it's the little things like getting in the face of the kicker, a good 4th tackle run to get the defence retreating to allow space and time for the kicker, making that extra 6 inches across the pitch to get hands on a runner that bit earlier or be in a support position to take a pass (or to give yourself a better chance of catching a high ball). We don't have enough sharp minds and fewer sharp bodies at the moment. Cuthbertson does something interesting, but relentless defensive effort and physical domination of the opposition front row isn't on the list.
We are missing our full back 3. Hall and Briscoe are formidable returners of the ball and get us straight on the front foot. We have really missed that.

I had high hopes for young Handley, but sadly the last couple of matches have been error strewn, and I fear he could turn out to be another BJB. Plenty of pace, but suffering from tunnel vision.

Oh, and could someone screw in some longer studs into Watkin's boots, as he spends more time on his backside, rather than the upright position.....

I think Handley will be ok long term but as was pointed out when some were saying Briscoe could struggle to get his place back when Handley was going well, that by that time Handley will have started to feel the effects of playing so many games in a row and would need taking out of the firing line. He won't have expected to play 14 matches all season let alone in a row. (If Moon is fit for the next game I'd switch Keinhorst to the other centre and Watkins on the wing until Briscoe returns to take Handley out of the firing line)

Agree about Watkins. Also nice to see others earlier talking about his attitude and consistancy, something I've mentioned for a few years now but seemingly the only one on here at times until recently.

Didn't burrow have both feet off the ground? If so isn't that dangerous contact like takiling someone catching the ball in the air?

Still at least we can join in with the rest of SL as we now have evidence of Bailey picking on the smallest player on the pitch

I thought the penalty against Kylie was wrong. The shoulder was involved but so were the arms. I can see why the ref gave it, but getting pinged on the 5th when we well on top was a big call (although Cas did cough the ball up immediately after).

He did, when he kicked the ball about 5 minutes previous to Bailey tackling him.

Let's call it as it is. Handley is making very basic errors and because of the number of them in any 80 minute period it's costing us games. Yes you can say we should have pressured the kicker more but at this level and with no pressure around him a winger has to be able to catch the ball.

His decision making on breaks is awful but he is young and hopefully experience will help him to make better decisions more often.

His ball retension is most worrying though. Against Wigan and last night he lost the ball too easily.

Give him praise for keeping on working and trying though. However the time has come to drop him. A couple more games like Wigan or last night and his confidence will drop badly.

It's at points Iike this where we get to see what McD is like at man management

That will teach me to listen to the sky team sure they said something about a tackle in the air. That part of the game coincided with one of my 3 yeAr olds being adamant there was a monster in her room so I was on mister duty and just heard the comments I believe from Stuart cummins

Watched it back today and Stuart Cummings has become the worst voice during a Sky broadcast.....and that's saying something.

BTW what are people's thought on the incident when Stevie Ward kicks it forward and it tripped by the Cas defender? Ok to let go because he wouldn't have reached the kick before it went dead or not?

[iKing Whino wrote


My answer is that it is more likely they make more errors. However this can only be an opinion in the absence of proof.

As I said in the context of this game your question is irrelevant as those that made the errors which I mentioned were not the same players that it is being suggested should have been rested for longer with the exception of Aiton who was interchanged. Anyway IMO Sinfield was better on balance at acting half back and as a goal kicker when he came on, although I believe he was mistaken to take the 2 points rather than push for 6 points when Cas were looking rocky.

JP and Cuthbo did not let the side down and to suggest that resting them in favour of Yates and Walters would have saved the game or somehow would have prevented errors made by the backs is nothing more than a fancyfull theory. We let in more points when we were 'fresh' in the first half and just after half time (ie 24 out of 31 points) than when we were 'tired' later in the second.

Ok I accept the point that if JP & Cuthbo were both 'fresher' they perhaps could have gained more metres late in the game but it is pure speculation to suggest this would have changed the result. And therefore you should also accept an equal speculation that had Yates and Walters come on earlier then we could well have gone further behind during this period.

That 4 others share your speculative view in no way alters, or trumps, the fact that it was an accumulation of player errors that cost us the game. That others wish to try and use this 'if only' hypothesis to blame the coach and somehow excuse those players that made the errors is up to them but it doesn't wash with me.

It was most unfortunate that so many of these errors led directly to a Cas score each time but such is sport. I am sure our players will be honest with each other and realise they have let themselves, the coach and the supporters down. There is a lot of work to do but I am hopeful that with Kylie back and looking more like his old self and with a fit JJB, Delaney, Moon, Hardaker and Briscoe returning we can regain some form for the end of season. But if this were to happen you would have nothing to Whino about!

I am sure our players will be honest with each other and realise they have let themselves, the coach and the supporters down.
When will the Coach be honest with the players and fans that he has let them down AGAIN with poor player selection ,poor in game management & no tactical response when we are under the cosh?

Handley had plenty of time to catch the ball. He misjudged the flight and failed to get under it which is why he spilled the ball. Call it bad judgement, technique or what ever you like - but it was an his error. As was his failure to pass at the right time which cost us a try earlier in the game. Now we can of course have sympathy with him because of his age and inexperience but he has shown a lack of basic rugby passing skills and positional play on defense which he has to improve on.

Ok coach please tell me your player selections and explain why yours would have been won the game? And I would love to know your better game management plan and just how and when you would have responded tactically when we were under the cosh?

You really do not understand the limitations that a coach has to influence play after kick off. It was not McDermott that passed forward, or missed a tackle or dropped the ball. The players that made these errors were not the props that you wanted to interchange. The most expensive mistakes were in the first 20 minutes. Is this when you would have introduced the game saving Messrs Yates and Walters?

The coach and the CEO have a joint responsibility to build an adequate 25-man squad. Whose fault is it that numbers 21 and 22 in that squad either aren't good enough to be trusted to take the field, or simply aren't trusted without reason?

Nice to see all the team enjoying a day out at the races after that bag of last night, sucker punch to everyone spending all there hard earned money going to watch them