Sports psychology and the whole idea of a team, or an individual, of 'bottling' it is a very interesting subject.

Certainly our recent record, with the Tony Smith era GF defeats and our most recent poor displays in big games, seems to suggest that we do indeed have a mental barrier that seems difficult to overcome. While we don't have a god given right to win these games, the manner of the defeats always gives the impression that the players are almost contributing to their own problems with their lack of self belief.

It's obvious though that this isn't an issue that is just confined to us. If you look through the sporting world, there are many examples of sides and individuals who have found mental barriers hard to beat.

In football, you only have to look at Tottenham, a club so synonymous with bottling it, that observers now label anyone putting in a display of underachievement as 'Spursy'. Their years of falling short in the quest for honours has made them a figure of much ridicule.

Slightly further afield, there is PSG, a football side that, despite having one of the biggest budgets in the game, consistently manage to mess up in the most monumental ways. When you see the manner of their failures, like last night's with Madrid, then it's difficult to deny that their issues are now mental.

There's probably a very thick book that can be written on sporting bottlers, but any tale of bottling it can't be complete without the snooker legend that is Jimmy White, a man who will have 'nearly man' engraved on his tombstone - His defeats became increasingly painful to watch because it was so apparent that he was going through such a mental torment -How much of his failure at the very highest level came down to that lack of self belief that has dogged us and many others over the years?

So overall, I suppose, after my rambling, I'm trying to say that maybe it's going to take more than just new coaches to try and change our mindset? Maybe the ingrained stain of failure and the mocking of opposition fans does far more to our players than they, and we, would like to admit?.. When and how that can change, who knows, but it's maybe easier to accept knowing we are just another in a long line of failures?

A doughty, workmanlike pack gave the wakefield halves enough space to look like Kenny & Sterling.

Could our current coach, and the architect of our Challenge Cup downfall not see then the problems he took advantage of would hinder him as well? A lack of backbone, no mental toughness and a huge reliance on two props?

Apparently not, and that is why a man who should be nowhere near our 17 is skipper and starting at prop.

And there's me thinking Daryl had no sense of humour.

Over my head this.

I would just buy a prop.

The loss was against a good team with quality hardworking players across their squad. The fact fans just dismiss Wakefield like we are above them is arrogance. Super league is so much closer in respect to all teams and people just don't seem to realise it which is misguided. The match was 50/50 before it started so give Wakefield some respect rather than just sating we were really poor when we weren't. We have Mulhern, Daz Clark, Charnley and possibly Magoulias added to the squad next week which will strengthen us further.

Why stop at one?
Why not two, three or even four, like we did a decade ago. Let's face it, we don't have one PROPER prop. ATEOTD, Cooper is (merely, but a good) bumped up second rower.

I've said it before, our pack consists of second rowers, and that's it.

Totally agreed.

It’s becoming a stuck record but what troubles me is everyone of us amateur fans foresaw this, yet our professional coach and his team together with all the decision making people at our club didn’t.

I’ve said it before , stop the vanity project and let’s have some sanity.