Am I reading too much into some of the comments from the CEO in the T&A? He mentions respecting confidentiality with other coaches and building trust with them as we might need them in a year or two? So have we taken Dunning on as a cheap punt, happy to coast along until we know what the restructure will be for 2024? Coincidence that his deal also runs to this expected restructuring?

Perhaps the squad have also picked up on the lack of ambition or willingness to be competitive. Good luck to anyone willing to watch that for this year and the next, its not for me that's for certain.

The forwards are too slow and unfit and can't defend their own line. Crossley and Walker may have one or two good carries in a game but these are negated by the glacial speed of the PTB they get.

The halfbacks run across the field and so give ball to the backs far too late for them to do anything with it. This is partly down to the slow PTB and lack of go forward but the kicking game is abysmal. Aimless kicks to Gill are just a turnover of possession. Putting a bomb up and then not bothering to chase your own kick and put your teammates on side is lazy and it caught us out twice when we could've re-gained possession.

The whole squad looks distinctly low on confidence, enthusiasm and belief. Flanagan Jnr offered all that - a 17 year old! We need to promote a few more kids I think to inject some vigour into this squad.

Dunning said in his post match interview that there were improvements on the Newcastle performance. That has to be the lowest bar ever. His body language showed that he knows he has a heck of a job on his hands. Feel sorry for the bloke. Where is the next win coming from?

Everyone around me at the game was saying that we'd be lucky to keep it under 60 versus Barrow and Halifax. The silence that greeted the final hooter said it all. By then only about 75 people remained on the pop side to see the team off the field.

I think after the last couple of weeks, the attendances are going to completely drop off for the rest of the year.

We’re not going to make the play offs and the players aren’t even playing for pride anymore ( Flanagan jr the exception).

Will ST renewal time make Wood and co to consider their decision on the head coach?

There’s 3 in my group and none of us are going to renew as things stand. It’s just not enjoyable anymore - I wonder how many of the crowd at the weekend went away thinking they’d had a good day out?

Last week Dunning said we have not suddenly become a bad team but unfortunately that is the case.

I heard him say that and he's right. We've become a bad team, not overnight, but over the last 18months. It wasn't what he meant though and a coach has to stand by his players publicly. What he says behind closed doors is a different matter.

The quote doesn't really do him any favours as it implies the Newcastle result was an aberration. Instead I think it's been on the cards for some time. With the attitude and fitness of the current side on the decline it was only a matter of time before we got spanked.

The performance vs London was poor. Dunning said we got into the arm wrestle which pleased him but it's a very low bar to clear. When we clawed our way back into the game we promptly conceded a try under the sticks. The coach and players can talk as much as they like but the evidence on the field shows they're not at the races at the moment.

As for attendances they announced approx 2700 for this game. I'm genuinely sceptical about that - they must be counting season ticket holders who weren't there as it looked like there was about 1k less than that. I actually quite enjoyed watching Flanagan Jnr make his debut. The rest left a lot to be desired but there was almost a perverse comedy about seeing our fatties getting smacked about. The hit on Ben Evans was a classic example of what happens when you play half hearted rugby. He took a ball at walking pace and got absolutely cleaned out by the London defender. We made Wellington Albert look like Gordon Tallis at times. After the next two games I can't see gates getting above 2k. Is that sustainable Nigel?

Looking at the academy highlights, Myles Lawford should be another one making his debut this weekend. As Dunning said against Newcastle, no one can complain if they're dropped this Week either.