Quote: Deus Dat Incrementum "I don't think anybody is questioning ratchfords ability RD but it is more about mental strength.
When Ratchford was penalised for an incorrect play the ball he was frustrated and during the next set of six he decides to stay in the defencive line so that he can get in the referees ear. He stays in the line and mickey Lewis spots it and goes over. World class fullbacks would just get on with their job, get back in position and do what the team needs them to do.
Straight from the restart Ratchford moves to hooker and gives away a penalty for a ball strip. OK Abdul missed that penalty but it could have been 8 points worth of mistakes in 2.mins.
The problem I have is the same as Chris Hill when a decision doesn't go their way. Instead of putting their hand up and the team pulling together to defend the next set after a mistake or being on the wrong end of a 50/50 call then it is shaking of the head and that look of disbelief at the decision. The senior players can question the ref but just get on with your job and encourage your team mates to defend your mistake.
You would never see the likes of Sinfield or Roby do that. They would just get on with it and their team mates would dig in. They don't try and solve the problem on their own. The team would solve the problem..
Some of the senior players have really let themselves down when it comes to mentality in crucial games spanning the Tony Smith and Steve Price era. We can't afford that to continue into the Powell era.'"
This hits the nail on the head and sums up why I get frustrated when every season we have loads of posts on here blowing smoke up the booties of our senior players. Good players yes (good rather than great), leaders/winners no. You can have a winning side if you have some of these types of players around a core of Peacock, Sinfield, Burrow, JJB but if they are your core you have a problem.
There is literally nobody in our squad who really stands out as a leader, and it has been like this for about 6 years now. It was a problem throughout all the Price era.
