Quote batleyrhino="batleyrhino"I was thinking about this last night and I'd agree with Rob's post. We seem to be deliberately holding back, keeping some gas in the tank if you will, with one eye on the latter part of the season.
If you look at the last three defeats, we very nearly pinched it at Quins, we very nearly pinched it last night, and we got beat fair and square by Saints in a tough game. Add in that we were getting done by Hull until we pulled our socks up and a picture is starting to crystallise.
If they are applying the brakes now to save energy, without doubt it's a risky strategy, but one I think this bunch of players is capable of pulling off.
Some will see this as believist, but I'd prefer to be "happy with a glass half full than miserable with a glass half empty".'"
And this my friend is a perfect illustration of the hypocrisy I am talking about.
All of last season Smith repeatedly stated that the team's objective was to peak in Sept/Oct. The players said this. During the "slump" last year none on here would have a word of it. Nobody. You were one of his sterner critics though you were not alone. it was dismissed as an excuse as the blood of our greatest ever coach was bayed for.
Yet it is exactly this mantra that you're all willing to roll out on behalf of Bluey to explain away the last three defeats.
I dearly hope Bluey can emulate what Smith achieved. I have minor concerns the more I see Smith's structure fading within the team and Bluey's off the cup approach being caught out more and more. Individual brilliance from talented players will not be enough to win this league and its' something we've been relying upon more and more.
