ont blame injuries every team has them we had dobson green and galea out against saints and lost our 2 hookers during the game so all 5 playmakers gone we still got a draw . I would say its more down to coaching and team spirit myself

and we have 7 back row and centres out, including several of our better tacklers (Purtell, Elima, Donaldson, Sibbit), something that Wigan exploited fully at the weekend. about a third of the squad are injured. So it is a factor, even if not the whole reason.

I'd agree with that. There's a thread on VT about who's out injured for SL and we are far from alone in having important players out already this season.

We lost Gale after 10 minutes but even without him we were still in the game at half time. The capitulation in the 2nd half was not down to injuries. It was down to a lack of motivation, focus and desire.

im not saying it doesnt play a part im just saying other teams have injuries as well and do a lot better

You're doing the typical fan thing of looking at the game entirely form your own team's point of view. We all do it, and I guess it's the just way we are to be honest, but you have to try and look beyond it and see the bigger picture.

There are two teams involved in every game and it's how [iboth[/i of those teams play or approach the game that really has to be thought about. So fine, HKR obviously got stuck in and played very well and I've no wish to say otherwise, [ibut [/iI dare say that Saints fans will be moaning like hell about how their side 'took it too easy' and 'thought they could win without trying', 'couldn't be bothered tackling' etc etc, I've not checked but again, it's just the way fans are, only looking at the game from their own team's point of view.

The truth is usually composed of elements from both sets of fans: Bulls didn't play very well and Wigan were merciless, result big Wigan win; HKR played well and Saints were somewhat 'off their game', result draw.

Pretty reasonable, as long as you don’t expect it too many times! In fact, we’ve been doing just that sort of thing in the last couple of seasons, on the odd occasion. Like the near win by the juniors at Saints a couple of years back. The fact that we are on occasion capable of it just makes the rest all the more inexplicable.



This. I have been banging on for years that I [imainly[/i have blamed the players, (and that is not absolving the rest of the setup) but MAINLY the players for, in too many cases, too many times, a lack of exactly these qualities. And the fact that we are, despite much changed personnel, still a side that can go walkabout conclusively shows that whatever the malaise is, we aren’t on top of it.

Despite injuries, esp. Gale, despite Wigan running fairly hot, despite suggestions of other clubs’ backhander top-ups, we still have a squad of players that we are paying up to the cap limit so they are not mugs, and I don’t expect them to ever capitulate like they sadly regularly have been doing, and like they abjectly did in the second half on Sunday.

It’s again a theme I have kept returning to, people [icould[/i have gone home reasonably happy despite a defeat by Wigan, or anyone, if only they had the feeling that the team had put in their best efforts and done their best. In fact I spent decades on and off doing just that. It would be fine. What isn’t fine is your team being made fools of for 40 minutes, and the feeling they are making fools of us.

Or if the second half v. Wigan really truly was as good as that particular combination of players can do, then maybe it’s time to pack it in.

Wakefield tonight is simply a must win fixture if we are to lay down a serious marker for Play-Off Rugby League.

It's the fourth match of the season Mick!

Yeah, I hope we win and it's certainly against one of our more direct competitors, and a win would bolster the mood of both players and fans, but must win? Come on, Mick get a grip!!

With Warrington next up and a tough trip to Hull KR the following win i'd say tonight is a must win yes. If it is'nt which game is? do we have to wait until we play Salford at home on the 25th March for our "must win" game??

Following win was a typo, meant to write week..

Yes but we're probably not going to get anything from the next three games - Wire, Hull KR and Saints. So if we don't win tonight we could end up one win from seven matches.

And, with the best will in the world, that's giving us too much to do to reach the play offs, even at that point of the season

It's a long, long season mate, and [iall[/i teams are going to have their ups and downs as the season progresses and the fact is we're having some of our tougher opponents quite early on and that's not to say they aren't [iall[/i going to be tough, 'cos I don't see many easy ones. During the year some teams will start like a house on fire and fall away whilst others will start slowly and come on as the weeks go by, some, I suggest a few of the ones we've just played or are about to play, will probably still be around the top at the 'business end', but even they will have their little stutters along the way.

As for us, well we haven't even given a game to all our new signings yet, so talking about "must win games" after three matches isn't just a bit early, it's bloody ridiculous, imo.