i cant see us beating saints or wigan in next few weeks. on current form hull have a gimme to next round =/

i really dont understand why we are playing so terribly

2 wins from last 7 in league. Just not acceptable or good enough several players are just not good enough and neither is the coach, big changes needed in off season.

It does feel depressingly like last season, bright start followed by an accelerating decline. Cas are a good side and we have some key players out and a short turn around, but to lose at home with such a lacklustre performance especially defensively, does not inspire confidence for the end of the season. Still get those key players back, get our first choice 17 out and this could all look like a blip.

Cas are a poor side devoid any real talent. If McDermott can't beat this lot with the squad at his disposal no wonder he has a constant stream of critics.

With this performance, Brian has earned quite a bit of criticism tonight.

And yet when those of us on here were saying to rest, rest, rest for the Wakefield game we were shouted down and McDermot encouraged to select the strongest team available.

Simple as - we played a tough game at the magic weekend and lost players to injury and fatigue, put the entire first team out against Wakefield and then did the same on a short turnaround for what we knew would be one of our toughest home fixtures. To be successful you have to take risks, and the risk worth taking was putting out the second team last weekend - exactly as we did against Bradford and London last year which by the way worked perfectly, as we won the Challenge Cup.

We have the benefit of a 9-day turnaround now and the emphasis has to be on starting well, tightening up the defence and getting the ball wide. It's all very well having the best outside backs in the league but if our decision-makers are constantly throwing short balls inside and never getting us out of the central 20 yards of the park we aren't going to be scoring tries.

Lastly, what the hell was the point of benching Sinfield? He came on and dragged us back into contention, giving us field position and a kicking game we'd woefully lacked in the first 40.

It's alright saying "get the ball wide" but when the players in the middle aren't gaining quick ball, it's not going to make much difference.

Injuries haven't helped either, and we didn't have much choice against Wakey, but to play whom was available, but Cuthbertson, Ward, and Peacock look in dire need of a rest.

Doubt you were shouted down in reality. It was pointed out that we really didn't have anybody else to pick against Wakefield due to injuries.



Sinfield dropped just two games before the CC game vs Hudds.

Dropped to the bench just two games before the CC game vs Hull. (Maybe not picked at all if we'd have had more numbers fit)

Again the CC rears its head on this teams focus.

The quicker we are knocked out of the Mickey Mouse cup the better.

I can see why 35-year-old Kevin Sinfield was on the bench rather than playing 80 minutes twice in 5 days. I can't see why he was brought on for Aiton not Burrow.

Getting a team to focus solely on the games that aren't included in the season ticket price. Classic Hetherington.

Because Aiton looked absolutely knackered, thats why.