So who would your next 19 be and which 2 would miss out Also Cudjoe is unsecure under the high ball

Grix is okay as our fullback cudjoe knocks on

You've got Hodgson, Cudjoe and Lawrence who are good SL wingers, Cudjoe and Lawrence are being played in the centre but I'm not convinced they are good enough at centre but superb on the wing.

I'm not convinced with Grix, Grix along with Brough are grafters and can have superb games and rip teams to shreds or can completly vanish of the face of the planet. Grix is a decent player but if Hudds are serious about finishing top 4 then Grix won't do as your fullback, good utility player though.

Doesn't everyone once in a while

Hodgson no longer fast enough to play winger.And on today's performance not really impressed with Lawrence think Simpson should be in squad next week instead of him.

We played poorly as a team. None of our players stood out as playing particularly badly compared to the team. A few played well.

We've played two games for feck sake. Cas is always a tricky place to go especially if you underperform, they always play with enthusiasm and have players that can cause problems We were potential grand finalists when we beat Warrington last week with the same squad. Either Warrington are going to really struggle this season or that was just a blip. ATEOTD we don't have to win any game but our last one. Let's get some perspective FFS.

Deary me. What a load of tosh!

Yes, we played poorly.

But you're knocking the same players who destroyed Saints the other week. You're knocking the players who received huge credit for last week's performance.

Were any of you posters at the game? Or were you just watching the blinkered version on TV?

Girx was outstanding at FB MOM for me.

It's 'get on David Hodgson's back' again is it? Our top try scorer. Our highest ever SL try scorer? He is usually extremely good under the high ball.

Leroy's fumble that this was a one-off.

I'd rather beat a top side like Warrington and lose to a decent side like Cas [yes, I would rather beat both!] because it shows we are capable of winning against the best. There's 25 more matches to go. So GET OFF PEOPLE'S BACKS AFTER ONE POOR GAME.

There, rant over.

spot on with that ivor! after the game last night there was a lot of disappointed giants fans in the pub who all had their opinions of the game/players etc,me included, but ateotd, cas wanted it more, they were marginally better than us, we were on the end of a few rough calls ( imo) although i havent watched the game back yet.
we just didn't play to anywhere near our potential im afraid, we created very little,and semed to run out of idea's, the start of the 2nd half we played with speed,enthusiasm like we know we can but other than that never troubled cas on the night so to lose by 6 points really isn't that bad,im sure we'll play better this year and get beaten by more along the way.
but to start calling players 2 games into the season is really ludicrous, yes o' donnell was poor yesterday but so was the whole team, as for grix, i dont know what these people are watching because in my eyes he was our best player last night and hasn't put a foot wrong at FB, and of course whenever we get beat its usually dave hodgsons fault,i cant remember him actually having the ball much apart from offering to take some hit ups when the forwards were tired!
dont forget the conditions played a massive part for both sides, cas adapted to it better and fed off our mistakes.so yes i was disappointed last night but all in all cas deserved the win we just have to regroup and remember it's what happens at the end of the season that matters

Tha abilityto have some perspective is a positive trait.

For those who have not been to a night game at Cas it is probably the hardest ground in the country to deal with a high kick. the stands are so close to the ground and the floodlights so low that you cannot see the ball in the sky and can only see it when it is nearly on you. You have no time to set yourself or on slippy ground to plant your feet. A couple of dropped kicks is not unusual.


the only crticism of any player i have heard and give any credence too is that Fa alogo needs to up his game this season.

agree with fa'alogo he hasn't really hit the ground running with us yet what with injuries etc but give the guy time.
and it's true abou the ground at cas, cant really fault any player for losing the ball under those lights, i suspect a few on here have never been to any ground at night never mind castleford

At last some common sense and perspective

It was just one of those games.

Cas scored off two kicks and a dodgy VR decision. They were still however the best team. The tackling effort they put in was immense.

I can't believe that anyone on this thread is having a go at Grix. He seems to be improving all the time and seems to be a more than capable full back.

I'm not a big Hodgson fan with the ball in hand but defensively and under the high ball he is usually pretty good.

The pack never really got going and I would like to see Larne Patrick replace Horne. As for O'Donnell he needs time but needs to cut out the chicken wing type tackles that he seems to do more often than I would like.

The one thing that really appalled me was the diferential penalty on the scrum. that was very, very poor and turned a rare attacking opportunity into a defensive one.


All the above said if Browny had held that pass early in the second half I think Giants would have won (probably undeservedly).

Bring on Hull !

After the seasons me Bo and SG have been watching --you get used to it !!

You young-uns will in time! Wink

We read too many papers all week !

The number of times we have a cracking result --we follow it up with a lack lustre /"we only have to turn up " display
Why?--who knows??

Ivor says he`d rather beat Wires than Cas (yes he then says hed rather beat both) and THATS bottom line!

To be up at the top you have to!

Points dropped against "mid table/ lower teams" are the same - 2

Cas beat Wakey at Cardiff -- but they ran out and played us in the same conditions for both teams like a cup tie

That was the main difference last night --we were Flat -and more flat
We looked lead legged
We lacked shape at play the balls
We had little or NO enthusiasm - bar Grix and McGillvary

I`m not picking on players for off games --it was a lack lustre performance virtually across the park and
unless we realise that its a long season and EACH and EVERY match is a vital win and go for it --we wont be there or thereabouts SIMPLES!

Lets just hope its a one off blip --and get back on track - theres some top team battles approaching and that sort of
approach has to go out the window !

Two points in my mind --not sure that the captaincy sits well on Brownys shoulders - my feelings when the topic was raised
Not that hes making wrong decisions -- but may be the responsbility - he seems less creative -just my opinion

Similarly - despite his team mates having nternational experience - Larne seems to be the only true forward who runs at the gap and to the side of his opponent
Eorl / Failogo / ODonnell/ Griff seem to be intent on running THROUGH or OVER the tackler
Even if super fit and conditioned that takes it out of the ball carrier just as much as the defender

A great forward once said that defence is the best form of attack !
Keep knocking em down --as even getting up time and time againt takes the steam and enthusasm out of you!

End of day - without singling anyone out - wrong attitude to Cas - we underestimated them and their coach
We were out-thought out- played, and they were simply up for the fight --and well done to them!

We were still on the bus as a team - and it just wont do !
and this --oh it only early days , theres a long way to go doesnt gel with me

2 from Cas away -- and a slip against your top rivals ISNT quite so critical !
Cmon lads ---CONSISTENCY please !

Finally -- well done Cas for showing that team spirit, guts, and a willing to take it to your opponents counts for a hell of a lot !

That was so embarrassing. I remember starting a thread on the VT last week laughing at the booklet given away with the MM programme. It showed what i thought were virtually osolete Referee signals such as feeding and prop striking for the ball. Then like something from the 1980s we set up a scrum like that despite being told THREE times to sort it out.

Grix was outstanding for me last night, Cas peppered him all night with high bombs and he handled everyone one of them and ran the ball back in - he reminded me of a certain Mr Reilly who used to play in that position !

The other backs didnt really get going which is down to Cas stifling them and the lack of attacking chances/options.

Brown and Broughy tried to create something in the 2nd half but again the Cas players had them covered and our choice of tactics were wrong last night, we tried playing them down the middle and almost seemed devoid of a plan B when it was clearly not working.

The forwards ran hard all night but were hitting brick walls with Cas shirts on and couldnt get the offloads going.

i think the conditions will have played a part but lets not forget Wheldon road with a fired up Cas side is a hell of a place to go and get a result .
We despatched Wire with ease last week so lets not get too carried away and expect that every week.

Well done to Cas though last night !!