Massive credit must go to Michael Carter and Brian Smith after last week. Obviously the loss of Adam Watene and Leon Walker must have been the toughest weeks for the management of our club to cope with and lets be fair, previous financial problems, players behaviour and poor performances just pale into insignificance when compared to the loss of Adam and Leon. That been said MC and BS have had a massive job on their hands last week, comparable I think to when we went into CVA and the likes of McNarmara and Goulding plus others let the club down and jumped ship.
When you look at it we have seen some massively poor performances this season, there has been a lack of effort from the players. The match against Widnes was a perfect example of this. So after this dire performance Tim Smith, Locke and Lyne decided it was wise to behave in the manner they chose to, showing a complete lack of any intelligence, of any morals, a lack of respect for themselves their families, their friends, their team-mates, MC and BS.
Add to that Anderson decides its a good idea break club rules. The Club Captain shows a lack of leadership by not coming out after the Widnes games and apologising for his teams performance.
So MC and BC had some massive decisions to make, they made the right decisions not based on Rugby a risk from a Rugby point of view but for the right reasons. Then Lee Smith pulls out for some reason at the last minute, I just wonder if he looked at the team and just did not fancy it, he is from Leeds after all so that would be typical Loiner behaviour.
Then Ali has to pull out and Crowther gets about 5 mins notice that he is playing.
Yes our performance was not great but it was honest, the lads gave 100 % and I was delighted to support them. For one of the few times this season I thought that I could not have asked for more.
So hats off to MC and BC a hugely difficult situation handled in a first class way

Well said and agree 100% and would only add to this the 3000 or so WTW faithful that turned up this week. After last week you couldn't blame anyone for wanting to stay away so everyone stand up and take a bow.

Bloody he'll Belly ............ Agree 100%.

Yeah spot on. Great reaction to a difficult week.

Is it pantomime season, good Belly bad Belly! Can we have our bad one back please? Much more entertaining.

I don't know why Lee Smith pulled out but he doesn't strike me as someone who just drops out because he doesn't fancy it and I can't remember him having a track record of doing so. He's been really good since his return and shown a good appetite for the struggle so it's unfair to mention him alongside the others.

I think Andersons been a tad unlucky, if it's true that he was drowning his sorrows having lost a close relative then under normal circumstances he'd probably be forgiven. Unfortunately for him his breach of the non drinking rule has coincided with the more serious case of T Smith, Locke and Lyne. The club can't be seen treating one seriously then treating Anderson differently. He's in the wrong and he's broken a rule but let's not tar and feather him alongside the three amigos

Just out of interest, did anyone see the condemned men at the game yesterday?

Saw Reece Lyne arriving at ghe ground.

I also think Anderson's mind was in Australia judging by a tweet he made referring to it not being long before he saw family and friends and what a difficult season it had been.
I tweeted back what a difficult season it had been for us fans,and to dig in for the wins needed.
If he was referring to a bereavement then that does put a different complexion on things, but this was earlier on last week before anyone knew of him being disciplined.

Yes they have dealt with it admirably and the 17 who played yesterday did a difficult job in difficult circumstances. ..... But can i add please please please MC seek help with your Twitter addiction.!

After the trouble came to light and the fact Fax easily pushed much fancied Leigh aside last week it always had the chance of being a banana skin and yes it wasn't a fantastic game also credit to Fax they never threw the towel in and played until the end but those players put a shift in and got what was wanted in the end those 2 points

Yes credit to the players for yesterday, especially considering that some of them had not played for a while. Would you make any changes to the squad for the £!m game? Would you bring in the experienced players such as Ali, Lee Smith, Anderson or Jon Molloy (who is apparently nearing full fitness)?

Afraid so - for that game, you throw everything you can at the win; good as they were, the young lads can't have the fate of the club on their shoulders - it wouldn't be fair.

I would play Johnston because he does have genuine pace but Crowther I think is currently a little small for the rigours of playing in the pack. I agree you need the most experienced players you can for a final because failure does not bare thinking about.
I know you can be blinded by yesterday but the coach must consider that the team he puts out must be the one that can handle the pressure of a final.

Wouldn't have Ali back. Much as I like the guy he's a bit of a liability these days.