Quote: Giantbyname "First post,so be gentle in your responses!
I believe fitness is playing a part,you just need to see the way the players are desperate to gasp for air at every break in play,hands on heads,not in disappoint but in order to recover. I think strength in general has suffered,much like it did a few years back,we start to play touch rugby rather than tackling with any gusto.
I think the other major factor,as mentioned in some other discussions,is a lack of a genuine leader. We concede then go and stand together behind our sticks in near silence,there's no one rallying them,no positive re-inforcement,no one pushing us on to respond. People seem to believe Danny wasn't the man for this,but from what I have seen in the past,he would be in among the group,fist clenched and pushing us on. In my opinion,Hinchcliffe isn't really even justifying his place let alone the captaincy and I think the team are looking around for someone. When Hinchcliffe was off the field against KR, the ref asked for the captain,looked at brough who was our furthest man left,he said it ain't me (unexplained by the club?),and then everyone looked across the line and nobody wanted to step forward,nevermind knew they were in charge!! I know we have lost Robbo's voice for good and Grix for a big chunk,but where are the characters looking to progress and take some control?? Where is the 'leadership group' that Anderson was so keen to instil when he took over?? It is a big problem. Some teams don't need a captain as they have leaders all over the pitch. We have neither at the moment.'"
Agree with much of this. Complete lack of leadership and fitness is absolutely an issue, seen obviously by how sluggish players appear in the second half.
