Good to get a win, but not a convincing display. Any team playing against us, after studying Friday's game would quickly see that we only have limited ideas of how to break a defensive line, and also many of our players hearts aren't in the game.

As ever there are 101 rumours flying around the club at the moment, here's a few of them which might give some explanation of what isn't working for us.

1) Shifty has asked for another year's contract, and hasn't been given one. In response to which he has thrown a strop and said that he might as well go home now, it's not worth staying here anymore. Added to his age, fitness, and injuries this gives some explanation of is lack of interest in playing for the team.
2) Westerman...is not seeing eye to eye with Matterson, and his respect for Matterson is dwindling quickly. If things don't improve he will be looking to leave.
3) Netherton, has been told by Matterson that he should start looking else where. Hence why he isn't even getting a look in the 19.
4) Shenton, is going to Leeds. He wants to stay at the club, but not under the current atmsosphere and lack of spirit within the team.
5) Rangi doesn't get on with Shirwin, as he can see through him and how he is overpaid and milking the club.
6) Brierley, is not being mentored well and is getting a feeling of being messed around.
7) A general split throughout the team between those who can do no wrong in Mattersons eye's, and those who can do no right.

Cutting through all this Matterson's name pops up in a negative way all too often. IMO Matterson has taken us as far as he can, but for us not to lose the young talent that we have, it's time for change.....and I don't think Andy hay is the answer! Sadly, I think that these disruptions in camp will show through the season, and we could have another season of dis-content down the lane......I hope that I'm wrong!

I wonder if any of the above is true? I thought Shenton was off to Wigan? If Chase doesn't like Sherwin why are the constantly seen boozing together? Brierley has a stress fracture so there's not a lot to monitor right now. As for Shifty, if he does want another year then surely he'd try impress and we might be tempted (lower salary) or another club might take a punt for a year.

Shenton, I guess we'll have to wait and see. With Senior moving into the forwards, who knows what would happen with their back. There is a rumour that Lee Smith could be returning to Leeds. Why Chase and Shirwin are seen out I can't explain, but I'm told it's a case of tollerates, rather than good drinking buddies. However, watch the two of them on the pitch and it isn;t a close partnership! As for Brierley, he's not ready for 1st team yet but it's a matter of 'mentoring' not 'monitoring'. He's not getting the guidance that he needs and hence he's getting a feeling of exclusion, rather than being a key building block for the future. As for Shifty, yes in our logic we'd think that he should dig in and prove that he is worth another year, however some could say that he's rarely dug in and proved that he is worth the pay, or contract that we offered him in the first place. At £150K/year and playing 30 to 40% of a season, he should be playing like trooper week in week out as a debt of gratitude to the club for sticking with him so long. However, he is again one of Mattersons favoured few who can do no wrong. When other players look at what he is being paid, the game time he is playing and the committment he isn't giving...it creates a resentment, against him and Matterson.

Spinning this around on it's head, what positives do people think that Matterson is putting in place for the season or next season? There is nothing leaping out to me!

I didn't think you were that good but we were worse.

I was surprised we were still in it at the end considering how bad we were in comparison to other games. We were an ankle tap away from getting a draw assuming he would have run it under the posts and the kick would have been a formality.

Aside from that enjoyed the night and the Jungle is definitely up there as one of my favourite grounds in Super League. A proper rugby league old style ground and long may grounds like this exist. If there were more of the same the game would have a better atmosphere all round in my opinion. Good luck for the rest of the season and here's hoping both sides can step up a few gears next week.

I stopped here to pay respects to you as a comic genius, I didn't read the rest of the post, but I think I'll have to go get my split sides sewn back together before I can manage the hilarity

Mate, this side isn't worse then the team that were relegated in 2004

You had. I've merged the two.

In terms of the performance on Friday I thought Cas were utter garbage. There were two occasions when we actually opened up a bit and threw the ball about which lead to two really good tries in the first half. I'm confused as to why we didn't do that more often. Crusaders bombed so many chances throughout the game that the fact we won was actually more of a let off than through our own effort and composure.

I suppose winning was a bonus though since it wasn't something I expected in the slightest.