I'm sceptical that those attendance figures are actually including real people in the ground. I'd estimate they actually include season ticket holders whether they turn up or not. I'd estimate actual numbers of paying spectators in the ground have dropped below 1500 at least.

One of the most telling incidents yesterday was when Ricketts was being roughed up on the ground after being tackled into touch, and only Sam Hallas (who's still only 20) stood up and stuck up for his teammate. The lack of heart was really disappointing yesterday. I don't want to see Macani, Mendeika or C. Smith in a Bulls shirt again.

Play Butterworth, Lumb, Hodgson. At least they'll have a dig.

One of our major problems this season has been [itoo many[/i kids in the side. The youngsters need decent pros alongside them to keep them on track and to protect them, not more kids. The youngsters have done their best, but they've been let down, far too many times, by their more experienced colleagues. The answer is to change the experienced players, not throw more kids to the lions.

I went (first time this season too) and was impressed in the first few minutes. as the game went on our back-row was seriously out muscled and they were much smaller than their opponents so it wasn't too hard to see why. no real heart in defence and we knocked on over the line a couple of times and bombed a couple of (seemingly) easy scoring chances after breaking.

our 3/4 line isn't good enough for this level and the shambles where Batley went for the 40-20 and we gifted them a try was probably the most embarrassing moment I've seen at Odsal in my 20+ years of watching them.

Hallas was our best player yesterday, was impressed with his attitude. I also like Aston. He needs to bulk up a bit but looked useful behind a well beaten pack.

Changing the experienced players? I expect Toovey would love to do that. I suspect there aren't any to turn to and that's why the same hopeless cases keep getting picked.

It'll be the same story for our remaining games. I can only hope we change the experienced players ready for 2018 or it'll be the same story next year.

I though Aston probably had his best game for us yesterday and looked very lively. When the forwards never really got on top at any stage it's hard for the halves, especially when we never seem to play the same pair in consecutive matches.

I thought Halafihi tried hard and got stuck in defensively though it's hard to be very positive about anything after a shambles like yesterday. Even James Bentley succumbed to low level thinking when twice, he had Rickett unmarked outside him and with the line beckoning he dived into the tacklers instead of giving the pass. You sort of know the day is going to be a disaster when even our better players are putting in efforts like that.

That is exactly my point. My post was aimed at those suggesting that throwing more academy lads into the side is somehow going to provide an answer - it isn't.

I think we're desperate and a bit sick of seeing the same culprits making the same mistakes. Like you I'd be reluctant to throw ever more kids in - especially versus Rochdale.

My point was more for the remaining games. Mendeika & Macani are more experienced than most of the squad, but i wouldn't have them near the team for the rest of the season. When Rochdale are bullying us again, Lumb & Butterworth would stand up to them and show more fight than either of those 2.