Dave K. wrote:
Thetalentboy wrote:
People are raving about Connor yet he single handedly lost us the match against Wigan
Yet people don't mention that or the interception against Wakefield
Bet they soon notice if the Wigan game was a play off match
If you think you can blame one person for a defeat than I'm guessing you have never played a team sport, he made a couple of mistakes, as did other people in the game,no one player can be blamed for a defeat like that.
Connor is a our most creative player and gets plenty of criticism, in fact as soon as he has a bad game it highlighted by people like you (who ash mentioed this a few times).
Him and Reynolds are the only pivots who creative something, as you could see yesterday. I love one person to tell me one chance Sneyd created yesterday (you can include kicks) what other halfback in the league, doesn't create one chance and this is a one of things.
I agree on Houghton, great defensively and can scoot well on the back of a quick play the ball, but doesn't create enough for a hooker (which he was in 2016/17), we certainly need another hooker and if Sneyd doesn't improve we then maybe another pivot if we want to challenge.
I know it isn't Hodgsons fault, but have two quota players (One of which doesn't play) and probably 200k tied up on wingers is really hurting us.
Have to say I agree with you Dave, quite how Jake Connor single handedly lost us the game against Wigan is a mystery, he got binned and gave a penalty away but these things happen both of which were contentious decisions I thought. Pity they only point out that and not the fact he was pretty involved in other positive aspects of our play in the game. In regards to the Wakey game and the intercept, had that pass not been picked off then it was a walk in try for us and that is the breaks, I'd rather see a player take some risks with the ball than none at all. Again in that game his impact was again more positive than negative. So far Jake has created a much higher % of scoring chances and ones that we've converted in to points for as opposed to against.
In regards to Houghton we are back to flogging him in games for 80mins and his defensive work whilst admirable, we need more than just a defensive workhorse. At the start of the season when he was fresh and when spelled last season he was looking more like the player from a few seasons ago when he would scoot and put some neat little kicks in. Last night I thought he looked jaded and after 60 mins he looked out on his feet and just don't understand when Hodgson had Johnstone on the bench he just didnt use him and spell him.
We also need more from Sneyd who was very disappointing last night, as with the surface being wet I thought we may have put at least one or two grubbers in when in the Catalans 20. I thought Catalan did a job on Reynolds to snuff him out the game plus our go forward once either Satae or Sao were off was non existent due to the lack of size. We failed to turn around the Catalan pack throughout the 80 and make them work their way out their own 20.
Again I agree that having 2 quota players with only one playing each week is also hurting us, personally I though having Faraimo on the wing and Fonua on the bench as a utility forward to give us some size on the bench would have been a better option. Not having Brown on the bench was also a big mistake by BH unless Brown was a slight doubt as a bench of Cator, Fash, Johnstone & Scott was just far too lightweight when against a large side like Catalan.
Last night was disappointing but we knew there were going to be games that don't go to plan and last night I think was one of those as we just looked off the pace.
