Out of interest how many games this season have Austin and Sezer started as our halves?

I forgot Sezer was playing until he scored.

awful game. dreadful.
I think smith has one eye on next year. yes he wants to do well this but its next he is building for.
need some quality coming through the doors though

Austin and Sezer are a big part of the problem of moving us forward next year, they're not a pair that wins a GF.

Austin’s certainly giving his all but is what he’s bringing to the table what we need from a stand off?

I think our halves are passengers for too many of the games. They should be calling the shots on the 3rd or 4th in attacking sets but it’s just not happening for some reason.

Shaw gave Tetevano and Gannon 4/10? Merely confirms what most are aware of !he is a click bait waste of ink!

What was todays attendance?

It worries me slightly, the players we’ve been linked to are not exactly established quality players, anything but tbh.

We’ve got a fair few players leaving, the players coming in need to raise the overall standard of the squad.

Tbf I thought Sezer started well, we had a couple of half chances down his edge, when we were well on top, only for a knock on to stifle it. But when it got tough he was nowhere to be seen.

Austin is really gritty actually but I get what you mean in terms of is that damning with faint praise when talking about a 6.

This, along with obvious cap space is why I think we have 2 starters to come yet, a Centre and a Prop or Back Rower.

We need to raise the quality of the 13 that take the field at the start of the game.

Agree we need to improve, I just don’t like the idea of signing our way to it. Every single time we bring in a name or a player with a reputation it doesn’t work. The list of players we have signed who are going to improve the quality of our 13 and haven’t done it is endless.
Seriously who was the last big name or player you felt was going to immediately improve the 13 who has come off?
We need to grow and develop our own players, that is what made us successful, that is what will make us successful again. We need to focus on bringing some younger players in and letting them develop for a couple of years. Getting a more balanced squad, we can then think about adding the Sparkle with a big name quality player or two.

Today showed me a few things, I think people have covered many above.

1. Leeming isn’t a captain or shouldn’t be the captain. I thought we looked better with O’Connor at 9 when leeming was injured to be honest. He just doesn’t direct us well enough. It was clear as day we needed to punch in behind the ruck before we went wide and despite being captain and 9 he didn’t seem capable of doing it.
2. Sezer just isn’t it for me. Goes missing, looks disinterested, doesn’t control the game. Great he scored but his overall game management isn’t good enough.
3. Austin has a go but just isn’t a top quality 6. That May he because Sezer goes missing so you want some level of control from him but I just don’t think either are really good enough.
4. Prior shouldn’t be in the 13 and if everybody was fit I’m not sure he will be in my 17 next year if he remains. Doesn’t seem to offer anything and looks completely shot.
5. Martin looks like a leader, he was the guy talking in the huddle post game. He has really improved and seems settled and like he can make something happen. Super impressed with him this year.
6. We miss handley and fusitua when they aren’t playing. I hope fusitua is back next week, didn’t look great for handley.
7. Mik is an absolute beast, god forbid if he gets an injury

Agree with almost all of that. Only slight point of contention would be that Sezer & Austin are powerless in terms of controlling the game when the ball keeps getting dropped before tackle three. If we had more strike in the centres (think Newman & McDonald) our expansive style would bring greater rewards. Rohan has got some stuff on his plate, but I wouldn't bet against him getting through it.

Looking at how upset handley was and on crutches if say he’s done for the season which is a real shame along with Martin hes been outstanding all season - on Martin, he should be captain next year.

Agree. We hugely miss Newman and Fusitua. Austin was playing on one leg. No where near fully fit. We showed great grit today. Didn’t play well at all but we know how to win. Hopefully a big prop or two to come in and a good centre.

What was attendance today? Seemed a big crowd

We look like a team running on fumes. The suspensions and injuries throughout the season have meant some players have had to play too many games while others have sat on the sidelines, and we've just played six games in less than a month with no margin for error. The attack has been faltering for a while, and we've only averaged 17 points in the last three games, compared to over 28 in the 13 games before that after Smith arrived.

It looks like its all caught up with us and I'd be surprised if we win next week. Certainly can't afford Catalans to get another big lead.