I think from the two friendlies so far its clear to see we have problems at 6,7,and 9. Ball distribution is as poor as I have seen it meaning we constantly struggle to make yards as players have to reach all over the place to catch the passes. It seems that young Ashall takes after his brother in that he is a penalty machine and to be honest Craig dosnt look like he really should be playing hooker. Karl looks in the same vein as Penky in that he seems to have an ability to go the wrong way at times. On the face of it though he is lacking the obvious class that Penky has, its still early days but it looks like missing out on Ellis and not been able to replace Penky with a player of equal or better quality may cost us.

As for the half backs its the same old same old. Like watching slow motion as they move the ball across the pitch with passes seemingly going anywhere but where intended. If Handforth`s kicking game isnt on like it wasnt today then he dosnt bring much to the team and the only time Thackery looks dangerous is when he is forced to take the line on when he recieves a bad pass and the rare times he just dosnt fling the ball somewhere. Maybe that is KH`s determination to try him at FB admitting that he dosnt offer anything at 6. The thing with that is we have a lad at FB who looked up there with the best half way through last season who now looks defunct of confidence.

All that said it does seem the route we are going down is just trying to out power teams so maybe get rid of the halfbacks and stick a couple of second rowers i those shirts and let a loose forward take us around the par, I mean it cant be that hard to adapt it seen as though most of the time its one out rugby and our most creative player is one of our props.

Nothing won in pre season though and there must be a young half back we can pick up somewhere from a SL club that could at least put pressure on the weakest links in the team.

A good analysis Greg, think Scott Murrell will bring something to the team, against Keighley he was great.
We nead a player that can make a break.
Where was Rob the Warriour today?
Why didn't the winger from Huds get a game?

Divorce?

from my experience you never recover.

how close to fitness are the likes of Nanyn,Tonks anyone know ?

Our lack of respect of the ball is where a lot of our problems come from particularly when we get into the oppositions half.
We hardly ever complete an attacking set and usually waste possesion early in the tackle count by throwing daft passes.

Continually turning over cheap ball when on attack and giving penalties when on defence isn't going to build momentum and pressure on the oppositon, only pressure on ourselves.

We then go into clueless mode, switch off and conceed tries with alarming regularity as a result.

Positives.
Well.
Dane Mannning put about 50 tackles in, Luke Ambler tried hard and Andy Brachek was solid, of the backs Ricky Sherrife looked the strongest.

KH spoke about the first contact and wanted an improvment but he did not get one, in fact we went backwards literally and figuratively.

Dewsbury deserved to win the game having won the collision in the tackle and when driving the ball in all day.
It will be interesting to see what the response is from the coaching and playing staff after this.

Tonks tweeted he should be about there for the sheffeild game and nanyn can't be far off now

Oh dear I was so looking forward to seeing us play again after missing the Keighley match and I came away a worried man, yer it was only a friendly but as others have said we are not creating anything and its the same old problem = half backs, for me Thacks just is not working, hopefully Scott Murrell will make a big difference.
We shall see when we play Batley as we need a huge improvement as so many players disappointed today only Ambler, Bracek, Manninh 9as ever) and possible Sheriffe stood out.

exactly.

Had a quick look on the Dewsbury message board and a word I keep seeing is enthusiasm...........maybe thats one that should be used in our dressing room.

Just looked at their website-are they really called the ostriches ?
thought the bluesox was the lamest ever.

The ostrich site is the work of a malicious batley supporter who was gay raped by a bloke wearing a dewsbury shirt years ago .