Michael, chill out. No one is saying that the conditions weren't the same for both sides. What we are saying is, that our team (Cas) can't play in crap conditions. When the sun is shining and the pitch is perfect we're world beaters and fancy our chances against anyone. I haven't read anywhere where a Cas fan has said we deserved to win because it was plainly obvious Wakey were the better team and can play in crap conditions.

We're not bad on a dry pitch in the sunshine ourselves.

I keep having this argument about the conditions and whilst I have to agree they were the same for both teams, even before the kick of I said I was worried that the conditions wouldn't be in out favour. They were of course bad for both teams, but I feared that we wouldn't handle as well as Wakey and that proved to be the case.
We were beaten by the better side on the night, that's beyond dispute and the tactical awareness of JK, who has done his homework on us, but we did still blew a number of chances in that first half that might have changed the complexion of the game.

I agree and that is fundamentally what I'm saying. We are a marginally better side (and SL is a very marginal thing) because seem to be able to adapt this year, don't forget you are the fourth team we have beaten by a 20 point margin this season with tries scored mainly from the backline.

The difference for me comes down to options and it stuns me none of the pundits have noticed this. Cas and a number of other teams have a couple of playmakers, you have three IMO in Hudson, Shirwin and McGoldrick.

Now look at Wakefield. Yesterday we had, Martin, Drew, Obst and Brough - that is twice as many options as you had - and I feel when Drew came on it showed and then it showed again when Brough re-joined the fray. It only takes one to fire to win a game as it happens Drew and Obst were stand outs in this game.

Further to that not even in the 17 were Latu, Rooney and Grix. Now I'm not saying individually these guys are the best, but it gives us options, it gives us a chance to pick on form and above all it keeps pressure on players to perform.

Kears philosophy seems to be that you need playmakers first, then a pack then the fancy dan backs. Without playmakers and enough of them you can't change the game to suit the situation, without a pack of course you can't give the halves the space they need.

You can see it in ours squad, the only backs to arrive with a reputaion were Petterson, Martin and Blanch the rest are all bargain buys and homegrown.

Not so with the halves, they all came ready made apart from Grix and we have plenty of them.

Now before you think I'm getting ahead of myself I'm not. I don't think we are vastly better than you and on any given day you could reverse the result, or that we are likely to win SL I'm not that daft or up myself. I just think we have a far better team than we get credit for and the way it was constructed is an object lesson in how to use your resources. That's not to say it won't go t*ts up, that is the thing with sport anything can happen and we are as vulnerable as the next.

There are terific things happening at Cas and SL in general IMHO as well but you need to runs before you can walk and it's taken us 3 years to get to here (here is pretty fragile place all the same). We now have a backbone of players who have been with us a while now, you have not quite got that yet for obvious reason and I think it makes a difference. We will only know how much about August time

Are you serious ???

why we still talking bout this game, we've got an other one to think about in a couple of days.

Because we want to, and because its a forum.

If you want to talk about mondays game create a new thread.

Wakey's "cup final"...