It is evident in both these two games that the players are now aware of our attacking 'problems' and somewhat panicking in good ball. We had so much pressure in to Toulouse 30/40, but continued to force the pass or take the wrong option. We need to go back to building pressure, forcing repeat sets and eventually teams will crack. Our defence was good again on the whole and the scoreline was far from the truth really. They scored two lucky tries from high kicks (granted ours was a lucky rebound from a kick), one from a another kick through and one of the Toulouse wingers scored from inside his own half, beating about 10 defenders!

Agree with most of the latter posts, against better teams, every team gets exposed, does not matter which sport. No matter what the coaches and players say in public, what is really expected behind closed doors. Fax defied the odds all season and made top 4, a fabulous result in its self, but as fans are we sometimes a little delusional and think we are all of a sudden world beaters ?
Take the extra exposure and build on it, because sure as Leigh and Fev would love to be in our position.
Stop bulling the lads up during the week, then castigating them after the game. There is a reason they are in the Chamionship and not full time pros, be thankful we have a team that is in the mix!

Congratulations to al concerned at HRLFC for continued improvement year on year.

Up the Fax

Good post which about sums it up.

All I would add is that with the area of attack being clearly one that all season has not been at it's best the club takes some steps to address it for next season if at all possible.

Is it the halves, is it the pack not laying a platform, is it the backs, is it the game plan or a combination of all of them?

A very good post Dave as you rightly say Fev and ourselves would love to be playing in the middle 8s against the better teams, we are at home this afternoon against Barrow ,should be a decent crowd and hopefully a good game , but not what we wanted.
Fax have done great this season and exceeded all expectations ,though not from Fax fans I expect, however as a part time team and a low budget RM has performed very well.It's easy to want your team to win , but playing against even low end SL teams and the high end Championship teams each week is difficult.
Fax may not win a game in the 8's , but at least you are there ,good luck for the rest of the season.Charlie.

The players are done for the season. Imagine the amount of effort that it took for them to make the top 4. Then you immediately pat them on the back and say, "Well done, but now you need to do it all over again, only this time with a few SL teams too."

We are part time, of course we are out of our depth.

Hopefully a two week break will help recharge their batteries for the last lot of games, still a lot to play for.

I'm afraid it's damage limitation all the way....

Its a tricky one. Everyone banging on about how we should remember how we have done so well to make the top 4 which in reality is a great achievment but we end up in the middle 8's and stand a good chance of not winning a game for a second year on the bounce. Now last year despite making the top 4 we could not afford to improve the squad and talk suggests that it will be similar again next season but this year from a selfish point of view Leigh have fallen apart and Fev seem to be heading the same way so we should start the year with a good chance of making the top 4 again(if that is the structure).

Looking at Fev they did invest heavily in the squad and IMO were unlucky to lose both first choice half backs and would probably have made 2nd place if that were not the case so its very fine lines but we have to find a way to make the next step up and if that means making some unpopular decisions to lose players to bring in some quality then hopefully the club will do that.

As you say GFB it's a very fine line to be trod running a RL club. I note Featherstone have released/paid off Gareth Hock which is money down the drain and ludicrous for any club let alone a part time one. How do we get to the next step? I don't know but you would think and hope that having made the top four, and the benefits of that success, that we as a club are in a position to improve and build on the past few season's. Up The Fax!

Surely we can improve squad this time.We NEED at least 5 changes and it won't be a top 4 objective next year.

A whole new ball game these middle 8s, going from "knowing" they've a great chance to finish in the top 4 in the championship, to thinking there's little or no chance of finishing above the SL teams in the Middles, so must have an effect on mental prep. But keep plugging away, lads, and try to get a win under your belts.

Notice that Gareth Hock has left Fev. The guy is a total hot head but a great player at this level (he was a right handful against us in the Bash). If he's affordable, is he worth a punt, or would he upset the great bond in our team? (Despite being an on field hot head, he might be a great off field laugh. I don't know).

If the middle 8s have gone and its 1st v second I would spend money and go or promotion. I think Toulouse and Toronto will go up this year