Ablett seems to have a habit of laughing at penalties he gives up, and laughing at mistakes he makes

I cant remember a time in the last 5 years that we have personally experienced such inconsistent decisions against us.

I am not saying they are wrong decisions. I mean I have mentioned previously that I think we are one of the worst for holding down, especially JJB, Senior and Peacock.

But I do think we are getting penalised for things, that other teams are not. And the players are obviously feeling this frustration, which must be hard, considering the work they are putting in on the pitch.

I want to rip gansons head off and take a dump in his neck.

My concern with our defensive system is that we don't chase from marker.

We get numbers in the tackle, peel of slowly - all fine so far!, then leave the last players lying on top of the grounded player who is them pulled of the grounded player by the 2nd to last player to get up (the 2nd marker), the last player to get off then goes to first marker and then does nothing.

Shouldn't the first marker generally chase the ball receiver and put some kind of pressure on to stop teams getting a roll on? we don't and our opposition easily make yards.

I would agree with that and on the last tackle we don't apply any pressure to the kicker, even when Brough put the ball straight out he was under no pressure.

The kick was charged down once on Friday and was close to being charged down on a few other occasions. Unfortunately Wakey got the ball back and had 6 more tackles from within 15 yards of their last tackle.

The old "check and chase" system? Where the first marker would chase out at the first receiver and the second marker would hold and cover the acting half?
No one plays that anymore because teams put such quick players at hooker. I tried it for a while, and we were getting killed by hookers who could send the first marker off chasing and then beat the second.
Everyone plays split markers to just cover off the acting half, and they then fill in the line once the ball has moved away.

If the first marker is at least putting pressure on the hooker surely it would make him pass off the floor instead of jumping out?

we seem to be to slow in getting the first marker in position, hence the first marker more or less resting there?

Well if you're going to look to put pressure on the hooker, then your marker has to go to one side and go forwards, opening up space both to the other side for the hooker, and back behind the PTB for a runner.

The defencce isn't good.

We've shipped in about 80 points or so in last 3 games.

BUT we have managed to score more than the opposition, which is what this games all about.

It needs tightening up for the run it, no doubt, but on the other side of the coin it's nice to see them playing with the ball and racking up some big scores.

Our defence has deteriorated badly. For any team to concede 80 points in 3 games is poor. For a title chasing team it's worrying.

I'm getting a little tired of McClennan bleating on about 'character', glossing over the obvious deficiencies in our game.

You also run the risk if you get out too quick of being pulled for not being square.

Splitting the markers enables you to effectively keep your defence in a line, with the markers covering the gap between the two A defenders either side of the PTB. If you go off like a headless chicken chasing the ball it's going to leave gaps elsewhere.

i can see what your saying, but the defensive line is 10mtr back. Using this tactic is just encouraging the hooker to run at you an get over the advantage line with ease. The first market must put pressure on the hooker, he doesn't have to run after him like a headless chicken.

It's if you get over aggressive at marker and push too hard to get around the play the ball or start chasing other attackers that the space opens up. Just split your markers and hold position and the hooker can't gain more than two metres. If the opposition do that five times and make ten metres in a set of six, you'd be pretty happy.

I'd agree. I havent had a problem with the vast majority of penalties given against us, other than the fact that the teams we are playing appear to be holding down etc just as much without getting penalised.