The argument about players is largely redundant; man for man, the majority of our players are of the same or similar quality and ability, with some exceptions that have already been pointed out.

The real difference between the two sides is coaching - plain and simple; Powell has taken the Cas squad and instilled something in them that allows them to deliver more than the sum of their parts. It's great that he's back in SL and I hope we can achieve something similar - it's the only way to ensure that a team on a budget can challenge the established big money teams.

Powells done a great job , and in many respects he s turned the club round. It goes to prove you can bring a group of players together and form them in to a well drilled unit , and players that want it for each other. RLs a simple game and shouldn't be tinkered with , the basics and desire will normally provide a wining formula.
The team as a group perform well together, recruitments played a major part in the process.

Spot on, its not and never will be rocket science.
Powell is not a miracle worker he's just honest with the players and expects the same from them.
That's half the battle imo.

On the money.

Agreed.

However what makes it even worse is when it comes to players who are at least theoretically more skill full we may have a slight edge - but unless you can harness that whats the point. Before Cas fans have a pop Ali, Godinet, Sammut and Seijka are marginally better on paper though clearly not on grass.

Yet those who know the game know it's never just about names it's about attitude and ticker and seeing whats really there.

Some month back there was talk about us signing Liam Finn which was roundly dismissed by the snobs on here. Me (and it's on record) I was praying we signed him. We didn't and Cas now have a seasoned, committed and as all must finally accept a skilled SL player. Not NRL, not a fancy dan and perhaps horror of horrors prone to be a bit tubby - oh and I forgot a bit slow. Yet he steers the Cas team around the park in a quiet but assured manner.

Until we as fans and club drop our obsession with the Ausse quick fix we will never grow as a club. You need local heroes, club men as a base of your team - without them there is no real team spirit in the truest sense.

Cas are not as stated player for player that good but as a team that's a different matter. Funny thing is under Kera we were, yes he was flawed but as I stated a few years back the Kear era (apart from the last season) will look like a golden era compared to the Agar years and for me that's already happened.

Hand on heart when Kear was here I bet you looked forward to most games even if some disappointed - can you say that now?

Not suggesting the return of Kear, that boat has sailed. It's not even that Agar is that bad a coach i patches and of course the state of the club hasn't helped. It's not even our league position that bothers me it's the manner of how we got there. The ludicrous selection policy alone tells you we have a coach who has simply lost it.

Anderson needs resigning for another year.

Without being able to see games live... Eurosport have taken to showing many games in replay here... I would hypothesise that you are correct.

The sad thing for me was reading Agar's post match comments... For the head coach to 'hope' things turn around, well that's a beaten man talking. Our team seems to take to the field with a negative, defeatist work ethic... They lack belief in themselves and the cause.

Powell is a great leader and strategist, and is capable of getting his team to do what he wants... Very impressed with him.

Our team needs just that.. Richard has great knowledge and intellect... Two very important coaching tools... But not enough... The club needs to find a leader of men.

The Cas players themselves give Danny Orr a lot of credit for the turnaround. Apparently Marc Sneyd has said most of his improvement this season is down to Danny.

Good point.

On your last point I think Agar needs help, the sort of help Steve Ferres gave Andy Kelly and John Kear - coincidentally two of our better spells in SL.

Whats he up to these days, I'd prefer him to Kath. Problem is would Agars ego be able to tale it.

Isn't he at Bradford?

Yep, part of the team brought in by the new owner.