Somewhere on another thread (I can't be bothered to go to the effort of researching it all again) I listed all of the players who were injured/retired etc this year. Since then R Horne, Thackray and now Yeaman are injured. It amounted to approximately (I can't remember exactly) 18 players injured and I think three or four of them (e.g. King) have been injured more than once. It has been impossible to consistently field a team made up of the same core ever (it would be interesting to see the 17 selected for each and every game). Very few of them (apart from Horne's injury against Leeds) kept them out for only one match. Add to that (yes you've guessed it) Crocker not being available (think no Morley for a full season - not necessarily a prop, but someone influential) and Lauaki (think no Carvell for every single game of the season to date) and yes it matters and yes it is still having an effect whether people choose to be bored by the fact or not. Finally, add Thorman to the list - he might as well be injured.

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Hall
4 Yeaman
5 Raynor
6 R. Horne
7 Berrigan

8 Radford
9 Lee
10 Cordoba
11 Burnett
12 Tickle
13 Whiting

14 Houghton
15 Manu
16 King
17 Moa


The ones in bold havent so that leaves 12 that have....your point now being?

I meant the last 5 consecutive games - you appear to have missed a few off.

Could be wrong but I think the only one he missed was Yeaman, and he only missed the last game

and Whiting - but what it means is that the whole backline have not played (probably all season) together. Just before those last five games we had Berrigan out, King with an eye injury, Dowes, Cusack, Thackray - you name 'em they've been injured. That means all of our first-string front row have been injured. We've had injuries to Manu, G Horne, Burnett (there goes the second row) and injuries to Washy and Whiting (no surprise that he keeps playing Radford at loose man - he's consistently available, even if that's his only ability in the 13 position. I would be surprised if players have completely regained full match fitness since their injuries. Don't foget from the backline you've lost Byrne for good, Briscoe for most of the season and Tony for most of the season (perhaps also for good). Need I go on? I think it's had, and is still having a siginificant effect. Oh - did I mention Lauaki not being available all season as well?

And of those 5, 4 were generally accepted amongst our best players last time out. In fact Calderwood is probably POTY so far (quite damning on the rest of the side when he's a winger not scoring prolifically).

TBH though, whilst your comments about the backline are correct, it's the pack that's been the biggest problem by far.

I normally agree with the point about being able to put out a settled side consistently, but in this case I think it falls down on 2 counts: Firstly, several of those who have been consistently available have also been consistently amongst our worst players. Secondly, it is quite apparent at our club that consistently picking these same players has resulted in no effort/performance being required/made for players to retain their place.

I thought Whiting had played in the last five, its just mainly from the bench?

I think the bigger problem was not injuries, more that the pack were playing too many minutes and it took it's toll once we were a few games into the season. We currently miss the Cusack and Dowes of the first few games, however we don't miss the Cusack and Dowes of the subsequent games they played prior to their injuries, as they were already looking jaded and ineffective. IMO, the damage was already done [ibefore[/i the injuries bit down in earnest, that just became a more convenient excuse.

I think you are correct.

Pretty sure he didn't play against Salford but, to be fair, it's not too important. I was trying to point out that as backlines score tries it would be good if we had one. Packs create the groundwork and we've been lucky to field a consistent pack as well.

I know I'm one of very few who still give the injury excuse any credibility but I'm a sucker for a sob-story.

But he is always fit....

Its just one pathetic excuse we like to adopt. Add that to the 'its not my squad' excuse and we look pi*s poor really.