I keep hearing this issue matter being eluded to by McD and others, anyone know what it is?
Thought we did OK on Friday fingers crossed for St Helens.

Welcome!

I watched the game back yesterday for the first time and noticed some reference to "off field issues" in McD's post match interview. I'm not aware of anything but there are plenty of people on here who allege to be "in the know". See how you go on........

I am a simple man, I thought he was just hinting at the issues with the training facilities.

Oh, come on. We can do better than that.

Who's Ferres been doing now?

He's referenced "Off field issues" a bit this year and I think the conspiracy theorists in us probably look at player misdemeanors, out partying, drinking etc etc firstly, but having thought back to other pressers and interviews in recent games the off field issues have been touched on if you listen closer.

The main one we’re all aware off is the Boxing Day floods and being forced out of our training base. No matter what anyone says it has had a massive impact on our season. I can’t remember where I read it or heard it the other day but someone said “professional sports people are creatures of habit” and minor changes to preparation, no matter how insignificant to us mere mortals, can have massive effects.

The other issue is training. Mac has mentioned there are players who can’t train otherwise they wouldn’t be able to play. Those that are injured are injured, but I fear we have a number of players who are carrying knocks who also have to play but are unable to give 100 or even 75%.

I'm thinking and hoping this is all he means.

We haven't taken the field this year with a fully fit squad and its shown. I think we've been caught on every breakaway, our chasing back has lacked and the forwards look gassed before the games even kick off. The complete polar opposite to recent seasons.

To quote the great D-ream. "Thiiiinnnnngggsss can only get betterrrrrrrr"

Yes, you might be right there. However, ss the training ground issue has been so well publicised, I just thought he would have mentioned that specifically, if that is what he was referring to.

Yes. And injuries.

Some of you on here really need to spend less time on here if you think it's anything else.

According to one of the players, the season has been disrupted by having to share gyms with all those who spend their time there mincing around with their sun tan injections.

It's most likely just referring to the disruption from the training ground being flooded.

He may have a point.

There's definitely been a concerted effort by the club to utilise all servile and unquestioning media assets available to them in order to get the MESSAGE OUT THERE!!!!

"IT WOZ THE FLOODS AND LOSS OF FAMILIAR FACILITIES THAT'S RESPONSIBLE...<insert added twist to tale of woe here>"

Given the restless and disgruntled mindset of the fanbase in recent times, that message appears to have temporarily assuaged the majority of the great replica-shirted unwashed.

For the time being anyhow.

Round 1 to GH.

Do you think the floods have had an effect?

According to JJB, folk like YOU have had an effect.

Do you think they should have had the effect of turning the best team in the competition to the worst?

Doesn't appear to have had anywhere near the same impact on the RU team - strange that.

Its a convenient excuse for the club and it diverts attention from the real issues:

1. Lack of quality young players coming through the system
2. Inability to recruit correctly to cover high profile departures
3. Pretty poor recruitment of the likes of Falloon, Galloway, Achurch etc
4. Poor coaching standards throughout the club with a first team that is seriously under performing

etc, etc

Perhaps if the club were honest about some of the above then you could take their constant bleating about the floods a tad more seriously

I think the affect if the training facilities will have an impact on the team. Fitness and conditioning are such a big part of the piece that I think messing that about to any extent week have an impact, I don't think we as fans can measure that impact. Add is often said when someone missed or season through injury it takes a number of games to get back to where they were, this is potentially happening to the whole team.

I do however doubt it is the sole reason for our demise. Losing Sinfield and peacock is huge. Id say the single biggest reason.
Injuries are part of our game and quite a lot of teams have a long injury list. As a big club we should have better depth bit it doesn't appear to be working that way