It may be the case that no forward did more than normal, and it is hard to say that the bench strategy cost us the game - that can be laid squarely at the feet of poor decisions and poor execution by players. However, I can't help feeling it is unnecessary, and any hope that it might keep the opposition guessing a bit is rather hollow - we'd worked out on hearing the bench how it would operate and it isn't the first time it has been used. It is probably coincidental that two of those involved, JD and Latu, were two of the players who had absolute stinkers, although it can't have helped.

What I fear it risks doing is creating disorganisation between players as it requires a wider reshuffle rather than straight swaps. You could also argue that those moving from the backs to the forwards aren't going to those positions fresh. Either way, I can't help thinking there are reasons why most coaches follow convention on this one and have a heavier bench.

Cant for the life in me see what anybody sees in Latu hes a clown high time we dropped him and gave young Davey game time if there is one player i hope we get rid of at the end of this season its Latu
As for the Gleeson pass yes crazy pass but if Blanch had taken it and gone 70 yards for a try we would have all said great offload

You can argue all day long that Kear picked a bench for the weather, but that is clearly not a clever argument. If he had selected a side for the heat then surely 3 forwards is the way to go as the big man get tired quicker. Then if the weather turns as it did then you have the right players for that too.

And just out of curiosity how does what time a post was made matter as to whether an opinion is valid?

I love how some people's only argument on here to something they don't agree with is either you got home early to make that comment or your opinion doesn't count because you didn't go to the game and are not a proper supporter.

Yep I've mentioned it above and on other threads that it looked like a lightweight bench ready for a hot dry humid night. I've mentioned Gleese doing the nasty too but the confidence is something we lacked over the last 2-3 months and Gleese obviously had too much!

I imagine that the bench was partly dictated by the decision as to what to do with three-quarters at the beginning of the game. I assume that JK wanted JD in there at the start to beef up the defence early on, to take some of the sting out of the Leeds attack. Once Leeds start to tire, he would want more speed in there, and so Murphy takes his place. That necessitates Blaymire being on the bench.

Jeffries was just the interchange hooker, in reality, as he was used as part of that. Again, with Obst at 7 at the start, we began the game with a strong defence in the backs, with JD in the centres.

I think it was a shrewd bench, that started with a beefed-up defence for when Leeds would be fresh, and then introduced pace when Leeds would be tiring, and with that set-up we matched them.

Kear is not helping himself with his selections at the moment. Going into a game with a full back and a half back on the bench is crazy. He needs to bite the bullet start Blaymire at full back play Murphy in the centres drop Gleeson and retire JD. Seems to me he doesn't have the balls to make these decisions and is trying to keep everybody happy. On the other side though he obviously doesn't send the players out to make stupid decision, drop the ball and give away stupid penalties which they seem to do far too many times.

Indeed, which is why the rights or wrongs of the bench selection in this case are pretty much a moot points. Cut out the silly errors and Trinity would've walked away with a win or at the very least a draw. If Trinity were getting battered in the forwards and that was the reason for the loss then perhaps the odd bench selection would become relevant.

im sick of coming on here and seeing so called wakey fans biting about team selection.

i was the same a few weeks back until i sat down and thought to myself. ted richardson pays john kear to coach the team not me or any one else on here.
yes we made mistakes last night, yes we lost the game, maybe some people should not be playing but they are we need to deal with it and get behind the team. we are all wakey fans so lets be proactive in stead of reactive and start getting behind them and we will get there.

and as of retiring JD, far enough he is coming to the back end of his career but he has been with us for years so lets show the man some respect. just think about the service he has given to the club

all in all even tho we did lose last night we show great sprit to keep fighting for the game and the 2 points

Everyone was dropping the ball on both sides.
JD may have dropped it but he was also doing lots of hard work. I dont subscribe to the view that he is past it.
I have never seen such a fickle group of people as those supporters who having witnessed some of the greatest times over the past 20 years at Wakefield Trinity now turn on the people (JK and JD) who both delivered those highs and raised all our aspirations and expectations.

Whilst not enthused about the bench selection that wasn't the reason we lost. We continually do not respect possession. Errors were always going to happen in those conditions but it's about where they happen and the fact we do not seem able to learn from them.

In the second halve after Kear had given them a talking to we played an awful lot better. The players were at fault for silly handling errors and then on the back of that giving penalties away.

Leeds were there for the taking again but we didn't play smart enough and gave them a helping hand at times

We pushed the champions very close in thier own 'back yard', the attitude and commitment from the players was 110% and we showed heart and spirit.

I have nothing to complain about this morning. With the last 2 performances I am confident we will get a top 8 spot (probably 8th but it will do)

I don't think that discussing the pros and cons of team selection on here, in a sensible manner, consistutes not getting behind the team. It is perfectly possible to go out there in the pishing rain, support them and want them to win, then return home to dissect what happened. Yes Ted clearly rates Kear more than us fans as far as coaching a team goes. I'd think he'd lost his senses if he was to ask one of us to pick the tea. That shouldn't stop us having an opinion and attempting to reason through it on a forum though. If you want to disagree with me/others by picking the flaws in our arguments, fine, but I'm tired of it being trotted out that we shouldn't question things, or that doing so isn't supporting the team.

As for JD, I'd rather the decision was made on what he can still bring to the team, rather than sentiment. By all means rate him for what he's done, but past glories will not win us games.

I think the only error JK made on the night was his bench selection. Far too light on the bench IMHO. A FB, a HB, Hendo and only one Prop on the bench against Leeds could be seen by many as some what amateurish.

That said, I thought we put in a very good performance in horrible conditions. Latu had a mare for me and Gleeson was once again found wanting but other than that I don't think you can really knock the effort or commitment shown against let's be fair a very good Leeds team who are bang in form.

Our discipline, composure and ball retention needs to be improved as IMHO it was in these three areas we lost the game last night.

Big improvement, great effort but we simply got beat by a better team on the night.

Bring on Wigan!

Absolutely spot on!

Yes everyone was dropping it on both sides, but JD did seem to drop it a lot more. I'd need to watch the recording to say for certain, as the rain may have been clouding my view somewhat, but it did seem to me he was trying to carry the ball into the tackle in what was a rather careless manner considering the condidtions. Holding it away from the body to free it up for the offload may have suited a nice sunny day a season ago, that little bit stronger, and in a game we were clearly on top of, but last night it just didn't seem appropriate.