HKR (CC)

Quote: Trainman "Firstly congratulations to both Hull KR and Leigh, I hope they both make it a final to remember. It’s good for the game to see some new faces in the final and wish both team well.

There’s a lot of OTT reactions in this thread. Put Cooper and Havard in that team and it’s likely a very different outcome. I agree that props win pots and we were missing our best 2.

I think French is growing into the #6 role and has shown some very good touches. Assuming we continue and with a full pre season there I think he will be vastly improved next year.

Yesterday, in those conditions playing the second half with a player short was always going to be difficult. I don’t begrudge Hull KR the win but am left frustrated with a number of refereeing decisions at crucial times.

The sending off was a joke. Despite numerous replays there was no clear evidence he even made contact with the head, if he did it was secondary contact. The video was clear that initial contact was at shoulder level, Lewis’ head went forwards and then back. Direct contact with the head would have sent his head backwards initially. This is evidenced by the disciplinary report.

Yes, it’s disappointing to lose a semi final but there are still positives to be taken, if nothing else in terms of effort and commitment. I thought Ellis was very good, regularly got post contact metres. O’Neil is getting better as is Smithies who’s work rate was second to none again. The conditions didn’t allow either team to play expansive rugby. I think we were a little conservative at times. Where I would criticise Peet is not utilising Hill. With a man down the team we’re gassed, fresh legs could have made a difference.'"

Havard (if he can put a run of games together lately) and Cooper would have helped to a degree but I am not sure they would have made that much difference - we had no shortage of effort but it was creativity that was lacking, even with a full team on the pitch we didn't look like breaking Hull KR down and those two players would not have helped that. Smith is floundering at times because he is a young player trying to do everything, every 5th tackle play goes through him and it makes it easy for teams to read and in this game French was mostly non-existant - maybe next season he could get there but he is not helping the team structure as often he runs around in circles and stifles any momentum. The weather was the same for both teams (and KR had a few players missing too) and you can't always play on dry tracks- we just do not seem to be able to adapt well enough.