Has anyone else had the thought that we are not as fit as we were last season and finishing games looking absolutely drained. Could my fears of the loss of Apollo be coming home to roost. It would be interesting to know whether personal standards of performance are expected in training eg. sprint times bench press capability etc and whether they are being compared to last season.
Thoughts anyone?

I was thinking exactly the same
I was pretty gutted when he left. The players used to talk about him all the time about how he used to really push them to their limit.

yes so maybe now they aren't being pushed to the limit, so are less fit
but it could also be last season not all the games were testers this season every game was hard even the likes of the first celtic game and wakefield and cas so we feel more drained than ever

I no Apollo had a big say in there fitness, but if we compare Anderson to Potter in there first season. We were pretty much one dimension in Andersons first season, and i remember a lot saying its not good, just like Potters first season, but the only difference was Anderson improved our defence a hell of a lot and out fitness was much improved too. Maybe Potter hasn't seen fitness as the problem and hasn't worked on it as much as Anderson did, thats my impression anyway.

There has been a definite dip in the players energy levels, whether this is down to having a weak pack I'm not so sure.

There is also the possibility of being overworked in training. Catalan always seemed to fade during the end of games over the last couple of years.

We shall have to wait and see.

I dont see the dip in fitness levels what so ever. We are not getitng blown away each week, or holding a lead and then losing it because we cant hang in on the last 10 or 15 ( like wire ). We just look a bit flat in attack thats all, we seem to lose the plot on the 5th and not be as clinical as we could be. Weere still not bad though.

I think this is playing a big part this season, I suspect the lack of speciality props is meaning more of the backs are joining the second rowers in taking the ball in more than they would normally.

I know we've been using this tactic for a while as its a trend these days but I wonder how much it is effecting the backs, who lets face it aren't the quickest anyway.

Definately lacking the big forward who could get us on roll, Paul Anderson did it for us a couple of seasons ago and Fozard to some extent.

Maurie does it when fit, big Tony doesn't seem to have the same impact yet the size of him he should be scattering defences.

Dont think it is a general lack of basic fitness, more an undersized pack and some players turning out when not even 90% fit........also been a mumps outbreak/flu in the squad, which will have a debilitating impact in the short term........It ain't doom and gloom, just need to get some confidence back in the camp.........

We are one of, if not the fitest teams in SL.

We also have made more meters than any other side, with 4 forwards in the top 25 metre makers.
No other team has more than 1 forward in this select group.

how anyone can call our pack is weak is beyond me.
Every other side in the league would beg to have our pack

The stats for the Hudds game show our pack made more metres. We suffered for our lack of creative plays and lack of pace. We were on their 20-10 metre lines plenty of times and failed to come up with decent plays.

Correct. Same against the pies the week before, plenty of effort to get us there but just looked a little lost upon the last tackle. With the shudds semi we did cross the lien a few times, only fir their tip top defence to destroy our efforts, that desire to keep us out certianly won them the game, oh and that chip over, and that kick behind wello, and the high kicks to ade

paul wellens sprint time has decreased

Possibly, with everyone fit and firing. But without Cayless and Faasavalu, and Tony only taking on the hard yards when he pleases, we are having to rely too much on two or three to make these for us.

fitness is not an issue, but size and experience in the pack could be. You cant really account for two main front rowers being out plus your main playmaker. That said hudds are theform team of the competition with arguably the best coach in the league, with no injuries. It was always a massive ask. I cant believe the bookies have wire as favourites.