I think the sentence you finish with could apply to Watkins just as easily as Atkins.

I'm playing devils advocate slightly as I'm a huge fan but coaching defence while obviously easier than teaching someone to do things with the ball which Watkins can do isn't as easy as you're making out.

Sal - Quite possibly yes. Saints also got to Burrow a bit defensively and they attacked to the right more than anyone else.

But apart from those positions the forwards are good, yes?

Yes other than that the pack looks good!!

Phew, that's a relief then, I was beginning to think we'll struggle to put a team out next season.

What we appear to have is a team with no structured attack or structured defence. A team seemingly and increasingly incapable of winning without McGuire - although that could just be a coincidence. An absolute triumph of coaching.

As for selecting 'Lee Smith light' on the bench to make only his fourth 1st grade appearance ..... was there a prize on offer for fielding the least experienced player in a Challenge Cup Final?

Apparently nantwichexile has some incriminating pictures of Bri. He said if he didn't pick Keinhorst, Singleton and Hood he'd show them to the Leeds board. Bri told nantwich he would but Hood & Singleton were playing dual reg games so were unavailable.

They settled on Keinhorst. Sound crazy? So does the fact that we have a fully fit squad bar McGuire and not one player from the top 25 could force themselves into the final 17 over a kid who at best looks raw and while he is obviously talented was in no way ready for that game.

Who said it was easy? Certainly, not me. You're confusing statements of fact with criticism, which given my feck wit comment was entirely my own fault.

A quality coach is there to improve the players and can do that job. What we have is a good man, who has some coaching skills but, against quality opposition, he is way out of his depth.

You implied it was!

I agree by the way, but not all players can or want to be coached to be better defensively. I doubt this is the case with Watkins but I don't know.

Du bist richtig



"Kid" ? He's 22

Yet he is the coach of the current SL and world champions!?!
Think I'm with BM on this one

We all have opinions but, given the games won and last columns, regardless of the championship, I would suggest that BM is not quite up to the job. The specific issue of player development is th mark of a good coach and, to my mind, Watkins has lacked that development.

From what I have seen and heard of him, I can't deny that I have warmed to him. However, my opinion is based purely on what I see on the pitch and, quite frankly, it is never convincing and often a shambles.

He's a right centre.

Thought Wire's tries down our right hand side came down to Hodgson's ability to link into the line and create an overlap. Hardaker hasn't quite developed that side of his game yet, hopefully he can learn off Webb while he is still around.

Yes, just as long as he doesn't try to pick up all of Webb's qualities at the same time.