The problem is most of the 'bodies' referred to by BM in his post-match excuses have added next to nothing all year even when fit.

Regardless we are now heading toward the Middle 8s at a rate of knots. If we keep losing we'll go into that completely lacking in confidence. I wonder if GH is looking at a Segeyaro-style signing. Someone like Jackson Hastings if only for the rest of this year might make a difference.

I sympathise with you over the time wasting. Last week we played HKR and the play acting was ridiculous. Every time HKR coughed up the ball a player stayed down (Atkin like being shot by a sniper with no one near him) At this point several HKR staff ran on the field and play was stopped. The physio was always bent over the supposedly injured player but was always looking a at Shaun Lunt. As soon as Lunt gave the thumbs up the physio raised his arm and left the field. All this after their director of rugby Peacock condemed such tactics in an intervue.

The ‘bodies’ as you say have been in and out of the team constantly, have we had anywhere near our first choice team out at any point?

Its been far more topsy turvy than 2016 but in some ways the complete opposite as well, by this time in 2016 we had started to find form but we were at the bottom this year we had an ok start but gone downhill since the injuries hit.

FWIW i can see us scraping into the top 8 but getting to the CC final and losing, we need Myler back ASAP and to keep garbutt fit for us to avhieve either.

As you say, it was almost exactly this stage in 2016 that we started to win games. We went into the Middle 8s in reasonable confidence and with Segeyaro adding some zip at a vital stage. This year we started OK but since Wakefield away we've now won only one league game out of 9. Never mind Middle 8s form, thats bottom of the table form. The only reason we're in better position this year is because we started OK.

But we've got no momentum and no confidence, and its hard to see us scraping through - we've just lost games to our most direct competitiors, both of whom are winning more often than not and heading in the opposite direction to us. TBH its hard to see the CC being anything other than a distraction now - what chance this team plays its guts out the week before the semi final, or the week after, ditto the final if we get there?

People still hiding behind this bodies missing excuse, it really is silly. The fact that other teams manage with it seems completely lost. The fact that we have only managed to put in one decent performance also seems lost.

Had we put in the performance that we put in against Saints, against Huddersfield and Catalans we would have won simple as, and the bottom eights would’t talked about. We had the players missing against Saints. The fact is it goes deeper than players missing, has been talked to death on here, and will continue to be talked about in future seasons whilst the same problem remains. If you can’t get players to perform other than those done it for years, then how do we move forward for next season and the next?

And let’s not forget we did have Myler and award playing when we played Huddersfield.

the coach says were in good shape so I cant see what people are moaning about.
ostrich head and sand come to mind

Like I said on the BM thread, he doesn't exactly have a lot of credibility in his 'no worries' messaging. In 2016 he was still talking about finishing top when most people were worried about how we'd go in the Middle 8s.

What's interesting is that despite the results and the way we're heading GH has had little to say, unlike 2016.

What a depressing 2nd half performance. From a purely business standpoint, I don't understand why effective corrective action hasn't been taken to halt our slide towards the bottom 4. If we were to get relegated, which I still think is unlikely; the financial impact in light of our investments in new stands would surely be catastrophic.

Feel for you regarding the Catalan play acting. Macnamara has currently got them playing the most cynical way I’ve ever seen. Shame on him. When we played them few weeks ago in the cup they were shocking- every time we put in a good kick/chase to turn their big forwards around one of their players went down like they’d been shot whilst the big lads huffed and puffed back. Throwing themselves to the ground to try and win penalties. It was like watching the World Cup a couple of weeks early. Bird was worst for it, I’m fully expecting gigot to be on the oscar nomination list next time round for getting leeming sent off.
We got our own back though last week- leeming played them st their own game and won a ruck penalty against bird right in front of our sticks to put is in the position to win by one point!
Fans /coaches/players need to speak out as the game is losing support as it is without all this pathetic play acting.

We showed good shape last night. You lot need to remember you are fans. If we let you lot start running the club we really are doomed.

I didn't listen to the team announcement so did not realise Sutcliffe was supposed to be SO. I asked my mate during the first half what position Sutcliffe was playing. He packed down in the scrum & stood out with Newman like a second row. It took an age for it to click by a process of elimination.

It's a good job I suffered Hudds v Cats a few weeks ago, otherwise last night might qualify for the worst game I have ever endured.

too good

Sorry Gary.

But it's all the floods fault, honest!! Can't hide behind that now can ya!! McD out!!!

I'd have Bird in my side any day of the week. He's a player who can get under the skin of the opponents and their fans. We have no tough players with a bit of mongrel inside them. Our forwards are too nicey nicey. Who is going to roll their sleeves up and put in a shift when the going gets tough. Mullally, Garbutt, Cuthbertson, Ferris? All too soft!
Someone should tell Sutty, following his post match interview, that we haven't lost a couple of games it's SIX in a row. Laughing after such a dismal second half display. Disgraceful.
Toronto, Toulouse here we come in the middle 8's.

Sutcliffe was defending at centre last night with Newman defending at half back, presumably to try and protect him a little.