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Quote: Juan Cornetto "Of course it was disappointing to lose especially after we had fought back to move 11 points in front. However looking at the wider picture all the games we have lost or drawn recently could have gone either way with just a drop goal the difference sometimes, which shows we are close to getting things right.

The lack of our big men in the middle is having its toll now and we have missed the size of Garbutt and Galloway all year with Ward, Peteru and Cuthbertson missing for a lot of the time too.

Also you should factor in that in the absence of the above key players has meant the back row have been taking on the opposition heavy men in defense as well as attack for some weeks now and will be jaded at the least which is why Parcell has not been in his usual form. Long term injuries to Keinhorst and Sutcliffe and Ferris has meant we could not rotate the back row as we would have liked and therefore for some to write off JJB, Ablett and Delaney is to misread the situation.

You cannot expect players to return from long term injuries in fine form, the lack if match fitness will mean their speed, stamina and timing will be off the mark.

We have key players Moon and Cuthbertson who have been lacking their best form and perhaps fitness. The former was our best player last year and the latter did not make one offload against Warrington last night and both JJB and Singleton made far fewer tackles than usual so may not have been fully fit.

On the plus side the attitude and never say die attitude is still there and several youngsters have stepped up to the plate in the absence of the regulars so all is not bad news. With a return of Garbutt a replacement for Galloway and some form to return to the key players then we could get on a winning roll in time for the business end of the season.

On a technical point our forwards are not putting the opposition on their backs an slowing down the ruck which allows them quick play the ball and the all important momentum. What has been noticeable is that the opposition are turning us on our backs and slowing down the ruck. This was the main reason last night for the big metres gained by Warrington and for most of their tries.

I would like to see Walker have a run at 6'"

Age ,leg weary miles & the sheer "over-use" have caught up with the latter 3 just as much if not more than the lack of Garbutt etc.
To completely ignore those factors is just as much a mis-reading of situation especially when our rotation is very minimal when everyone is fit.
Just because certain players can and have done huge minutes over the years it doesn't mean that should continue into their latter years and eventually it will catch up with them.
Also in Delaneys case he's an injury waiting to happen again through over playing him and rushing him back when not fully fit.
In terms of match fitness the dual reg is in place yet certain players seem above it just as they do wrt dropping them for other players.
The score-lines in certain games may suggest we're close but performances show imo we are further off than you suggest.
We haven't maintained a full 40 minutes of performance yet this year and other teams are wise to it and good enough to exploit it.
Ferres has been a very poor signing and his selection is pointless send him to fev for 3 weeks and then reassess imo.