After last night's game, I felt the need to come and have a vent, not only about the Fev game, but about the season in general.

This year has been the best season I have ever seen. It has been dramatic, entertaining and we have been winning, something which is very nice to see after years of disappointment.

However, IMO there seems to be an air of arrogance creeping into the club and it's fans. At 18-0 last night, the majority of the South Stand are chanting "easy easy easy" after what was a very well worked try. However, take your minds back 4 years, and how annoyed we were when teams like Castleford were chanting this? I for one thought "arrogant bar stewards!"

We have a head coach who has publically come out and said we are the best team in the league, we have an MP who has said we should be in SL (ok, nothing to do with the club but other fans won't know this) and supporters who are taking any opportunity they have to chant at the opposition how good we are, and how rubbish they are. It's only a few years ago we had the buckets out to try and save our club, and now we appear to have a superiorty complex over those fans that saved us! Why?!

Rumours are also circulating about the behaviour of individuals in Blackpool and Toulouse, which does not put out a very positive image of the club and IMO confirms the arrogant attitude that we are better than everyone else.

Yes, I am soooo happy we are top of the league, I have waited 24 years to see my team being successful, but having been through the cr@p, I and I'm sure others will agree, do not want to come across as being arrogant like Bradford and Leeds were a few years ago.

There is no need for anyone in our league to be like this, but unfortunately success will breed arrogance. I just hope we can stamp it out on the terraces and to a certain extent on the pitch.


Last night, Halifax completely dominated the first half in every area. However we were only 18-0 up. In the second half, we looked as though the game had been won, and it was a matter of trying to defend a lead. Throughout the entire game, there was no attempt to try and drag players into touch, and from what I saw, the passion wasn't there which has been evident in the "big" games agains Widnes and Cas this year.

Every team that plays us this year will raise their game. That is a fact, we are top of the league. Remember back to when we were in SL and which games we looked forward to the most - the big 4. So whatever we see on Sky, read in the papers about how different teams are playing, its a whole different ball game when they play us.

Last night, and up at Gateshead, we didn't look interested and were beaten by the team that wanted it the most, which in the position we are in at the momment, shouldn't be the case.

It was a massive game last night, and yet again we choked on the occasion. Ok, it wasn't a cup semi-final, or a game against 2nd in the league to decide who goes top, but a win last night would have opened up a nice gap between us and Barrow. Also, infront of 2400, would have ensured a big crowd for our next home game.

We seem to lack that killer instinct which enables us to put a team to bed, Whitehaven in the NRC semi's a few years ago, Widnes in the play-offs, Widnes in the NRC, Whitehaven in the play-offs and Featherstone last night.

If we are going to win this league, which we are capable of doing, we need to start playing smart rugby at critical times. Going for 2 points when there is 15 minutes to go was one of the worst tactical decisions I have seen in a very long time. Killer instinct, more like pussy cats - did Fev need any more motivation to believe they could beat us when we took that option?! A stupid penalty 7 yards from our own line by one of our most experienced players in the last minute of the game?! COMPOSURE!

I hope we learn from this game, that it's not over until the whistle blows, not when we decide to stop playing. From our experience, we should know that no lead is big enough to defend.

Featherstone deserved the victory last night, they weren't the classier side, but they played simple rugby, got in our faces and wanted it more - tactics which at the momment, will beat us every week.

agree.

good sensible well thought out post that claire...good on ya

I also agree Claire!!

Good post Claire.

After the Widnes NRC Semi -
Even so I still think we will be in the GF.'"

Very good post Claire

And to add to that..

Some people from this message board need a good long look at themselves as their behaviour was pathetic and embaressing last night.

Excellent post from Claire! Despite being top of the table I sense the club are beginning to `drift' with the opposition rapidly gaining ground. I would really be interested to hear what Claire (or anybody else) thinks should happen now.

Agree entirely, it ok talking a good game but its on the field where everything matters. Lets hope lessons are being learnt by everyone.

You have lost a couple of games - thats all . You were never going to go unbeaten in what is a very competitive league.

You will top the league and almost certainly make the GF . What makes the league all the more intresting is that no one can say who the opposition will be for certain .

Anyone from Us , Haven ,Fev, Barrow , Toulouse .

Enjoy your team , you should do.

The Vicar

Excellent post. can't agree more. javascript:emoticon('eusa_clap.gif')

You are absolutely right. Enjoy our team, I certainly do and I am enjoying the team more than I have done in the last 7 years.

Good posts folks.Couple of more points i would like to add.Although we are all fax fans , i do think we do not give enough credit to other sides.I've said before , this division is very competitive and Widnes , Fev, Sheffield , Haven , Barrow are just as capable as us.We have some real quality players but then so do Widnes , Sheffield etc.We have the best combo of props and hookers but not the best half backs , centres etc.I really think we are missing a proper stand off in the mould of Holdroyd , harris etc.Probably just coincidence but fev were 18-0 down then on comes Harris.OK he didnt set the world alight but its just his presence.Little passes , kicks, the odd carry,his experience. We dont seem to be able to change our game plan when things are not going our way-is that due to us not being good enough or just not having the type of player to be able to think on their feet and execute different plays.We have plenty of ball players but thats it.Last years kicking game was excellent , this year its not.
I hope that because we are not signing robbie paul we will go for a more solid type of player at 6 , so we will have the variety thats needed.

obviously gutted last nite..

got up whacked on teletext, to still see us 5points clear with games in hand, and a massive points difference on all chasing clubs.

all this with the guarantee that there will be alot more twists and turns, pointing to a cracking end to the season!

altho we blobbed big time last nite after one of the best 1st halves of the season, theres alot more to come from this side.

we missed larder last nite and remember, were without a recognised fullback after 5mins. not making excuses but it makes a big diff down to 16men with 75 to go.

must agree with claire tho, arrogance is creeping in, you dont get anything without hard work and passion....this team has both but showed little last nite.....

No real faxfans ever thought it was gonna be EASY!
but we're still in POLE POS!!!!

as if next wk wasnt important enough already, asif if we were offered this position at the start of the year we wouldnt have taken it, yes it could and prob should have been better, but we have to be positive.....

the lads have got a full week now in training to get sorted and go and show the vikings exactly why we are top of the pile!!!!