Quote: Saint Simon "Is that what i said?
and what has it got to do with this topic? '"
Firstly, you were claiming the loss of one player made all the difference to our performance against Wigan. While I would agree with you, the loss of Roby was dismissed as a reason for our poor performances against Hull and Bradford. So the point is relevant.
Secondly, I'm getting tired of excuses being made for our senior players, some of whom have consistently NOT shown up in times of adversity. They have been doing it all season, and that is a very relevant point, as once again we had adversity and some of our senior players did not show up. For example, TP hanging around a loose ball instead of scooping it up, nobody covering for Laffranchi when Roby threw the pass to nobody, Josh Perry being too busy trying to wind up Hock to attend to his job of making metres and bashing up the opposition forwards.
Either the absence of a pivot player has an effect on the team or it does not. Either this team has balls/desire or it does not. The question was very relevant to the discussion and needed to be asked. My view is, and has been consistently, that the problem lies with some of our senior players who do not bend their backs when the going gets tough. Notice I don't say our younger players don't bend their backs because I believe they do. In fact, on many occasions our younger players have put our senior players to shame. However, regardless of change in coaching staff and in approach to training, etc, when the going gets tough some of our senior players get going - off in their own little world.
That is the major issue that needs addressing in the team if we are to rescue anything from the season. IMO obviously.