the first half is easily the worst we've played this season and worse than a lot of last season IMO, especially considering how much we needed a win.

This playing group needs to have a good long hard word with themselves, the desire to defend last night was none existent and in such a crucial part of the season it's unacceptable IMO, I haven't been too downbeat about most of the losses this year because they have been close and at least it looked like we were trying, not last night in that first half though.

Lets move on guys from this thread, we are rewriting the understanding of the word Shite. It gives Shite a bad name.

I think one of our biggest problems this season is how poor we are in contact, which is for me why Singleton is the most frustrating player on the team at the moment.

There are so many examples (last night especially) where we had two/three in the tackle and can't get the man to the ground. 3 of our forwards - 2 props and back rower - we're able to bring down Ben Crooks at one point!!!!

I'm not for the full on arm wrestle grinding game of Wigan under McGuire/Wane, but if you have nearly every opposition player landing on their knees or getting up quickly to ptb, goal line D is going to be under constant pressure.

I know people struggle with JJB, but I think for his lack of mobility he's ok in contact. Merrin and Oledski are the only others who really get into the grapple.

How long will it be before someone whispers in Walker's ear and turns his head ?
Lots of more attractive opportunities out there for a young man with his skill, they'll say.......
He could have the world at his feet, but he may think that if he continues in such a non-team these opportunities might become rarer and rarer.

They already have.

And frankly speaking at 19 years old with a. Pretty much guaranteed first team jersey, if he listens then we are better without him.

Personally I think (and hope) he’ll tell them where to go because he’s not going to get chances and an education like this anywhere else right now.

Apart from possibly the Roosters.

walker needs to look at hardaker circa 2015 on how a full back should defend, before his off field issues affected him he was easily the best defensive full back in the league

And the very same people moaning about Walker, did the same about Hardaker. You can’t make it up.

Ten carrys combined for our starting props, absolutely pathetic.

Re Walker.
Yes he has a little bit of talent but that is all.He has too high opinion of himself and can't back it up consistently.

he is all talent and , yes he made mistakes but what kind doesn't? if a lot of the senior players had shown his guts we might have got closer to rovers.
plenty of players to have a go at before him

Absolutely. He's 19. Bursting with talent and still has so much to learn and improve. Kids going to be a superstar.

Defensive stats don't make good reading. Here are the worst offendersThe worst
LoloheaMixed bag
WalkerBetter defenders
Peteru: 28/1
Sutcliffe: 17/1
Merrin: 18/1
Singleton: 29/0 - nice improvement!
Watkins: 28/0 - good stint
Albert: 16/1

Be fair Walker has an abundance of of talent, unfortunately he is on a steep learning curve in terms of experience. While the young lad is as good as anyone under the high ball, running the ball out of defence and joining the line going forward, at his age you cannot buy experience, his one on one tackle is just as good. The rest he is still learning, and learning in a poor team. His defence organisation is poor and he was never in the last frame when HKR scored their tries, this will come as he gets more experience. Regards his kicking be honest it was terrible, this resulted in putting pressure on the defence, but where was the experienced players just telling him to get the ball in play. I saw no one speaking to him, and he needs this help. Please don't compare the young Hardaker with Walker, Hardaker learned by watching Brent Webb, no doubt he was mentored by him, and it's always easy to play in a great team as opposed to young walker who is playing in a poor team