We know where the problems are, KH knows and the board knows.

In reality though, where are these quality, game breaking hookers and half backs that play for championship wages and fit under the championship salary cap? I suspect that is the biggest problem……....

For a start theres one playing at Leigh that didnt want to leave............

To be honest, after 2 tough games, a trip to Cumbria was always going to be a Banana skin, and I expected we might be turned over.
Theres not much the coaching staff can do this year with our current combinations either. We might as well throw in an unknown quantity and start preparing for the future, give Freddie some game time, get Nanyn back and start making the harsh decisions with the players who either cannot or do not perform at this level anymore, one of them brought his Rochdale reputation for a few months but has gone backwards and the other one has lost his roar and is playing more like Bagpuss than a tiger. These are key positions, it must be demoralising for the forwards smashing the ball up continually and having it wasted, and the same for the backs, not getting any decent space or ball to work with and having to drive it up like forwards to keep their places.
If we persist with this system and these players and get knocked out in the first round of play offs we will have missed golden opportunity, we've nothing to lose now. Freddie and Rob will at least give us a chance of returning the ball with interest and getting us on the front foot, Mick scores tries at any level and in any team, and if key ball players are not clicking, its dumb to think things will change. We look spent and short of ideas at the business end of the season again....
Its time for Karl and Lee to step up and make the big calls.

I'll echo a few of our players look like they are carrying a few too many pounds, its a professional sport, you should want to be the best you can be at any level, like Tyrer admitting he was a stone overweight earlier, surely the coach would ensure they keep in shape. An extra stone is the difference between getting to a position to make that tackle or not. We look very unfit.

In this game theres no room for sentiment and its time to say farewell to a few I think, Patto has been great for us but for a team challenging or who wants to challenge the top we need fresh players, young driven hungry players, like that Freddie guy in the reserves, get him in, players with something to prove not journey men.

I said at the start of the season I don't mind playing reserved rugby as long as it gets results and is effective against the top teams, well its not, any team worth their salt we struggle against. Our record against any team around is shocking and we don't look anywhere near as organised, fit or clinical as them.

I don't have a season ticket this year, wont buy one next year unless I see things change, so the comment rhino stated after the fev at home thrashing seems a bit untrue now, that its not about now its at the end of the season, detest comments like that, professional sports is about now, the moment etc, all this 3 year to build plan too, what does that say to the fans. Its about now, the results now. You don't see fev or Sheffield saying the same.

For a team like us with the resources we have and structure off the pitch we are way short of performing and behind the other teams. Its not acceptable, as for the players, if you not prepared to be a fully professional sportsman and keep yourself in shape or be the best you can be then move on, its not a hobby its professional sport, even at this level.

Is that the same one that is coming to the end of his career and was getting smashed on here by some last season for his decision making and the hospital passes he threw?

Face it. The stand out game breakers in the championship play have contracts with other clubs and we can't afford a transfer fee. So, where will these players come from?

Contracts mean didly squat nowadays. Other clubs find these players. Also how about promoting from the ranks, few players in the juniors at fax worth a shot. Rhino seems to have his faves and its a closed team for anyone else.

We have one of the best amateur clubs walking distance from the Shay and we don't seem to have many players playing for fax first team who came from that club. I presume super league clubs get a lot but other clubs in our division have local players who if they turn out to be a good un then go up to super league, why cant we do that.

Fev can attract players, we cant, wonder why?

Really? Barlow signed for fev then, or is he on loan cos none of the three parties can break his contract ?

Maybe we don't promote from within or pick up local amateurs cos these players aren't deemed good enough? Our under 21s get a battering most weeks

Fev attract players cos they are currently the team winning things

Yea impression I get is contracts mean nowt, look at super league more so then our league but still feel this is the case.

Our local players are good enough for a lot of super league clubs it seems, thing is we are then competing with super league clubs and kids will sign for them rather then us, though still feel we have enough local talent to address this issue.

Didn't we win the arriva cup last year and grand final 2 years before that and make appearances in 4 finals in total.

So Barlow signing a 2 year deal at Leigh.... Explain that one to me with a year of his contract left?? Waddy is right contracts mean nowt if a player wants away.

Contracts mean nowt, Barlow is contracted to us...is he playing for us.....no.

Contracts mean nowt nowadays.

Unless we agreed to release him.

No sherlock, he doesn't want to play for us so we cant force him using his contract, so has the contract he signed for us with worked, no.

He made his mind up he didn't want to play for us and we loaned him out.

Yep the same one that looked a cut above any of our playmakers last Wednesday playing on one leg. Penky on one of his off days is still better that what we have in that position this year when they have their best day.

There's certainly no doubt in my mind that we would be top with Penky AND Murrell in the side. I've lost count of how many matches were won by Penky - either by try scoring or coming on and totally changing the game.

No details in this weeks press on signings except to say that Halifax's recruitment drive is well underway.

The link to Mennel is there again saying he is close to agreeing deal.

Unfortunately he has just dislocated his shoulder so have to be carefull on that one as they can be difficult to recover from depending on the damage and a scan is planned on that front.