Just out of curiousty and knowing we have some very astute record keepers in our midst, can anyone tell me how many combinations we have had at 1,6,7 and 9 this year and whether there has been more than 2 games in a row where we have had the same 4 players in those positions?

Half back combinations I can think of this year:

Pryce & Keyes
Keyes & Thomas
Keyes & Lilley
Lilley & Chisholm
Pryce & Lilley

No consistency in the most important area of the field. Another reason we've been battered all season.

We must be approaching a full decade without having a settled spine to our team, and I'd doubt we've had a combination at 6, 7, and 9 in that time that's actually played a full season together - coinciding nicely with our slide down the league's.

It ain't rocket science is it!

Butterworth and Keyes against Halifax

For 1,6,7,9...

Purely from starting lineups and not taking into account subs and injuries during the game, and taking 6 and 7 as essentially the same position regardless of how announced:

Thomas, Pryce, Keyes, Moore = 3
Campbell, Lilley, Keyes, Moore = 2
Smith, Aston, Keyes, Moore = 2
Thomas, Lilley, Keyes, Moore = 2
Thomas, Pryce, Lilley, Lumb = 2
Thomas, Pryce, Lilley, Moore = 2
Campbell, Pryce, Keyes, Lumb = 1
Campbell, Thomas, Keyes, Moore = 1
Mendeika, Pryce, Thomas, Moore = 1
Pickersgill, Aston, Keyes, Moore = 1
Pickersgill, Thomas, Lilley, Moore = 1
Smith, Thomas, Aston, Moore = 1
Thomas, Aston, Keyes, Moore = 1
Thomas, Aston, Keyes, Hallas = 1
Thomas, Keyes, Butterworth, Hallas = 1
Thomas, Lilley, Keyes, Hallas = 1
Thomas, Lilley, Chisholm, Hallas = 1
Thomas, Pryce, Lilley, Hallas = 1
Thomas, Pryce, Smith, Moore = 1
Thomas, Smith, Keyes, Moore = 1


The last time we had the same combo two weeks on the trot was rounds 18 & 19. Only one combo has played the same 3 games.


(Updated on 20th August)

I quite like my stats (as Pete on BCB very kindly quotes me as their "regular statistician"icon_wink.gif but it's not something I'd thought to look up until you mentioned it. Quite surprising though, and I'm reliably informed Mr. Toovey bemoans the lack of a consistent team as one of the obstacles he has had to face, and you can see what he means from that.

I suppose the naiive questions looking at these interesting pieces of info, are: What was the pattern of the pivotal roles for the 6 games we've managed to win? Was there any reward for consistency? Yes, the team has been changed around all season long, but I wonder what the strongest starting line up would be for the final games of this sad season - of the players remaining and fit ! AND are they actually good enough to help win the matches remaining?

19 different combinations. No wonder we've struggled.

Add to that Lilley who as a loan player will have spent a lot of time training at Leeds rather than with his Bulls teammates.

Just for the purpose of stats;

Has anyone calculated Beatties win rate versus Tooveys for the Bulls (albeit Toovey may have had more than a say in things when Beattie was playing front man)

Beattie was never in charge, so it's a pointless stat. He was only the "head coach" for the purposes of not being done for Visa breaches.

Allegedly (there, that should cover me....)

Thanks for the response Hammy, pointless, but thanks anyway

For ease, I've just counted League games (bit more time I would have counted cup games too)

Toovey in "official charge" since round 18 = 6 games (+ last week against Tools) = 7 games ; 1 win = 14% win rate

Beattie as "front man only" 17 rounds; 5 wins = 29% win rate.

So Toovey stepping into "official" role produced worse results. Maybe Beattie had more impact than we thought.
And before Hammy chirps up - yes I know Toovey was (allegedly) coaching from behind Beattie but only the players know how much Beattie actually influenced those early wins