players are starting to break into the mold.

Yes today was terrible but they won and this team will get better when players return. Getting rid of Smith will solve nothing. Bout time the supporters realised whats trying to be achieved here and your going to have to show patience. Forget about the previous coaches, Smith has a totally different task.

Take pride that players like Staveley, Charles and Martin are not looking out of place. Last week Gardiner, Litten and Balmforth, these are the future.