For me it all comes down to getting the basics right.

Anyone who has ever played sports at any level will have heard a coach or manager say "crawl before you can walk".

Last season when everything was going great we were offloading for fun and breaking teams down at will.
We played expansive rugby and when we made errors, we had a strong defence to stop teams from capitalising.

This season we haven't just become a bad team overnight. We just find ourselves in a position were teams know our tactics that little bit better and have their own tactics to counteract them. So when the expansive rugby isn't working and the offloading isn't coming off what do you do?
You go back to basic rugby league and complete your sets and rely on a good kicking game to get good field position.

For a few weeks we looked like we were full of errors and things weren't coming off, however we kept getting the results on the back of a very good defence. The best example of this was the Wigan game. We were totally outplayed against Wigan, but our defence stood up strong and we just sneaked the result.

Against Saints we were finally punished for our mistakes and we just fell apart!!!
Instead of having a plan B to go back to basic rugby league and hang on to the ball and complete our sets etc, we panicked and kept trying to offload in impossible situations. The best example being the ridiculous offload by Carvell with seconds remaining in the half when we had just scored a try to give us hope.
In the second half however when we started completing sets we suddenly became competitive and matched Saints blow for blow. The only problem was that we were behind so eventually had to start throwing it about again to try and create something.

Against Widnes we played much more conservatively but we still made too many errors and fell behind early. Fortunately we were playing a poor team and we eventually came out on top but never ever really looked as convincing as we did last year.
Once the Widnes game was out of sight, we should have then started attempting the offloads because it is when you are winning and the pressure is off that they seem to come off for you. That would surely have raised the confidence.

Yesterday against Catalans we were full of errors and penalties again and we allowed them to constantly play from within our half and our defence wasn't up to it.
Again the basics just seemed to be missing. These players know what is a penalty and what isn't yet they seem to give away silly penalties at ridiculous times.
Having said that though, yesterday was one of them games in which it could have gone the other way if we just had the basics going for us. Riley losing concentration and dropping the ball in corner. Bridge forcing the pass to Monaghan when we were away for a definite try. Catalan scored off the back off that error to go 10 points up at half time, were if we got our basics right it would have been us level or up by 2 at half time.

I think Smith needs to work on the basics with the team.
The skill factor is there amongst the backs and they will cause damage provided we have the field position and we aren't constantly trying to come from behind.
Start the game conservatively and concentrate of catching the ball and holding on to it and completing our sets with good field position and hunt out the mistakes from our opponents.
Once we get these basics right the flair rugby that we are so good at will come naturally instead of trying to force it.

Having said all that, I don't believe that there is any need to panic as our next few games are very winnable and sport is very much a confidence game. 4 or 5 wins on the bounce and you'll see a very different Warrington team.

Add to that the return of players like Harrison who we have missed more than we realised we would and Solomona who will bring back our offload game, and we will soon be back at the top of the pile.

The most important thing at the moment for the fans though is to back the team more than ever.
It is easy to be the extra man when things are going well, but they are the times when we aren't really needed. It is when things aren't quite right that the team need that push of support from the fans, but unfortunately is sometimes at these points that the fans start booing and walking away.
Now is a true test of the Warrington fans that we claim are the best in Super League, well now is the time to show it.

The REAL M Monas...a big piece of last years puzzle that has yet to really feature this year IMO.

Christ. Things must be bad.

Sorry I was talking about the start leeds made, compared to the wire this year



Fair do's with the stats - I can't argue with you there


I just wonder who was 'giving there all' for which comp at the back end of the season



I thought we lost the edge - but maybe all the other teams stepped up and brought us back down to earth



I still remember the awesome stuff we played, and what hopefully, is to come this year



And the 2 recent wembley visits

Well they always say its harder to retain a title than to win it in the first place - we managed to do it when we won the Challenge Cup but the question is do the players have the hunger to chase back to back Championships like they did back to back Challenge Cups.

The problem is if we carry on like this we might end up having nothing to play for apart from the end of season playoff competition.

Unfortunately, THE CHAMPIONS are not looked upon as being the best

- only the people who 'sell' TV/MATCH TICKETS to the 'supporters' who don't understand/participate in sport do

Its all down to money

We have 'got that monkey off our back' now, and are obviously concentrating on the 'back end' of the season - sofarasi'mconcerned

Target 1 - qualify for the playoffs

Target 2 - win upto 4 games back to back in the playoffs

That's the way it is and so far we are still on course to achieve Target 1

Well I personally think it is a farce if after this shocking season we have had we just win 4 games in the playoffs and then go round saying we're "champions", in what way are we champions? The champions are the best side all season who finishes top of the league as far as I'm concerned. If Huddersfield win the title then they deserve to be recognised as the champions not a poor Warrington side just having a lucky run at the end of the season.

If we win at Old Trafford and the club wants to organise an open top bus tour we can show them what we think by boycotting it, that will send the league a strong message that the fans won't be ridiculed any more by this bizarre format that rewards mediocrity.

I agree with you - BUT what do the rest of the people in rugby league call leeds now (keep it clean please! )????

TV and selling grand final tickets, to add to the rfl coffers methinks



ps - you will only hurt the wire boycotting your club - the rfl don't give a toss

Stuff the play offs. It is only there to generate money for Sky.
Play like we did last season will do me & a good day out at Wembley.

ask the players what 2 out of the 3 bits of silverware they would like to win and i bet that the challenge cup and grand final are on 90% plus of the lists with the league leaders shield in a distant 3rd place......