I have to agree. Considering we'd have to win all but one of our remaining games to improve on last year's points total, I think our chances of finishing fifth are quite slim. It's still possible, but a lot of improvement is needed.

Have we though?

How many half back combinations have we used this season? And how often have we had a settled pack? While this doesn't excuse in any way the poor performances over the last 3 games it does go some way to explaining the lack of consistency over the whole season.

I think 30 points will be good enough for fifth, so we need to win 5 from 7. Also our points difference is better than the two teams above us.
I just don't see the need for the negativity, there's no doubt we've made it more difficult for ourselves than it needed to be, but it's hardly time to write the season off (not you specifically).

Even if you're right and 30 points is enough, when you consider that our win ratio under Gentle is around 50%, it's more likely that we'll win 3 or 4 of the remaining 7 games.



Well, I'm in between the two positions. I don't think the season is necessarily over, but I think it's overly optimistic to say we have a 'very good' chance of finishing 5th.

I meant the squad in general, we got to squad number 40 last season, getting players in mid season and moving players about to find something that works whilst getting players up to speed on the way we play. this year we have had 1 player leave having played twice and 1 come in and we are in pretty much the same position.

The halves, granted there have been several combinations but Richard Horne has been there for the most part of the season, done well, is missed, but was settled in that position. He can't do it all on his own but he was the difference in a lot of games.

The pack has been rotated but surley this what we should do with our squad, have experience like O'Meley, Lynch, Ellis, Whiting to go along with the younger guys like Hadley, Johnson, Bowden, Green. Balance it out by giving the younger guys experience and a chance to improve in the team whilst the old guard should lead the way. the change in players in the pack should in no way effect us trying to get on top of the opposition and making good meters

I like Gentle and want him to succeed but if for instance we didn't make the playoffs with this squad of players it would be a huge failure on his part. One slight glimmer of hope is that as badly as we've played in the last 2 games we could, and arguably should, have still won them.

Injuries or not part of the problem for me is chopping and changing. Left side for example after yrs of stability is different one week to the next-injuries played a part-but still been changed a lot. I'd like to tear through the team and change it up ideally this week but think we should pretty much stick, give a chance to build fluidity going into the cup game.

Anything less than 6th would be a failure, as far as I'm concerned.

So after countless pages on a thread bemoaning Yeaman's untouchable status on the left, he's finally dropped, now we shouldn't have messed around with that side?

We've used seven starting half back combinations so far this year (we used four in the first five games):

Holdsworth-Seymour (one game)
Holdsworth-Horne (eight)
Horne-Heremaia (seven)
Horne-Seymour (one)
Westerman-Horne (one)
Holdsworth-Heremaia (two)
Holdsworth-Miller (two)

Number eight coming up on Sunday.

I think he's doing a decent job and deserves to be back by the fans and AP. He has done well give young players a chance whilst his recruitment has been hit and miss. Defensively we are much improved under him and in general have been hard to break down.

The most disappointing thing for me is that we don't seem to have improved our mental toughness and attitude. I expected a new culture to be instilled and that we would be ready for each game mentally. I don't think this has happened and any side that wants to be successful must have a strong mentality along with a honest work ethic.

I would accept 6th but anything less than that is poor. We badly need some size in the forwards, Paea is a step in the right direction.

I always thought it would take 2/3 years and so it's proving. I'm just not sure if Gentle can turn us into a team that can challenge.

lynch - o'meley in the CC game at cats

Galea sent a text to Gentle asking if he had a space for him in 2013 as he felt he had another year in him, Gentle said he'd have a look at his options and see what he could do. Sounds out the ordinary all done by text but I actually got to see the text's myself last year.