In other words we are in a complete shambles. Two years waiting for academy players? It’s a big step up from academy to first grade football . Majority don’t make the grade.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... y-the-ball Some interesting analysis here, particularly the clip at the bottom where they discuss the Leeds defence.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... y-the-ball Some interesting analysis here, particularly the clip at the bottom where they discuss the Leeds defence.

Nothing we dont already know unfortunately.

Looks great when it comes off, looks amateurish when it doesnt.

Almost dead last in all the metrics that count according to Sky before Catalans

completion rate - 75.7% - 12th
territory - 44.8% - 12th
errors - 107 - 12th
possesion - 49.3% - 9th

Looking at those stats I am surprised Smith is still in a job. I just hope he is not allowed to sign any players. He has already done enough damage. Another wasted season.

Those stats really are awful, and go a long way to explaining our generally dire performances.

After Sts we'll likely be 6-6, with Cas, Hull, Leigh and London to follow. In terms of results the Leigh match is the one that matters, as Cas, Hull and London are awful teams. Games against them should be looked at the same way as bye rounds in the NRL. Beating them means very little. We haven't beaten anyone apart from those three since March 8th - also Leigh. If we win the next four games we'll look OK on paper with 10 wins and 6 losses, but after that its really hard to see our next win unless we improve dramatically.

That's why we have to start turning in better performances. Otherwise we'll have a mid-season bounce playing easybeats followed by inevitable decline as we get turned over by teams that do the basics, let alone the likes of Wigan. We're getting towards halfway through the season and we're getting worse, not better.

I keep hoping Smith will turn things around, but unless he fixes the basics we've no chance. Like him or not, you can't argue with Wilkin's comments about our defence.

Those are four different stats but it's all about errors and penalties one way or another.

One way or another it’s abject failure.

I agree with what you are saying Exeter, unless we can start to hold on to the ball more, we will continue to be bottom ranked in most if not all of those areas. This is my biggest frustration, why do we continue to play a brand of rugby that we are not capable of executing successfully? Some of the errors are simple player should catch it / not drop it, but some are most definitely because of how we approach the game culturally and philosophically. It needs to change.

We play gimmicky rugby. We reject the conventional wisdom that actually wins trophies for short-cuts and gimmicks. We'll sneak a good result here and there, but there's zero foundation to actually build on and start competing at the top in the long-term. We require too much luck to sustain ourselves.

I don't think it's all about the style of play the team have adopted. A lot of the errors are simply dumb plays or individuals trying to offload inappropriately or score off every set.

Has the more expansive style been attempted fully since the second Saints game? Maybe Wire? Against London we played relatively controlled and disciplined. And we've not really had the strike in the backs to attempt it more recently. But we're still making error on error.

Largely agree it's more than just the style of play, this is where I think culture comes into it. We "allow" those mistakes to happen. Players don't seem to be held accountable, it's the same loop. Mistake, finger in the air for 1 minute of extra effort to hold the opposition out (even though I don't see that we put in extra effort then), get the ball back, make a mistake, repeat.

We both agree we have to break the cycle to make any sustainable improvements.

Just Go please

He's a clown. Unfortunately, when he does eventually get sacked, GH will pick his replacement, who has proven time and time again he is finished when it comes to building a successful squad + coach. The blind leading the blind.

Is he still here ?

Yeah, he’s not turning this around, he might stay for the rest of the season, but he can’t possibly be here next year. The whole back room staff needs to be replaced with hardened professionals who want to win above everything else.