Simple fix - communication in the tackle, legs, upper and ball. It’s something that I’ve noticed we are poor at (securing the ball) and against teams such as Saints we need to prevent happening.

We are poor around the ruck in general, the amount of yards teams make against us in that area is frightening.

It does seem to be a problem, but only conceded 11 tries in 6 games. 3 of which have been interceptions.

Defence has been pretty solid.

That’s predominantly where props like Walmsley and Thompson like targeting. The gap between 2nd marker and A defender. It’s our biggest weakness by far our ruck defence structure.

Could you please refrain from talking sense. As it will have an effect on everybody else.

It is quite concerning how we allow teams to constantly offload every game however we’ve conceded 74 points in 6 games and 11 tries in them games which is very good and very little of our tries conceded have come from offloads. Not really a big worry for me

If we start losing I dare not think the response on here!!!!

Somehow we are top of the table yet our attack is rubbish (from other threads) as is our defence in the tackle.

I bet every club in the league right now would want our position.

We have J Burgess not performing well so dropped and therefore what is meant to be a top player not in the squad, Flower just coming back, Gildart out, Lockers out, Burgess still clearly coming into fitness, let Greenwood go who not so long ago was the next great thing, a winger (a very good one) still learning the finer details of full back and a new half.

Come on, lets take a reality pill, we are alright and going to get better.

I will concede I dont get the Clubb in Bullock out though, but I suppose Lam and all the other back room staff with 10's of years of experience might have a good idea as to what they are doing.

Being positive and optimistic is a good thing. I've probably been accused of being a happy clapper more that most who still post on here.

But I don't think it irrelevant to point out that Hull KR (and others) beat us hands down in the offload department. They caught us with it again and again and again, which did more than its bit towards preventing us running away with it.

Is it really a problem to point out that this particular weakness in our game could do with being rectified? Because if Saints find their feet and do the same thing to us, it could be a very different outcome.

Are we the most offloaded against team in the league? (I hope that makes sense) I wonder if there are any stats on it.
Add to that are we the least offloading team in the league? If we could improve on both those points we would surely be a much better team and almost certainly be in the running for trophys.

If offloads are so important how come Castleford are the only team in the top six league positions and in the top six for offloads?

The top six teams for offloads are with league positions in brackets

1) Toronto - 115 (12)
2) Warrington - 90 (icon_cool.gif
3) HKR - 80 (11)
4) Hull - 72 (7)
5) Cas - 47 (3)
6) Wakefield - 46 (9)

Wigan are 10th for offloads with 37 and in 1st place in the league!!!!

Catalan and Huddersfield are below Wigan for offloads and are in the top six in the league table.

Just to add, five of those teams are also in the top six for errors made. I would suggest that is a consequence of their offloading game?

One of the dangers of trying to stop offloads by gripping the ball or arm is the probability that if the player loses the ball the ref will blow up for reefing. This always seems to happen if the ref isn't looking whilst he is going back 10m; turns round and sees the ball on the floor he inevitably blows up. Happens a lot with Wigan.

Very interesting post. Wonder if that'll play out the same come the end of the season?

Number of offloads = number of extra tackles the opposition has to make.
That sapping of the gas is probably more relevant than the attacking threat of the offload itself